Hurricane refugees go back to school

While concerns about basic survival and civility have been uppermost in the news from New Orleans this past week, another issue will be looming after Labor Day: How are all these displaced kids going to go back to school? Young Hurricane Katrina refugees will be scattered across the country -- most heavily in places like Baton Rouge and Houston, but most likely in a classroom near you as well. School districts across the country have vowed to expedite their enrollment, waiving the usual identification requirements and vaccinations; the federal government will even relax "No Child Left Behind" regulations for schools accepting an influx of the suddenly homeless. And that's all as it should be: Kids need to be in school. But dealing with a huge number of new students will likely put a significant strain on schools, and spread Katrina's effects to families far from the hurricane's path. For more on the education situation, visit these sites:

+ Louisiana Department of Education
+ Texas Education Agency
+ Council of Chief State School Officers
+ U.S. Department of Education
+ National Association of Elementary School Principals
+ National Association of Secondary School Principals

If all this makes you wonder what could happen to your child's nice, protected special education class, visit our Site of the Day for a report from a mom in Baton Rouge who's trying to keep disruption in perspective. If it presses all your "worry" buttons, let today's Parenting How-To show you ways to worry more constructively. And if it just makes you want to find a little peaceful distraction, look no further than the Parenting Special Needs Weekly Quiz, here once again to help you waste a little time.