School-Related Anxiety Soars & Duncan Calls for Cap on "Over-Testing"

Did I just hear a collective sigh of relief from parents, teachers, and students? Education leaders are finally acknowledging the enormous stress on today's students (and teachers) related to standardized testing. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that the U.S. needs to "reduce over-testing" and put a cap on classroom time devoted to testing. 

School-related anxiety is a very real, and increasingly common, issue among kids. Every child experiences academic anxiety at some point. But when your child's worries become constant, and begin to affect her social, personal, or academic life, an anxiety disorder may be to blame. Check out our tips for recognizing anxiety and helping your child manage it

Kids are feeling school-related anxiety at every age and stage. Experts say that anxiety disorder symptoms typically emerge by age 6. Changes in homework and testing (thanks to the Common Core Standards), and a societal obsession with college admissions and success in college have been major factors in kids' mounting academic stress. By the time they reach college, students' anxiety levels are soaring and college mental health centers are becoming maxed out

It's not clear when and how the cap on time devoted to testing will take effect, so here are some resources to help manage your child's school-related worries in the meantime: 

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