CFK Weekly—Oct. 22, 2001

We encourage distribution of this information! If reprinting in whole or part, please attribute it to Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org).

Access past issues in the Archives.

NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS
**Pre-k: Is Everybody Ready?
**A Voice of Experience
**It's Your Turn to Discuss Universal Pre-k
**Pre-k: What's Happening in the States

CONNECT TODAY
**Helping Kids Cope

KIDS AND POLITICS
**Economic Stimulus Package Proposals Could Leave Kids Behind
**?Don't Sacrifice the Poor?
**Housing and Health Coverage
**Senate to Take up Labor/HHS/Education Spending Bill

THINKING ABOUT THE UNTHINKABLE
**Preparing to Handle Disaster
**What Can States Do to Protect Children?
**Senators Call for Task Force on Children and Terrorism
**Sept. 11:  A Call for Tolerance and Understanding
**Students Build Bridges Online

IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION
**Projections of Education Statistics to 2011
**School Success and Minority Student Achievement
**Taking the Lead on E-Learning Policy
**Town Hall Meeting on High Stakes Testing

WORKING MOMS
**Fertility of American Women: June 2000
**Paid Family Leave Important Income Support
**Out of Reach: America's Growing Wage-Rent Disparity
**Working Mother Magazine Publishes Top 100 Companies List

RAISING A NATION OF READERS
**Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read
**The Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read
**Helping Get Children Ready for School and Schools Ready for Children
**Middle School Students Who Misbehave Often Can't Read

PROTECTING KIDS ? KEEPING THEM HEALTHY
**Better Lead Screening for Children in Medicaid
**Tobacco, Alcohol and Pregnancy
**Powerful Bones.  Powerful Girls.
**Halloween Safety Tips
**Teens Most at Risk on Farms

FOCUS ON THE STATES
**State Learning First Alliances
**State Pre-k Initiatives
**State-by-State News

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS

** Pre-k: Is Everybody Ready?
by Martha Shirk
It used to be that the first day of kindergarten was a near-universal rite of passage for young children, their introduction to the world of fat pencils and formal schooling. But now, more children are lining up at the schoolhouse door a year earlier for pre-kindergarten. Martha Shirk looks at the explosive growth in pre-k.
http://www.connectforkids.org

** A Voice of Experience
by Susan Phillips
Kim Hughes knows her threes, fours and fives. Hughes, a board member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, has been teaching preschool, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for 20 years. She spoke with Connect for Kids managing editor Susan Phillips about what makes a great pre-k, and why it matters.
http://www.connectforkids.org

**It's Your Turn to Discuss Universal Pre-k
Should every school offer pre-kindergarten? What should it look like? Connect for Kids invites you to share your questions and answers about the growing movement towards universal pre-kindergarten in the United States. To subscribe to the discussion group, e-mail cfkchat-request@list.benton.org  and in the body of the message type: subscribe. To send a message to the list, e-mail cfkchat@benton.org. We'll update the discussion online so you can check in and catch up.
http://www.connectforkids.org

** Pre-k: What's Happening in the States
In Pre-kindergarten Programs in the States Anne Mitchell analyzes the trends and issues in state pre-kindergarten initiatives such as growth in programs and funding, efforts to meet working families' needs, and a commitment to quality.
http://www.connectforkids.org

CONNECT TODAY

**Helping Kids Cope
The horrifying images of the twin towers being attacked in New York have been compounded by reports on the escalating military conflict in Afghanistan and anthrax threats in the United States. Connect for Kids is continuing to update our list of resources for families and teachers on helping kids cope with fears, anger and sorrow.  http://www.connectforkids.org/usr_doc/CopingWithGrief.htm
KIDS AND POLITICS

**Economic Stimulus Package Proposals Could Leave Kids Behind
Most U.S. kids live in low and moderate-income families -- the families whose needs and economic contribution to the economy appear to be in jeopardy as Congress and the White House negotiate an economic stimulus package. The Senate leadership has been urging spending and tax rebates to provide income supports for low-wage families, but package approved by the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee emphasizes corporate tax breaks. According to the Washington Post, the Bush White House seems to be moving closer to the House position.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5200-2001Oct16.html

**?Don't Sacrifice the Poor?
In this opinion piece, Hugh Price, president of the National Urban League, and Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, say a stimulus package that puts the greatest burden on low-income communities is both morally wrong and economically ill-advised.
http://63.111.42.146/news/article.asp?ArticleID=9679

**Housing and Health Coverage
Housing and health advocates are arguing that the government's economic stimulus package should include federal funds to support communities to build rental housing that is affordable for low-income families and to help families purchase health care benefits during a lay-off.
http://www.nlihc.org/news/cta100201.htm
http://www.familiesusa.org/media/pdf/stimulus.pdf

**Senate to Take up Labor/HHS/Education Spending Bill
On October 11, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2002 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, the largest federal spending bill for children's services and programs. The bill provides $123 billion to cover discretionary spending for the new fiscal year. Although several programs were cut, the Department of Health and Human Services received some increases, including a 4 percent increase for Head Start, a 10 percent increase for the Child Care and Development Bock Grand and a 6 percent increase for substance abuse and health programs. The Department of Education received a 16 percent increase and will operate at a $51.8 billion funding level this year.

Child advocates will now focus on the Senate Labor/HHS/Education appropriations and the conference committee to improve federal spending on education, social services, income support programs, health care and early childhood education.
http://www.ombwatch.org/ombwatcher/current.html#app
THINKING ABOUT THE UNTHINKABLE

**Preparing to Handle Disaster
The American Academy of Pediatrics Family Readiness Kit offers concrete advice for what families can do in advance to prepare for the disruptions and possible dangers presented by a tornado hurricane, or terrorist attack.
http://www.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm

**What Can States Do to Protect Children?
An estimated 10,000 children lost a parent in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. State legislators around the country are trying to decide how best to plan for children's mental health needs in the aftermath of tragedy -- through school mental health systems, special appropriations, private-public programs like SCHIP and Medicaid or other programs. Let us know how your state is preparing for legislation and/or new policies to address the mental health needs of children in the wake of past events, and in preparation for the possibility of further tragedies. E-mail Jan (jan@benton.org).

**Senators Call for Task Force on Children and Terrorism
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), along with several other policymakers, introduced legislation creating a National Task Force on Children and Terrorism to "review our bioterrorism preparedness policies to ensure that they reflect children's unique health needs."
http://clinton.senate.gov/news/2001/10/2001A11B00.html

Thanks to the Falling Down to Get Up e-newsletter for this information. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zerotothree/join

**Sept. 11:  A Call for Tolerance and Understanding
How did the events of September 11th affect young people? How will they affect the way people of different cultures, races, sexual orientations and religions get along? New York City's Listen Up! wants to give youth an opportunity to discuss these questions and select work for an hour long video on tolerance and understanding compiled to represent a collective youth response to the September 11 tragedy.   http://www.pbs.org/merrow/trt/tolerance/index.html

**Students Build Bridges Online
South Carolina Educational Television, a PBS affiliate, is providing an innovative way to expand technology and create communication links among middle and high schools across the country. Bridge Builders is a moderated Internet bulletin board for students in grades 8-12 to correspond with other students in the cities most directly affected by the recent terrorist attacks. Young people can post and respond to questions online, fostering understanding and building community across the country.  http://knowitall.org
IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION

**Projections of Education Statistics to 2011
Ready for some long-range planning? Overall public and private elementary and secondary enrollment is projected to increase from 52.9 million in 1999 to 53.4 million in 2005, then to 53 million by 2011. Enrollment patterns will vary by region. Current per pupil expenditures are projected to increase by 33 percent in 2010-11, but estimates vary for projected increases in expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools from 29 percent to 40 percent over the same time period.  http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/proj01/

**School Success and Minority Student Achievement
Adequate resources and well-maintained facilities, quality preschool and after-school programs, small schools and robust communities, and high expectations for students, parents and staff -- these are some of the characteristics key to the success of the Department of Defense schools. Many of these characteristics could be used to improve learning and narrow achievement gaps in public schools everywhere, according to ?March Toward Excellence,? a National Education Goals Panel report.  http://www.negp.gov/reports/DoDFinal921.pdf

**Taking the Lead on E-Learning Policy
The National Association of State Boards of Education looks at how technology is transforming today's schools and offers a blueprint for education technology policies to universally improve learning for all students. Key recommendations include revising learning standards and ensuring equity and access.
http://www.nasbe.org

**Town Hall Meeting on High Stakes Testing
The Council of the Great City Schools held a National Town Hall Meeting on high-stakes testing, one of America's hottest issues, on October 19. The live-to-tape debate is scheduled to air Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. EST on C-SPAN.  http://www.cgcs.org/pressrelease/2001/10-05-2001/10-05-2001.html
WORKING MOMS

**Fertility of American Women: June 2000
The Census Bureau reports that labor force participation rates of mothers with infant children fell from a record-high 59 percent in 1998 to 55 percent in 2000, the first significant decline since 1976. Declines were primarily among older, better-educated mothers, who might have more options for taking time off to care for a new baby. Mothers under age 30, African American mothers, Hispanic mothers and mothers who had a high school education or less did not experience a decline in their labor force participation rates between 1998 and 2000.  http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p20-543.pdf

**Paid Family Leave Important Income Support
What do you do when your paycheck feeds the family, your son is seriously ill, and you have no sick days in your job? How do you buy time to bond with your newborn and avoid public assistance when you are a low-wage parent? The National Partnership for Women and Families is trying to improve the family leave options for low-wage families. They report that 25 states have proposals under active consideration, from building on existing disability insurance programs to expanding unemployment insurance systems.  http://www.nationalpartnership.org/workandfamily/fmleave/GeneralAudience1.htm

**Out of Reach: America's Growing Wage-Rent Disparity
This annual report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition examines the serious gap between housing costs and earnings for low-wage U.S. families. On average, the study finds that a worker would need to earn approximately $13.87 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment or work 108 hours/week at minimum wage to afford the average Fair Market Rent.  http://www.nlihc.org

**Working Mother Magazine Publishes Top 100 Companies List
Working Mother's ?100 Best Companies for Working Mothers? says that even with fears and economic cutbacks facing corporate America, some companies stand out for their policies that recognize the value and needs of working families. The criteria for choosing this year's list included significant changes in the application process to focus on how well companies provide benefits to workers at lower income and job levels.  http://www.workingmother.com/press/pr_002.shtml
RAISING A NATION OF READERS

**Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read
On average children need about two years of instruction in letter-sound relationships to become good readers and spellers. This brochure from the Partnership for Reading describes what a quality reading program for young children should look like and lists activities parents can do with their young children to help them become good readers. http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/partnershipforreading/publications/PFRbrochure.pdf

**The Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read
This guide summarizes for teachers what researchers have discovered about how to teach children to read successfully. There are separate sections on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and text comprehension that review the research, suggest implications for classroom instruction, describe proven strategies for teaching reading skills, and address frequently asked questions.  http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/partnershipforreading/publications/PFRbooklet.pdf

**Helping Children Get Ready for School and Schools Ready for Children
Making sure a child is ready for school means a lot more than making sure she knows her ABCs. This Child Trends brief summarizes the research on health, nutrition, safety, supportive family environments, early literacy activities and community supports, as well as schools ready to receive new learners, so that families, schools and communities can wisely target their resources to make sure kids enter school ready to learn. http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/SchoolReadiness.pdf

**Middle School Students Who Misbehave Often Can't Read
Know what ?Johnny? does when he can't read in middle school? He sometimes misbehaves and gets himself suspended. When the Orange County, Florida school system realized that all of their students suspended from middle school tested at very low reading levels, it developed a successful curriculum and staff training initiative to help older, reluctant readers get back on track.
http://www.nsdc.org/library/jsd/taylor224.html
PROTECTING KIDS ? KEEPING THEM HEALTHY

**Better Lead Screening for Children in Medicaid
By making lead screening and follow-up care available to children at highest risk, the Medicaid program plays a central role in preventing lead poisoning and its consequences. This report for public health administrators and staff offers recommendations, suggestions, and a case study on collecting and utilizing data in order to bolster Medicaid screening practices.
http://www.aeclp.org/lead_job_2.pdf

**Tobacco, Alcohol and Pregnancy
Women aged 18 to 20 are more likely to use alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy than older pregnant women, and the use of both is more likely among unmarried women and women with less than a high school education, according to new research.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/home?id=NE00110

**Powerful Bones,   Powerful Girls
The National Bone Health Campaign is targeted to help 9- to 12-year-old girls establish lifelong healthy habits, especially increased calcium consumption and physical activity, for optimal bone health. The Powerful Bones Web site contains age-appropriate information, games, quizzes and Web links. http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones

**Halloween Safety Tips
Give kids face paint instead of masks. Let kids draw the lines on pumpkins for adults to carve. Tell children to wait to snack until they've come back home, and check for signs of tampering, such as small pinholes in candy wrappers and torn or loose packages. These are among the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics for a safe Halloween.  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/octhalloween.htm

**Teens Most at Risk on Farms
The annual number of farm deaths to children and adolescents has decreased since 1988, but the rate of nonfatal farm injuries has increased to about 22,000 injuries a year to children under age 20. The dangers to children and teens who live and work on farms calls for continuing and improved injury-control strategies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.  http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/108/4/1016
FOCUS ON THE STATES

**State Learning First Alliances
Each pilot state alliance has taken a different pathway toward collaboration to improve student achievement. Their stories are profiled by the Learning First Alliance, a network of leading education organizations dedicated to improving public education using research-based recommendations and strategies.
http://www.learningfirst.org/publications.html

**State Pre-k Initiatives
Forty-three states currently fund early learning programs for young children before formal schooling traditionally begins. The goal of many pre-kindergarten programs is to promote school readiness so that children have a better chance of later success in school and beyond. Find out about how your state and other states are supporting pre-kindergarten programs from the Education Commission of the States.
Search ?pre-k? at http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/search/default.asp

**State-by-State News
Check out news about kids in your state in the ?state-by-state? section of the Connect for Kids Web site. Here's a sample of this week's additions to our state pages.  http://www.connectforkids.org/homepage1576/index.htm

California
Children Now warns that thousands of working families could lose their state-funded child care subsidies if a new plan currently being considered in Sacramento is implemented. E-mail Kevin Donegan (kdonegan@childrennow.org) for the October 17 alert.

Connecticut
Connecticut Voices for Children addresses the Governor's proposed spending cuts in two new publications, ?Broken Promises? and ?Before You Cut, Think about the Alternatives.?  http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/CTvoices/kidslink/kidslink2/index.html

Louisiana
The Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning reports that a New Orleans coalition won unanimous approval from the New Orleans City Council for a lead-safe paint removal law. For more information, contact Nancy Pavur of United Parents Against Lead of New Orleans at jpavur@bellsouth.net.

Maryland
Children from low-income or immigrant families who attended full-day kindergarten did significantly better than their counterparts in half-day classes, according to the results of a literacy study released by the Montgomery County School District.
http://www.nga.org/center/frontAndCenter/1,1188,T_CEN_EDS^D_2644,00.html

Washington
The Children's Action Alliance reports that proposed state budget cuts may jeopardize state services to protect children from abuse and neglect.  Contact Jon Gould (jon@childrensalliance.org) for the Children's Action Alert #25.
Keep up the good work, everyone!

Jan Richter, Policy and Outreach Specialist, and the Connect for Kids team
Jan@benton.org