CFK Weekly - November 1, 2004

Connect
for Kids.org: Better Policies for Kids
November 1, 2004
Table of Contents. Click on heading to jump to that section.

NEW ON CONNECTFORKIDS.ORG
**Schools that Shelter Homeless Kids
**Election Countdown
**Education: It's Messy
ELECTION DAY 2004
**Young Voters: Enough to Claim a “Voting Bloc”?
**Youth Voting Rates by State
**Governors’ Races Likely to Turn on Budget Issues
**Local Leaders Seek Answers from the Candidates
**Colleges Face Fewer State Ballot Measures This Year Than in the Past
**Voters Cast Ballots on Education Issues
**State-by-State Election Results
WORKING FAMILIES: BY THE NUMBERS
**Workers Not Getting Their Fair Share
**Annual USDA Hunger Report Postponed
CLOSING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP
**Gaps Narrowing and Achievement Rising for All Students
**All Students Reaching the Top
**Educators Say Schools Need Technology
**Dispelling Myths about Hispanic Students
**College Readiness for All Toolbox for Educators
KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE HEALTHY
**President Signs Youth Suicide Prevention Law
**Youth Development Grants Announced
**Improving Health of Adolescents: A Guide for States and Communities
**Mentoring Youth Workers
**Obesity is Driving Up Health Care costs
**Lame Duck Congress Could Restore State SCHIP Funds
PARENTS AND EARLY LEARNING
**Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships
**Early Reading Tools for Low-Income Parents
**Early Learning for All Campaign
FOCUS ON THE STATES
**Medicaid Threatens K-12 Share of State Budgets
**State-by-State News
_____________________________________________________________________
NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS
**Schools that Shelter Homeless Kids
Too often, kids who lose their homes also lose much more, as they are either abruptly transferred to new schools or stop going because they lack documentation to enroll. A federal law, McKinney-Vento, helps. But it takes caring people, teamwork, and funding to make it work. Judith Reppucci reports on how New Bedford, Massachusetts is facing up to the challenge.
http://www.connectforkids.org/resources3139/resources_show.htm?doc_id=245374
**Election Countdown
Only hours to go before Bush and Kerry learn the voters’ verdict – along with thousands of other candidates in national, state and local elections. Need some last-minute information? Our Kids & Politics site offers background on the issues that affect kids, and the presidential candidates’ answers to our questions.
http://www.kidsandpolitics.org/
**Education: It's Messy
Current discussions about improving schools tend to zero in on discussions of academic skills acquired and measured. Challenging that tidy perspective, MegaSkills founder Dorothy Rich reminds us in this column that school is a place of strong emotions, all of which have a powerful effect on learning.
http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_topics1544/benton_topics_show.htm?doc_id=245370

ELECTION DAY 2004
**Young Voters: Enough to Claim a “Voting Bloc”?
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), interest in the presidential election among young adults is at its highest rate since 1992. If a youth voting bloc emerges, it could lead public officials to pay more attention to issues affecting young voters, like the cost of education.
http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/FactSheets/FS_04_Poll_Summary.pdf
**Youth Voting Rates by State
In 2002, 23 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds turned out to vote nationally, with the voting highest among young voters in Minnesota (52 percent) and lowest in Vermont and Arizona (13 percent).
http://www.civicyouth.org/practitioners/state_ranks2002.htm
**Governors’ Races Likely to Turn on Budget Issues
State spending and budget issues are driving the 2004 gubernatorial races, reports Stateline.org. Many of the budget items directly impact families and children.
http://www.stateline.org/stateline/?pa=story&sa=showStoryInfo&id=348917
Stateline.org has specific information on state issues and races.
http://www.stateline.org/stateline/?pa=issue&sa=showIssue&id=344463
**Local Leaders Seek Answers from the Candidates
Job growth and income, education, and affordable housing are among the top concerns in American hometowns, local leaders reported in a recent news conference.
http://www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/newsroom/nations_cities_weekly/display.cfm?id=8CE2D2A2-6894-466C-A395D9FC0AE16805
**Colleges Face Fewer State Ballot Measures This Year Than in the Past
This year, nine states have ballot measures related to higher education. Nearly all ask voters whether they want to provide additional funds for academic research or construction on college campuses (through bonds or tax increases).
http://chronicle.com/free/v51/i10/10a02501.htm
**Voters Cast Ballots on Education Issues
Education Week reviews the many state ballot initiatives addressing school financing and other education matters.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2004/10/20/08initiatives.h24.html
**State-by-State Election Results
The National Association of Secretaries of States offers links to state-specific election info and results.
http://www.nass.org/sos/sosflags.html

WORKING FAMILIES: BY THE NUMBERS
**Workers Not Getting Their Fair Share
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes that from the first quarter of 2001 through the second quarter of 2004, the share of GDP going to wages and salaries fell. This means that at a time when corporate profits jumped by 40 percent, wage and salary income are essentially back to 2001 levels.
http://www.cbpp.org/10-29-04pov.htm
**Annual USDA Hunger Report Postponed
Poverty rates among America’s families grew this year (for the third year in a row), so anti-hunger advocates expected this year’s annual Census Bureau/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hunger report to show a corresponding increase in the share of households who may lack enough food. But the report -- usually released at the end of October -- has been delayed until after the election. According to the USDA, there was little or no change in the number of households facing hunger or food insecurity.
http://www.frac.org/html/news/newsdigest/10.29.04.html#1

CLOSING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP
**Gaps Narrowing and Achievement Rising for All Students
Many states are making strides to improve elementary students’ math and reading scores and close achievement gaps that disadvantage minority students -- but not quickly enough for all students to meet state standards by 2014, according to this Education Trust report.
http://www2.edtrust.org/NR/rdonlyres/F1C402F7-AB53-49ED-A9DC-27A41AA6E7E5/0/MeasuredProgressSumma99F.pdf
**All Students Reaching the Top
Strategies to close academic achievement gaps must look beyond the classroom, according to this report from the National Study Group for the Affirmative Development of Academic Ability. Instilling a desire for learning in the information age, and giving students opportunities to apply critical thinking skills to situations outside the classroom are important, as are stronger policies and programs addressing out-of-school learning environments.
http://www.ncrel.org/gap/studies/thetop.htm
**Educators Say Schools Need Technology
More than 65 percent of respondents to a National School Boards Association survey said that the federal E-rate program has been important in helping their school set and meet technology goals. Overall, 22 percent said they did not participate in the program, while 45 percent said the FCC's recent action to suspend new E-rate grants has affected their district.
http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=90&DID=34656
**Dispelling Myths about Hispanic Students
Hispanic families are more eager to learn English and involved in their children’s educational success than some common misperceptions assert, says Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education and senior fellow at the Pew Hispanic Center.
http://www.publiceducation.org/connections/fall04/brown.asp
**College Readiness for All Toolbox for Educators
This Pathways to College Network toolbox helps state and school district leaders identify key steps to make the college-prep curriculum the standard program of study for all students.
http://www.pathwaystocollege.net/collegereadiness/toolbox/index.htm

KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE HEALTHY
**President Signs Youth Suicide Prevention Law
In October, President Bush signed the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act -- named in honor of Senator Gordon Smith's son who committed suicide -- which authorizes federal funds to states for efforts to develop strategies to reduce youth suicides. For advocates, the next step is to push Congress to allocate the money for the grants.
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?Section=Top_Story&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18401
**Youth Development Grants Announced
The Department of Health and Human Services announced 21 Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants -- totaling $230 million over five years -- for community-based programs addressing youth substance abuse and mental health. The funds will be used to promote youth development, reduce risk-taking behaviors, build on assets, and prevent problem behaviors.
http://www.dhhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20041026.html
**Improving Health of Adolescents: A Guide for States and Communities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration have published a guide for states and communities that translates Healthy People 2010 objectives into plans and programs aimed at improving the health of teenagers and young adults.
http://nahic.ucsf.edu/index.php/companion/index
**Mentoring Youth Workers
It’s no secret that a strong connection with a supportive adult can help a young person stay on track. But what about those working with youth? In its latest newsletter, the National Assembly shows workplace mentoring can also make a difference in staff recruitment, training and professional development for youth workers.
http://www.nydic.org/nydic/documents/Prof_Series_ENews3.pdf
**Obesity is Driving Up Health Care costs
Obesity is responsible for 27 percent of the growth in health care spending from 1987 to 2001, according to an analysis published in Health Affairs.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.w4.480/DC1
**Lame Duck Congress Could Restore State SCHIP Funds
The grass-roots action organization RESULTS says it’s not too late to restore federal dollars to the states to help them avoid cutbacks or, in some cases, expand their State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). On September 30, over $1 billion in SCHIP unused 2004 funds reverted to the U.S. Treasury -- a move that could lead six states to face SCHIP budget shortfalls in 2005. Congress can retroactively restore the funds. (See http://www.results.org/website/navdispatch.asp?id=1205 for outreach information.)
http://www.results.org

PARENTS AND EARLY LEARNING
**Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships
Healthy development depends on the quality and reliability of a young child’s relationships with important people within and outside the family. In the words of child development expert Urie Bronfenbrenner, “Somebody’s got to be crazy about that kid.” The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child reviews the scientific findings underlying this point.
http://www.developingchild.net/papers/paper_1.pdf
**Early Reading Tools for Low-Income Parents
The National Center for Family Literacy has announced its partnership with StudyDog Inc., to offer instructional materials to families teaching reading to kids in preschool through second grade.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38861
**Early Learning for All Campaign
The Foundation for Child Development demonstrates how to build a successful political movement around universal pre-kindergarten, drawing on the example of the Massachusetts Early Education for All campaign. The report includes a chronology of the communications, organizing and advocacy efforts that led to statewide legislation in 2004.
http://www.fcd-us.org/uploadDocs/WP5EarlyEducationforAll.pdf

FOCUS ON THE STATES
**State Ballot Measures to Watch
The Initiative and Referendum Institute has state-by-state information on state ballot initiatives.
http://www.iandrinstitute.org/
**State-by-State News
Arizona
Proposition 200, which some activists say is losing support, would deny illegal immigrants public benefits that are not federally mandated and contains language that makes it a crime for public employees if they fail to report fraud committed by illegal immigrants to the authorities. The New York Times reports.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/26/national/26arizona.html?oref=login
California
Many state lawmakers failed to make the grade, according to the Children's Advocacy Institute’s 2004 Children's Legislative Report Card, which floor votes on 17 child-friendly bills in the areas of economic security, health and safety, child care, education, child protection and juvenile justice.
http://www.caichildlaw.org/Misc/Press_Release_2004.pdf
Maine
Advocates warn that local libraries are among the community services and institutions that could be hurt if the Act to Impose Limits on Real and Personal Property Taxes -- popularly known as the Palesky tax cap referendum -- is approved.
http://www.mecep.org/MeChoices04/ch_051.htm
What does it mean to be a child in the state of Maine? The Maine Children’s Alliance is seeking photographs that capture the experience of children living in Maine for its 2005 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book. For entry forms and photo releases, call 206-623-1868 x202 or email maineKids@mekids.org.
http://www.mekids.org
New Hampshire
On November 4, more than 120 child advocates will meet in Concord, NH for the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network's 7th Annual Children's Summit to set the 2005 agenda to improve the health and well-being of New Hampshire's children. This year, the Summit will feature advocacy training from the Alliance for Justice and a special recognition to Kathleen Sgambati, former Deputy Commissioner of the state Department of Health and Human Services. For details, contact Kelly LaFlamme at klaflamme@childrennh.org or 603-225-2264.
New Jersey
Camden City has the state’s highest percent of children growing up in poor families, according to a new Kids Count report. In 2002, births to unmarried mothers represented 80 percent of total births in the city, compared to 29 percent statewide; teen births represent 23 percent of total city births.
http://www.acnj.org/main.asp?uri=1003&di=437.pdf
New York
Almost half of students who attend public high schools in New York City are sexually active, and nearly 25 percent of sexually active students engage in sexual behavior that puts them at high risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=26350
North Carolina
Under orders from the state Supreme Court to reduce the number of at-risk students across North Carolina, state attorneys presented a reform plan that proposes expanding a preschool program and linking high schools and community colleges. (See the Charlotte Observer article, “N.C. Attorneys Lay Out Proposal to Assist At-Risk Students.”)
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/10012171.htm
Ohio
KidsOhio.org urges political leaders to focus their attention on improving the lives of Ohio’s children, especially those whose working parents cannot earn their way out of poverty.
http://www.kidsohio.org

Pennsylvania
The Daily News profiles the state SCHIP program, which it calls "one of the oldest health insurance programs in the country and considered a model for others."
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=26447
After a two-year campaign by child-advocacy groups, Pennsylvania has joined a small but growing list of states making it easier for foster children to transfer between school districts when they are forced to change homes. New regulations require schools to get children into classes within five business days of their application for enrollment. Before, some children waited weeks or even months for their transfer applications to be processed. (See, "Foster Children on Fast Track for School.")
http://www.ecs.org/00CL5614
Washington
If it passes, ballot initiative 884 will raise the statewide sales tax rate from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent, generating $1 billion a year for public education programs (ranging from preschools to colleges and universities). The Seattle-Post Intelligencer reports.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/196768_eschooltax26.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=1
Cast your vote -- and encourage your friends and colleagues to head to the polls!
Jan
Jan Richter, Advocacy Director, and the Connect for Kids team
jan@connectforkids.org
Click here to subscribe or update your information