CFK Update: April 16

Bringing you relevant news, research and policy updates
affecting children, youth and families.

biweekly
April 16, 2008

In This Issue

New on Connectforkids.org [1]

Reconnecting Youth [2]

Follow the Money: Kids & Government Budgets [3]

Celebrating Youth Action [4]

Education News [5]

After-School News [6]

Child Care & Early Learning [7]

Spotlight on Youth Courts [8]

Tools for Your Work [9]

Grants and Funding [10]

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[11]

Quick Links

Connect for Kids [12]

Forum for Youth Investment [13]

Youth Policy Action Center [14]

Editor's Note

Are our legislators "getting a free pass" by claiming to support children and youth while casting votes that don't match their rhetoric? Every Child Matters has a new report showing that where children grow up has a shocking impact on their health and well-being -- and politics and funding play a big role. (See New on Connect for Kids for our coverage, and check out the Politics section for more tools to "follow the money" for kids).

The Nation's Report Card on Writing is in. Eighth and 12th grade writing scores show some slight improvements, as well as some frustrating stagnation, and racial/ethnic achievement gaps persist. When it comes to real results, a new Casey Foundation series looks at successful efforts to close education achievement gaps. Check out the short and compelling briefs that make up the series.

Educational success depends on a foundation built early -- so it is particularly notable that public pre-K is unavailable to most 3- and 4-year-olds. In fact, 12 states offer no public preschool programs. In some states, however, major efforts are underway to expand the effective Early Head Start program. (See Child Care and Early Learning.)

Also this week: The Forum for Youth Investment's Ready by 21 Challenge isn't a program or a campaign or even an initiative. So what is it and how can it improve your work and youth outcomes? Find out in a free April 23 webinar. (See our section on Reconnecting Youth). We've also got the scoop on the record numbers involved in the Youth Court movement, the debate on measuring after-school programs, evaluation tools and more.

Happy Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day, everyone!
Caitlin Johnson
weekly@connectforkids.org [15]

PDF

[16]To read PDF files, download the free Adobe Reader [17].

New on Connectforkids.org

ECM Geography

[18]Geography Matters [19]
Where a child is born and raised plays a surprisingly large role in his or her chances of getting and staying healthy and surviving to adulthood, according to a major new report by the nonpartisan Every Child Matters Education Fund. There's a "huge investment gap" across the states. Here's what you need to know.

Hershel

[20]Communication Designed to Inspire Community Action: The Under-Achievers [21]
"Because I have a strong belief in the power of community action and citizen engagement in all areas of child well-being, I constantly comb major Websites and print publications for relevant Real People, Real Results stories to share with CFK readers," writes Hershel Sarbin. His most recent find in Casey Family Services Voices publication prompted his thoughts on how nonprofits can better reach a broad audience.

Coming this week! CFK Podcast: America's Promise Dropout Prevention Campaign [22]
We speak with experts at America's Promise Alliance and get the scoop on the newly released dropout numbers, what's working and where, and what we can do to help keep young people on track.

Reconnecting Youth

Introduction to the Ready by 21 Challenge -- Webinar (April 23) [23]
Ready by 21 Logo

[24]Ready by 21 isn't a program or a campaign or even an initiative. It is a challenge to all who care about children and youth to learn a different approach to the tasks associated with trying to manage, make or measure change at any level from the classroom to the capitol. This webinar will introduce and guide participants through the essential components of the Ready by 21 Challenge and offer specific action steps and materials. Register online.

Community Education Pathways to Success Re-Engage Dropouts [25]
In New York City, nearly 70 percent of dropouts begin high school at low literacy levels. The Youth Development Institute's Community Education Pathways to Success (CEPS) offers academic, vocational and personal support to connect youth with GED programs and post-secondary skills. File this under Real Results: CEPS participants, many of whom attended their high schools less than 20 percent of the time, have become readers and made gains on standardized tests.

[26]Follow the Money: Kids & Government Budgets

Hot off the Presses: Children's Budget 2008! [27]
Only one penny of every new, real non-defense dollar spent by the federal government has gone to children's programs in the past five years, according to this new report from First Focus. This comprehensive guide to all federal spending on children is a great resource for anyone working to improve the lives of America's youth.

Where Do Ou [28]r Tax Dollars Go? [29]
CBPP Graphic

[30]The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has a quick and readable breakdown of where federal tax dollars go.

Spotlight on the States. Unlike the federal government, states can't run a deficit and must balance their budgets each year. And since many state programs rely heavily on federal funds, cuts are often felt earliest at the state level. At least 20 states (up from 17) have made or proposed budget cuts that threaten vital services like public health, K-12 education, and services for families and people with disabilities. Read CBPP's report, Many States Imposing Cuts that Hurt Vulnerable Residents. [31]

Celebrating Youth Action

Earth Day Youth Action (April 22) [32]
Here are some resources for Earth Day, from the Youth Action Network.

GYSD Banner

[33]Global Youth Service Day (April 25 - 27) [34]
Youth Service Day helps young people address the needs of their local communities through service and gives them a chance to be recognized for their contributions and to be a part of a global youth service movement. It is organized by Youth Service America in partnership with the Global Youth Action Network and national and international organizations. Get involved in your hometown -- it's not too late!

Education News NAEP

[35]

Nation's Report Card: Writing in 8th and 12th Grades [36]
The results are in -- average scores on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam in writing were slightly higher than scores in 1998 and 2002. Among the results:

The share of students performing at or above "basic achievement" is up slightly since 2002: from 85 percent to 88 percent for 8th graders, and from 74 percent to 82 percent in 12th grade.

The percentage of students at the proficient level did not improve.

White students continue to outperform African-American and Hispanic students by large margins at both grade levels.

State comparisons. Two additional reports from the National Center for Education Statistics compare national and state results: Comparison Between NAEP and State Reading Assessment Results: 2003 [37] and
Comparison Between NAEP and State Mathematics Assessment Results: 2003 [38].

[39]Closing the Achievement Gap Series [40]
Here's a series of stories, results and lessons learned from seven years of investing in education by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Because the audience is deluged with information, Casey decided to create these short, topic-focused publications on specific areas of interest.

Funding Equity -- How Does Your School Stack Up? [41]
The Federal Education Budget Project, an online database developed by the New America Foundation, has the latest data on federal education financing. Find out how your state or school district rates in terms of per-pupil spending, student poverty, achievement, school finance equity and more.

After-School News and Resources

Should After-School Programs be Measured by How Well They Improve Academic Outcomes? [42]
In our climate of standards-based accountability, after-school programs -- many of which are funded through education budgets -- are increasingly evaluated on their ability to improve education outcomes. Does that crowd out other important goals or override other approaches that may appeal more to youth? This report by Robert C. Granger, executive director of the W.T. Grant Foundation, looks at research and statements by practitioners and advocates, and offers promising approaches to effective programming.

RAND

[43]Current-Gen [44]eration Youth Programs: What Works, What Doesn't and At What Cost? [45]
A new RAND report looks at the costs and benefits of youth programs offered during out-of-school time. The strongest evaluation results for at-risk youth come from programs that are costlier and provide more intensive services for youth.

Building Community Partnerships: Tips for Out-Of-School Time Programs [46]
Community involvement in out-of-school time programs can offer strong benefits to programs and students alike. This Child Trends brief gives programs tools to identify community resources and develop strategies to gain community support.

After-school Lesson Plan Database [47]
This site from the U.S. Department of Education has plans and activities for six content areas, ranging from Art to Technology, that can be sorted by grade level.

Child Care and Early Learning

NIEER

[48]State of Preschool 2007: Valuable But Unavailable for Many [49]
State-funded preschools passed the "one million children served" mark last year, and enrollment, quality and per-child state spending are on the rise. Yet public preschool is unavailable to most 3- and 4-year-olds, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Less than half of all 4-year-olds were enrolled in government-supported preschool and one-quarter received no preschool at all in 2007. Only 15 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in public programs and 50 percent received no education at all. Twelve states offered no state-funded preschool.

casey

Increasing State Investments in Early Care and Education: Lessons Learned from Advocates and Best Practices [50]
This report, prepared by Voices for America's Children for the Casey Foundation, profiles efforts in 10 states to increase investments in early childhood. These states -- Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming -- differ widely in size, political dynamics, budget resources, and in demographics of the under-five population. But the report outlines common effective advocacy strategies.

Building on the Promise: State Initiatives to Expand Access to Early Head Start for Young Children and Their Families (April 22) [51]

[52]
The federal Early Head Start program serves infants, toddlers and their parents, and has been shown to improve child health and development as well as parents' progress toward self-sufficiency. Still, federal funds reach less than 3 percent of all eligible children. Almost 20 states have taken action to expand and enhance Early Head Start. Find out more about their efforts and a joint report by ZERO TO THREE and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in this webinar.

Spotlight on Youth Courts

[53]Youth Courts: Record Numbers [54]
Youth and teen courts are alternatives to the traditional justice system that are designed to intervene in early stages of youth delinquency. They involve young people and adults as lawyers, jurors and judges. This George Washington University report, An Empirical Update and Analysis of Future Organizational and Research Needs, finds record numbers:

116,144 young people who committed a crime or offense appeared in local youth court and teen court programs across America in the most recent year;

More than 97,000 of these young people successfully completed the program;

133,832 volunteers (both youth and adults) participated in local youth court programs.

A Matter of When, Not If: Involving Kids in Court [55]
In another angle on court involvement, this article from the New York-based City Limits online magazine examines a movement to include more young people in their own Family Court hearings.

Tools for Your Work

grantCraft

[56]Evaluation Techniques: A Series of Brief Guides [57]
What works when it comes to effective evaluation and assessment to help document and analyze the work that grantmakers support? This free series from GrantCraft, a project of the Ford Foundation, weighs the advantages of different approaches, describes how some grantmakers are applying each method and offers the resources to learn more.

Early Childhood Program Evaluations: A Decision-Maker's Guide [58]
This new guide from Harvard University's National Forum on Early Childhood Program Evaluation focuses on evidence-based evaluations of early childhood programs (but is relevant to other programs and ages). It looks at five key questions that address both the substance and the utility of accurate and reliable evaluation research.

Strengthening the Human Services Workforce: Tools for Sector Employers [59]
As part of their human services workforce initiative, Cornerstones for Kids developed an online portal to help sector employers improve their workforce. It provides hands-on tools, best-practice strategies and solutions to common challenges.

Grants and Funding

funding alerts

[60]Funding Exchange: Emergency Fund for Seizing Strategic Opportunities [61]
This national membership organization of publicly supported, community-based foundations offers emergency funds of up to $5,000 to support specific social justice projects, events or initiatives. A small amount of money can make a difference in educating or mobilizing for social change!

Academic Enrichment for Educators of Low-Income Students [62]
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. Eligibility: educators work with students pre-K to 12 from low-income households. Deadline: May 1.

Newman's Own Awards -- Helping Military Families [63]
The purpose of the Newman's Own Awards is to recognize volunteer and nonprofit organizations supporting our nation's military families. Eligible organizations must be comprised primarily of volunteers and support Active Duty, National Guard, or Reserve units or installations. Deadline: May 2

Wal-Mart Community Grant Program [64]
The Wal-Mart Community Grant Program allows local nonprofit organizations, such as schools, youth programs, fire departments and libraries, to hold fundraisers at their local Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB. Through the Matching Grant Program, the store/club can elect to match a portion of the funds raised up to $1,000.

Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment

In collaboration with Hershel Sarbin and the Child Advocacy 360 Foundation.