Texas graduation rates haven't improved much in over 20 years. In fact, the 2008 Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) study finds that Texas schools lose one high school student every four minutes—that's one-third of the state's students. So what would it take to get to a drop out rate of zero? IDRA's Grad4All looks at what can work, and how adults can get involved to make sure more students in Texas and across the country graduate on time and with the skills they need to succeed.

Being young and mentally ill may not be a crime—but it often results in incarceration. In 2003, juvenile detention centers in most states reported routinely holding mentally ill young people, simply because treatment programs are not available. One state that has begun to put together the pieces of a better system is Texas. Cecilia Garcia reports.

Thanks to the Writers in the Schools program of Houston, Texas, writer Patrick Freeman, a native of Ghana, worked with refugee children from several African nations in a special series of Saturday workshops geared towards personal histories. Freeman found himself in awe of his young collaborators. This story originally appeared in the WITS newsletter.

This year, Colorado lawmakers made a fundamental change in how the state funds higher education. With Texas carrying out its own funding deregulation experiment, some see a trend developing. How will students be affected? Robert Capriccioso reports.

Partnering with families and communities to build a strong foundation for young children to succeed in school and in life.

To establish lasting collaborations between Independent School Districts, businesses, and local community based organizations. Learning Center Schools provide challenging and fun academic after-school programs that ensure a safe enviornment while linking local communities to the school campus.

Jonathan's Place provides 24-hour housing and specialized services to at risk and underserved populations in Dallas County.

TRAC is a one-stop center that offers access to affordable housing, liveable wage jobs and a safety net to young people, age 14-24, who are transitioning from subsitite care (CPS/JD) toward self-sufficiency.

Mathematica gives good marks in its report to Congress on the State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIPs) that offer health care coverage to children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and beyond. In almost all areas examined—outreach, enrollment and access to services—the programs are succeeding. In the 10 states studied, programs were put in place quickly, and overall, families were satisfied with the ease of enrolling children, many of whom remained enrolled for 12 months, depending on the state.

Texas schools lose a student every four minutes. Since 1986, 2.2 million Texas students have dropped out -- leaving the state with an estimated net loss of $500 billion, according to the 2004-05 attrition study by the Intercultural Development Research Association. The study includes attrition data for each Texas county, as well as components of strong school holding power.

Children are especially vulnerable to environmental hazards, and that means care should be taken in returning them to areas that have been flooded by the recent hurricanes, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While many advocates urge youth involvement in middle- and longer-term rebuilding efforts, the AAP cautions against the involvement of kids and teens involved in clean-up activities.

Another new KCMU issue brief compares various proposals to extend Medicaid coverage to Hurricane Katrina survivors -- including a bill sponsored by Senators Grassley and Baucus, the Administration's Medicaid waiver initiative, and a waiver granted to the state of Texas.

Dr. Lyons is the Executive Director of a Regional Community Policing Institute, providing community policing training and technical assistance to police agencies and the Texas communities they serve.

Diversity
Violence Prevention
Daily needs
School drop out

Attitude
Anger Management
Leadership Skills
Critical Thinking / Decision Making
The Polished Image – Social Skills / Table Etiquette

Dropout Prevention and Recovery
Equitable Resources for Schools
Quality Early Education
Quality Teaching and Learning
Valuing Families and Communities