Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - CFK Articles, Education

Creativity Transcending Boundaries: the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2008

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:12:14 -0500

Get the scoop in the 2008 contest and listen to a special CFK podcast with Bryan Doerries, program director of Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, which administers the Scholastic Art and Writing Award, and two of the high school students who took top honors in photography.

What works? The Need to Evaluate Programs Targeting Out-of-School Youth - A CFK Summary

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:12:53 -0500

Too few young people are ready for college, work and life. So what do we know about the programs designed to reach young people before they “disconnect” and help ensure all youth finish high school ready for a successful adulthood. A July 18, 2008 Working for Change forum—sponsored by the Community Service Society of New York in collaboration with the Coalition on Human Needs—looked at what’s being done and how well it’s working to improve graduation rates and reconnect young our youth. Maria Allen has this summary.

Extending Learning: Will We Ever Get it Right?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:10:25 -0500

I had a few hours to read, so I pulled out the folder into which I cram all of the things that catch my eye and might make good material for a column. Here’s what I read recently:

KIDS COUNT 2008: A CFK Overview

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:47:35 -0500

To make positive change for kids, you need to know where things stand, what’s working and what needs to be improved. The annual KIDS COUNT Data Book offers both data and context for 10 indicators of child well-being—and drills down to a state and local level. This year’s essay offers a “roadmap for reform” in juvenile justice. CFK summer intern Maria Allen attended the June 2008 launch event in DC and has this overview.

A“Ticket to Work” for Transitioning Youth – and Those Working With Them

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:12:55 -0600

If you work with teens with disabilities, you’ll want to know about the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (TTW) program. Its Youth Transition portion offers funds for organizations that help students receiving Social Security disability benefits find employment. Is it right for you? Melody Goodspeed, Youth Transition Specialist for TTW answers some common questions about the funding.

Choosing Care for a Child with Special Needs

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:00:00 -0500

Finding quality, affordable child care can be difficult for any parent. For those with a special needs child, it can also be a very confusing and emotional experience. Rebecca Freshour looks at what the law says, and what parents need to know to find care for their children.

No Child Left Behind: Advocates for Educational Justice Disagree about How to Change It

Wed, 02 May 2007 18:56:46 -0500

As Congress considers how to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act—set to expire in September—many organizations and agencies are weighing in on its successes and shortcomings. This article, by Children’s Advocate writer Kelly Virella, lays out the differing arguments in several areas.

Youth Movement: The Extreme Version

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:49:14 -0500

There aren’t many physical challenges that measure up to running a marathon. In Los Angeles, volunteers have helped thousands of low-income middle and high school students train for and complete the L.A. marathon each March, changing some lives along the way. Holly St. Lifer reports.

Stewart Bohan: 2006 Essay Contest Winner

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:10:36 -0500

In the upcoming year, $2876 million dollars is scheduled to be cut from academic and social programs in public high schools across the nation. This is a staggering number, considering the recent decline in test scores. To be sure, there are still many programs that tend to the needs of the students, but with all of the future cuts, this may not be the case in the future. I feel that unless changes are made, the students will continue to receive less academic attention with every passing year. The decrease in attention to gifted programs, the inadequate teacher qualifications, and the lack of funding for social events are taking away support from the students, making them less likely to succeed in the future.

Sandi Campos: 2006 Essay Contest Winner

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:09:19 -0500

A person's high school years have always been said to be the best of their lives. Not only is it supposed to be a time of meeting and befriending new people who are different, but most importantly, it is the point in life in which you take the first step in setting the foundation for the future to come (the next step being college). Not only are they supposed to be the best, but they are supposed to be the most important as well. However, it must be realized that in order for someone's high school years to be successful, there needs to be a lot of support given to every single person or they will not succeed. I feel that the high schools in the United States do not give the social needs, interests, or academic needs of today's student's the support they need.

Luis Santos: 2006 Essay Contest Winner

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:06:18 -0500

High schools do support the academic needs of today's high schools well. There seems to be a very high percentage of college-bound students, which would indicate that this is the case. Many high schools offer advanced courses that will help the more advanced students, and they offer the regular core classes for the rest. High schools offer many areas of study as well. Courses range from Advanced Calculus to Drama. High schools are doing a very good job of preparing their students for the next levels of education.

Engaging Youth on the Environment

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:06:05 -0500

Located just a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol, the Earth Conservation Corps is far removed from the world of legislators, lobbyists and policymakers. ECC provides a striking example of a program that engages young people in protecting the environment while learning valuable lessons about life in the process. CFK intern Kate Carta profiled the organization.

David Young: 2006 Essay Contest Winner

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:05:03 -0500

United States high schools, I feel, do a pretty good job of supporting the academic, social needs, and interests of today's students. In today's schools, we have so many alternative education programs, extra curricular activities, and other programs that it may even be difficult for a student to decide which ones to participate in.

World of Opportunity Welcomes All Comers

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:55:01 -0500

Low-income students who drop out—or are pushed out—of school without a high school diploma face long odds in their search for a path to a successful and stable adult life. In Birmingham, Ala., a former public school teacher is waging a fierce campaign to give such students a second chance. Gin Phillips reports on the World of Opportunity School.

A New Take On School-to-Career Connections: MUSE

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:47:14 -0500

It's a question that pops out during a ride in the car, at the dinner table, through a recently-slammed door after a fight about finishing up homework: "What good is all this stuff I'm learning in school going to do me in the real world?" Programs that make a strong, direct connection between school learning and future career options can be powerfully motivating for students, even those who eventually choose a different path. Gayle Hargreaves reports on one such program that introduces teens to museum careers.