What is the secret behind students staying in school? Interesting courses? GPA? A new CDC study shows the unwavering support of teachers and community members is a primary contributor to students' success in school. During a June 23, 2009 Congressional briefing, experts from the Search Institute, CDC and local schools shared their insight on how to create these essential connections and their lasting impact on students. We've got the scoop.

Community colleges across the country are struggling to meet an unprecedented surge in enrollment, largely driven by the economy—even as states are slashing funds needed to serve these students. The Obama administration has unveiled a two-pronged plan to sustain community colleges and measure their effectiveness. CFK's Maria Allen joined a July 14 teleconference with White House officials to bring you the scoop.

While the evidence on the impact of after-school programs on academic and other outcomes is unclear, kids who do not attend at all - some 7 million unsupervised children - tend to have more academic and behavioral problems, reports MDRC in this one-page summary of the evaluation research.

The National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth and WSC recently released this case study report that examines the efforts of community colleges to function as intermediaries in meeting the local workforce development needs of employers and promoting career opportunities and job attainment for students, including those with disabilities.

In an interview with Public School Insights, Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey, President of Say Yes to Education, explains how the Say Yes approach has dramatically narrowed the high school and college graduation gaps between inner-city students and their suburban peers.

The advocacy organization Every Child Matters persuaded hundreds of members to congratulate President Obama on his first 100 days and on the “kid-friendly parts” of his budget. How did it mobilize so many? Through e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, among other things. But can children’s champions use social media to make a real-world impact? Commentator Ray Schultz talked with Every Child Matters.

How a student YouTube posting brought top-level attention to a growing initiative that connects under-represented young people to college campuses—Jamaal Abdul-Alim of Youth Today reports.

The economic recovery bill, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, includes more than $100 Billion for the U.S. Department of Education. That’s less than the original House bill asked for, but more than twice last year’s federal education funding, as the Alliance for Excellent Education reports.