The impact of Social Security reaches beyond retirees. The program also provides disability and life insurance protection for workers and their families. Nationally, 50 percent of Social Security beneficiaries receive all or part of their benefit either as the child, spouse or widow/widower of a worker, or as a disabled worker, according to a new study from the National Women's Law Center. Because all Social Security benefits are based on the same formula, cuts in the benefits for retired workers—for example, shifting from wage-indexing to price-indexing benefits—would mean cuts in benefits for widows, children who receive benefits when a working parent is disabled or dies prematurely, and disabled workers. The study, including fact sheets for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is available online.

How important is a free press to a democracy anyway? Only about half of America's high school students think newspapers should be allowed to run stories without government approval. In a study funded by the Knight Foundation, researchers at the University of Connecticut questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 administrators and principals. Nearly three-fourths of high school students either do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted, and more than one-third of students surveyed say the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. The more students study the First Amendment, use news media in the classroom, and are involved in student journalism, the greater their appreciation of First Amendment rights.

Margaret Spellings, President Bush's nominee for secretary of education, has won strong votes of confidence from both sides of the political aisle, as well as from national education groups. Still, at least some educators have questions—and potential misgivings—about her background.

In this hotly-contested election season, Connect for Kids has been looking at efforts to seize the moment to get young people engaged in politics. Caitlin Johnson visited a Virginia high school that is working to turn teens into informed, active citizens.

In Brighton, NY, city officials, parents and schools are all involved in helping their kids become politically active and aware. One result: kid-conceived and kid-produced ads on the importance of voting, developed in conjunction with the National Student Parent Mock Election. Rob Capriccioso reports.

War in Iraq and the threat of terrorism are overshadowing children's issues this political season. But young reporters from 8-18 Media took the opportunity offered by the national conventions this summer to question Democrats on youth issues, and to ask Republicans to assess the No Child Left Behind education reform law.

Among the delegates inside the halls, and the protestors outside, youth were making their presence felt this summer at both the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the Republican National Convention in New York City. Who are these young political activists, and what's important to them? Youth reporters from 8-18 Media in Marquette, Michigan went to find out.

Among the delegates inside the halls, and the protestors outside, youth were making their presence felt this summer at both the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the Republican National Convention in New York City. Who are these young political activists, and what's important to them? Youth reporters from 8-18 Media in Marquette, Michigan went to find out.

In election years, a common lament is that young people aren't engaged by politics. But some educators are finding creative ways to get kids thinking, through the art and humor of political cartooning. Rob Capriccioso reports.

Two former governors - Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Marc Racicot of Montana - stood in for John Kerry and George W. Bush as a panel of teens and young adults asked them questions grounded in their own personal struggles --ranging from dropping out of school to doing time. Susan Phillips listened in.