Vocational education programs, child care, and health insurance for low-income children are targeted for cuts in President Bush's proposed fiscal 2006 budget. Connect for Kids Advocacy Director Jan Richter follows up on her Feb. 7 look at the local impact of federal budget decisions with a round-up of how the president's plan stacks up for kids.

Want to monitor how your program is performing so you can improve your services or make a stronger case to donors? Find guiding questions and tools on conducting a self-evaluation on the new Planning and Evaluation Center (PERC) Web site.

When we held our first-ever Talktime Live on-line chat in January, 2004 we had no way of knowing how many of you would take part. Quite a few, it turns out: more than 100 visitors had questions for Connect for Kids Director Cecilia Garcia and fundraising expert Bob Reeg about raising funds for non-profits. We couldn't answer them all in our allotted hour. But a few key concerns emerged from the list. Cecilia Garcia addresses

How do you turn those brilliant ideas into an organization to help your community? Cecilia Garcia offers a summary of resources to help you start a non-profit organization.

Serious fundraising, long a private school specialty, is increasingly common in public schools as budget cuts threaten valued programs. A tireless fundraiser herself, Beyond the Bake Sale author Jean Joachim says that from auctions to bake sales to comedy shows, sustained fundraising efforts can help build a strong school community.

Since 1990, the nation has invested over $40 billion to bring computers, educational software and Internet connections to schools. Making the most of this investment, however, may be threatened by funding cutbacks and "technology fatigue" which undermine key efforts like improving teacher training, maintaining and upgrading technology available to classrooms and continuing adequate funding for EdTech, say the Benton Foundation and the Center for Children and Technology. The report includes guidance for funders, a look at EdTech in Indian country, legislative language for improving federal support, and a quick chart outlining the characteristics of tech-savvy and un-savvy school districts.

Milk, apples, fruit juice--the healthy snacks at the after-school program run by Pleasant Homes Community Center in Seat Pleasant, Maryland are available through one of the least-known federal child nutrition programs. LaFleur Stephens explains how the Child and Adult Care Food Program, in conjunction with the Summer Food Service Program, helps some low-income children eat well all day and all year round.

The eBay Foundation awards grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for unique programs that utilize technology to empower children and youth. Projects should include collaboration by various organizations to achieve a greater
impact.