Policy News You Can Use: July 2017
How legislation and policy changes affect children's well-being
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Feature article: The Bully Pulpit
Since bullying reporting by the U.S. Department of Education first began in 2005, its prevalence in schools has declined along with a broader national trend of reduction in child abuse, violence, and murder rates. However, bullying around ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion remains a problem, as does the use of technology as a new vehicle for bullying. What does research show and what work lies ahead? In late July 2017, an international group of researchers convening in Seattle, WA will be addressing some of these issues particularly as they relate to cyberbullying. Read more about bullying prevention in our blog.
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Federal
Legislation Would Test Ways to Reduce Teacher Stress and Improve Student Outcomes

 
On June 14, 2017, Committee for Children and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) co-sponsored a congressional briefing on Teacher Health and Wellness: Fostering Student Achievement by Supporting Teachers' Mental and Physical Well-being. The briefing supported a bill introduced in June 2017 that would pilot various research-based techniques intended to reduce teacher stress and improve student academic outcomes. Learn all about the briefing and watch clips in our blog. Two methods of stress reduction in the news recently include social support systems and mentoring.
National Poll Shows Voters Heavily Support Public Education


Hart Research Associates released the results from a national poll on education policy and politics on June 26, 2017. The poll conducted on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was based on online interviews conducted from June 3 to June 5, 2017, with a cross section of voters spanning both political parties. See the poll results here.
Importance of Social-Emotional Skills in Teachers

Research substantiates that having good Social Emotional (SE) competencies is essential  for kids to thrive in school and life. Researchers and practitioners are now acknowledging the important role that educators play in children's acquisition of effective social-emotional skills in this Education Week issue,  Social-Emotional Learning: It Starts with Teachers. Educators in search of professional learning on the topic should check out Rutgers' online certificate for Instruction in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development. And, those teachers and schools incorporating SEL who want to know how to assess its effects can learn more at Measuring SEL.
Holding your Elected Representatives Accountable
 
As Congress reconvenes for three weeks beginning July 11, 2017, the House will continue its work on developing a FY 2018 budget by October 1, 2017, (by which time a budget or a continuing resolution must be passed) while the Senate will focus on getting support for a health care bill to either replace or improve the Affordable Care Act. Find out here if there is a town hall meeting in your district during August and let your U.S. Senator or Representative know your concerns about how federal policies and proposed spending cuts in education, out of school care, food stamps, Medicaid, and welfare will affect the children in your community!  No town hall meeting scheduled, then contact your elected official on July 13 about Summer Learning Day.
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State
Looking for Ways to Support Career and Technical Education in Your State?
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at the state level are supported in part by public funding, including the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, now up for reauthorization, and a range of private funding. You can find 2017 federal allocations by state at the end of  this document and advice on other funding sources in this interview .

Other ways to encourage CTE programs: Learn about a new prize that has been created to reward high school programs and their teachers for excellent instruction in the skilled trades and how the Michigan governor wants  new graduation requirements to promote CTE. Also, read about the potential downside of CTE here.
Washington State Prevents Government Shut Down

After a full regular session and three special sessions, Washington State passed a budget in the final hours of the fiscal year. The budget includes an historic increase in education funding with a dedicated funding stream for high-poverty schools and targeted resources for academically struggling students. The budget also includes support for continuing state work on SEL benchmarks. This budget increase may help boost Washington's rank of 14th in overall child well-being in the recently released  Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Book 2017.
Courageous Leadership Needed to Attain Educational Equity

This resource can help your state to identify key questions to consider in equity in education. Then read how courageous state leadership is needed to achieve educational equity and close persistent achievement gaps in this blog series.  And if you are in a district or school leadership role, here are Six Ways Prioritizing Social and Emotional Learning can Increase Graduation Rates for Students of Color, Lower Suspensions.
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Other Resources
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing: Helping Americans Get Back to Work: Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Read a written summary of the report here or view the webcast.
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Founded in 1978, Committee for Children is a global nonprofit dedicated to fostering the safety and well-being of children through education and advocacy. We work on the federal, state, and local level to prevent bullying, violence, and child abuse and to encourage teaching social-emotional skills to children and youth. These newsletters will help you learn the latest news affecting our priorities as well as opportunities to advocate for change.
  
Please forward this newsletter to other colleagues who are interested in these topics. And feel free to submit timely news on these topics from your state or region. I look forward to your feedback!
  
Carol Wood, Advocacy Specialist
cwood@cfchildren.org
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800-634-4449
206-343-1223