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We're so excited and we just can't hide it: the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools® program has finally kicked off in the golden state! This summer, a record 27 CDF Freedom Schools sites will be operating all across the state - from Sacramento to San Diego and everywhere in between - and bringing the love of reading and learning to over 1,600 children and youth. CDF Freedom Schools are child-centered programs that partner with community based organizations, schools, churches, and juvenile justice facilities to boost student capacity and motivation to read, eliminate summer reading loss, and connect the needs of children and families to resources in their communities. But don’t take our word for it: find out how you can experience the magic of CDF Freedom Schools yourself! This is What Democracy Looks Like! Over 200 students, parents, and community advocates descended on the Long Beach Unified School District on June 9th to demand that the Board of Education invest a larger share of the school budget in more restorative school discipline approaches that improve school climate, build strong bonds between students and faculty, and raise student achievement. LBUSD students organized a mock hearing on the lawn outside the hearing room to show on-lookers what a just budget looked like - while inside students and advocates commandeered the microphone to share personal stories of traumatic run-ins with harsh school discipline policies, as well as the benefits to be had by instituting more positive and effective alternatives. All in all, it was an exciting and emotion filled event; and, while the Board ultimately dismissed the students' demands, one thing was clear: the struggle for education equity in Long Beach is far from over. Youth Spoke: Senators Listened On Tuesday, the Senate Human Services committee voted in support of Assembly Bill 2382, which helps poor parents provide for their children by removing a double truancy penalty targeted at CalWORKs recipients. During the hearing, our very own Michele Stillwell-Parvensky read a powerful testimony from Long Beach native and CDF Freedom Schooler Brianna Moore that illustrated the desperate need for a solution. The passage of AB 2382 represents a major victory in the on-going fight against child poverty, and brings us one step closer to ensuring a level playing field for all children. AB 2382 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the last step before a final vote on the Senate floor. Help us protect children by urging your legislators to support AB 2382. State Budget Takes Baby Steps Forward for Children The 2014-15 state budget, signed by Governor Brown last Friday, included several important advancements for low-income children and families in California:
However, the budget does not go far enough to rebuild the social safety net for children and families, which was devastated by years of deep cuts during the recession. More reinvestment in Medi-Cal (which provides health coverage to half of California children), child care, and CalWORKs will be needed to ensure a level playing field for all children in the state. Expanding Children's Healthcare Access From March 31st to April 2nd, we convened superintendents and school administrators from 13 school districts nationwide at historic Alex Haley Farm in Tennessee for a Community of Practice Institute on school-based health outreach and enrollment practices. The three-day retreat, organized by the Children’s Defense Fund and The School Superintendents Association, is a part of a nationwide effort to identify, enroll, and retain children in free and affordable health care coverage. Participants had the opportunity to share effective health outreach and enrollment strategies, brainstorm solutions to common health care enrollment obstacles, and highlight best practices for building and strengthening school-community partnerships. |
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