Youth Issues / Public News Service

Sixty schools piloted College Board's new AP African American Studies course, which is set to appear in over 200 schools starting in the 2024-2025 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

Survey: Students Want More Diverse, Inclusive Curriculum

While controversy rages on about the College Board's Advanced Placement African American Studies course, Black students in a new survey say they want …

Hunger-fighting groups say one in six Minnesota school children lives in a household experiencing food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

MN Looks to Erase Hunger in Schools

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as the potential benefits as Minnesota lawmakers discuss whether to provide free school meals …

South Dakota could soon follow steps taken by states like Utah, which recently approved a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

SD Plan to Ban Gender-Affirming Care Stokes Privacy Debate

South Dakota is once again locked in a debate over a bill concerning transgender youth. It seeks to ban gender-affirming care, with supporters …

Friday, February 3, 2023

Body Positivity Movement Helps Improve Body Image, Alleviate Shame

By Gabes Torres for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service, reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

One in four girls and one in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Yupachingping/Adobe Stock)

PA Senate Bill Proposes Changes to State Constitution

A bill in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would amend the state Constitution to allow more adult victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abus…

For the 2021-2022 school year, Communities in Schools served 75,697 K-12 students in the state of Nevada. (Adobe Stock)

NV Nonprofit Celebrates 94% Grad Rate for Students in Program

A Nevada nonprofit is celebrating a 94% graduation rate among its high school seniors for the 2021-2022 school year. Tami Hance-Lehr. CEO and state …

A yearlong study of the use of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools found that some states track both, some track only the use of restraint, and some track neither. (Adobe Stock)

MO Schools' Seclusion, Restraint Incidents Shared for First Time

Missourians can now see how often their schools use seclusion and restraint to address student behavior. A 2021 law requires that schools report …

Youth climate councils have been established in cities including Portland and San Antonio. (Tamia Studio/Adobe Stock)

Youth Climate Councils Seek to Influence Local Governments

By Marianne Dhenin for Prism.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Se…

According to data from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, reading scores for New York fourth graders declined by six points from 2019. Meanwhile, eighth graders' reading scores remained unchanged. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Students Still Struggle with Pandemic Learning Loss

Students are still struggling with learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. A study from the research group NWEA showed 2022 test scores are not …

South Dakota's dual-credit program allows high school students to take college-level courses and earn credit toward a diploma, while racking up college credits ahead of schedule. (Adobe Stock)

SD Plan: More Students Could 'Make the Grade' in Career Readiness

Like other states, South Dakota has a program allowing high school students to take courses offered at universities and technical colleges. Now…

Experts say school-based grief groups are a good way for grieving students to learn coping skills. (Adobe Stock)

Supporting Students Through the Grief Process

Knowing how to approach the grief of others can be difficult, although things can get more complicated when addressing the grief of students in …

Studies show a variety of dental conditions such as untreated decay and tooth loss can cause a profound impact on self-esteem in adolescents. (pixabay)

Oral Hygienist Highlights Dangers of Dental Disorders in Children

Dental hygienists are trying to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene, noting dental pain is one of the most common reasons for school …

Last fall, the American Library Association said the number of attempts to ban or restrict library resources in schools, universities and public libraries was on track to exceed record counts from 2021. (Adobe Stock)

ND Enters Fray Surrounding Content Ban for Libraries

North Dakota is expected to see continued debate in the coming weeks over a plan to ban certain items from public libraries. While the plan has its …

In fall 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ahead of National Curve on Women Seeking Degrees, Certificates

Nationally, female students have been opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020, according to a new National Student …

Report: Tennessee's 'State of the Child' is Improving

Tennessee's "State of the Child 2022" report is an assessment of how children are faring, and this year's edition focuses on the situation for …

According to the National Institute of Justice, childhood abuse or neglect raises the chance of juvenile arrest by 59%. In South Dakota, advocates say that's why it's important to provide more mental health providers to children and young adults so they can avoid entering the juvenile justice system. (Adobe Stock)

Reducing Effects of Childhood Trauma Tied to SD's Juvenile-Justice Efforts

South Dakota has been looking at ways to improve the state's juvenile-justice system. Recommendations could be considered in the new legislative …

In the fall of 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Bucks National Trend of Women Stopping Out of Higher Education

Wyoming has managed to buck a national trend which has seen female students opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020…

Oregon community college students who completed credentials or transferred within four years increased from 45% to 51% between 2017 and 2021. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Audit: Lawmakers Can Help Improve Oregon Community Colleges

An audit of community colleges in Oregon has implications for the state's legislative session, which started this week. The report from the …

Virginia law says all state agencies and institutions need to take

VA Bill Would Ban Withholding Student Transcripts for Debt Collection

As the Virginia General Assembly begins its new legislative session, one bill will be returning - with the goal of alleviating some student-debt …

The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

Iowa Takes Aim at Human Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Iowa is working to address the problem by educating businesses about the potential signs and dangers…

Leading up to the pandemic, fewer men were attending college. But the pandemic appears to have prevented more women from enrolling soon after high school. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Higher education experts say a concerning trend has emerged in the pandemic - declining college enrollment among young women. Those pushing for …

The 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey found the number of Maine high school students who identify as transgender <a href=

more than doubled from 2019 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)">

Intergenerational Groups Strengthen Maine’s LGBTQ Community

Intergenerational connections can be powerful tools to help improve overall quality of life for both young and old. It can be especially true in the …

It's estimated 23% of U.S. children 2 to 5 years of age and 52% of children 6 to 8 years of age have dental cavities, according to a <a href=

December 2022 report published in the journal Pediatrics. (Adobe Stock)">

Kids' 'COVID Cavities' Lingering Effect of Pandemic

Young kids and teens have gotten out of regular teeth brushing and flossing, and dentists say "COVID cavities" are a lingering effect of the pandemic…

Advocates for Colorado's new Healthy School Meals for All program say it can help end lunch-line shaming currently experienced by many students from low-income families. (Adobe Stock)

Some Colorado School Districts on Fence about Free Meals

A new law going into effect this year provides money and other support to help Colorado school districts provide free meals to all students regardless…

Students will meet virtually or in-person with their GRIT advisor throughout the academic year. (Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Public Library)

Phoenix High Schoolers Get College-Ready with Access to Tech

The Phoenix Public Library is making navigating going to college easier for first-generation college students. The Arizona Lottery's Give Back …

Four out of five students (81%) say they would be more likely to intervene in instances of cyberbullying if they could do it anonymously. (Adobe Stock)">

Iowa Works to Make Reporting Cyberbullying Easier

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online. In Iowa, the numbers are startling…

The federal government provides <a href=

around 8.5% of funding for K-12 public schools, according to the Congressional Budget Office. (Adobe Stock)">

Survey Reveals Sinking Confidence in Public Schools Among Voters

Five in 10 voters say their confidence in the public school system has decreased since the start of the Covid crisis and over the past year, …

Online harassment has effects on the mental health of targets of the abuse. (ryanking999/Adobe Stock)

Protecting Kids from Online Harassment, Bigotry

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Hate groups target certain people to harass online. (burdun/Adobe Stock)

Tips for Guarding Kids from Online Bigotry

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Children are feeling the effects of an increase in online harassment. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

In a recent study, about 15% of middle and high school age young people admitted they had cyberbullied someone in the past. (asiandelight/Adobe Stock)

Online Spaces Ripe for Harassment, But Parents Can Fight Back

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Some student loan scammers will use a website that mimics the U.S. Department of Education or the borrower's loan servicer, and their correspondence may even have tidbits of the borrower's real information, such as the current payment amount. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Borrowers Inundated with Student-Loan Scams

Scammers targeting student-loan borrowers in Wisconsin and elsewhere are shifting into high gear - spurred by the uncertainty surrounding President Jo…

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

cyberbullying victims said the incidents affected their friendships, while 13% said it affected their physical health. (Adobe Stock)">

UNH Center Works to Prevent Online Violence Against Children

The University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center has teamed up with the World Health Organization to help parents learn the b…

Yemima Rodriguez, a former international student from Guatemala, got connected to Lassen Community College through a soccer coach. (Salgu Wissmath)

Postcards from the College Journey in CA's Central Valley

By Nick Fouriezos for Open Campus Media.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Open Source Media-Public New…

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is open to the state's 9.3 million children, as well as their parents and caregivers. (Sebra/Adobe Stock)<br /> <br />

Holiday Season Brings Uptick in Calls to CA Parent & Youth Helpline

Active crisis calls have jumped 50% in the run-up to the holidays, according to officials at the California Parent and Youth Helpline. The helpline …

Central Washington University and its Wildcat Pantry are located in the small town of Ellensburg. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

WA University Student Pantry Confronts Root of Hunger on Campus

Hunger is pervasive on college campuses across the country, including in Washington, and a university in the state is one example of how students are …

Starting in 2023, parents who are offered family health insurance at work may qualify for affordable health care coverage through the federal marketplace if premiums for that family plan cost more than 9.12% of their total family income. (Adobe Stock)

Maine Increases Rates of Children with Health Insurance

Federal funding during the COVID-19 public emergency helped to further reduce the number of uninsured children in Maine, but as pandemic-era dollars …

MO Project to Disrupt 'School-to-Prison Pipeline' Gets a Boost

A new federal grant is giving schools in three Missouri counties and St. Louis City a fresh look at the challenges of students of color living with …

During the pandemic, the child poverty rate dropped to 5.2% because of the expansion of the child tax credit and other relief efforts. (Andrii/AdobeStock)

PA Group Urges Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

A Pennsylvania policy analysis group is adding its voice to the calls for Congress to bring back the expanded child tax credit for families in place d…

Statistics show that enrollment of male students of color dropped significantly more than other student populations. (mdurson/Adobestock)

Report: How Schools Can Lure Students Back to Community College

During the pandemic, California community colleges lost 19% of their enrollment, but as a new report found, a handful of schools bucked the trend…

Senate Bill 1277 in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would require parental notification of content and materials that expose students to sexually explicit content in schools. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Group Advocates for Inclusive Schools in Keystone State

A Pennsylvania group has responded to what it says are "discriminatory policy proposals in the state education system" by launching the "Inclusive Sch…

When Congress elected to let the Child Tax Credit expire, child poverty rose by 40%, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns Call on Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Utahns are calling on Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and say it should be a priority in a year-end tax package. The debate comes as …

Nationally, the number of uninsured children fell by more than 200,000 during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Health Insurance Coverage Increases for MO Kids During Pandemic

A new Georgetown University report showed the number of uninsured children in Missouri dropped during the pandemic thanks to a shift in federal policy…

New Hampshire has the lowest amount of state funding for public higher education, relative to personal income, of any other state. The state government paid an estimated $1.50 for public higher education per every $1,000 in personal income during fiscal year 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Halt to Revisions of NH Public School Standards

Public school advocates in New Hampshire are asking state officials to stop the current revisions being made to public education standards so parents …

Among adolescents who currently use any tobacco product, the proportion whose first tobacco product was e-cigarettes increased from 27.2% in 2014 to 78.3% in 2019 and remained at 77.0% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Settlement Money to Help NE Fight Epidemic of Teen E-cig Use

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said more than $8 million will be the state's share of a multistate lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul Lab…

A group of 40 Florida-based organizations has sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging the state to publish its plan for keeping people insured when the federal public health emergency expires. (Pixabay)

FL Child Uninsured Rate Stabilizes; Advocates Raise Future Concerns

While the Sunshine State ranks among the top 10 states with the highest rates of uninsured children, it did see more kids with health coverage during …

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Youth

Survey: Students Want More Diverse, Inclusive Curriculum

MN Looks to Erase Hunger in Schools

SD Plan to Ban Gender-Affirming Care Stokes Privacy Debate

Body Positivity Movement Helps Improve Body Image, Alleviate Shame

PA Senate Bill Proposes Changes to State Constitution

NV Nonprofit Celebrates 94% Grad Rate for Students in Program

MO Schools' Seclusion, Restraint Incidents Shared for First Time

Youth Climate Councils Seek to Influence Local Governments

Study: Students Still Struggle with Pandemic Learning Loss

SD Plan: More Students Could 'Make the Grade' in Career Readiness

Supporting Students Through the Grief Process

Oral Hygienist Highlights Dangers of Dental Disorders in Children

ND Enters Fray Surrounding Content Ban for Libraries

Colorado Ahead of National Curve on Women Seeking Degrees, Certificates

Report: Tennessee's 'State of the Child' is Improving

Reducing Effects of Childhood Trauma Tied to SD's Juvenile-Justice Efforts

Wyoming Bucks National Trend of Women Stopping Out of Higher Education

Audit: Lawmakers Can Help Improve Oregon Community Colleges

VA Bill Would Ban Withholding Student Transcripts for Debt Collection

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Iowa Takes Aim at Human Trafficking

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Intergenerational Groups Strengthen Maine’s LGBTQ Community

Kids' 'COVID Cavities' Lingering Effect of Pandemic

Some Colorado School Districts on Fence about Free Meals

Phoenix High Schoolers Get College-Ready with Access to Tech

Iowa Works to Make Reporting Cyberbullying Easier

Survey Reveals Sinking Confidence in Public Schools Among Voters

Protecting Kids from Online Harassment, Bigotry

Tips for Guarding Kids from Online Bigotry

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

Online Spaces Ripe for Harassment, But Parents Can Fight Back

Borrowers Inundated with Student-Loan Scams

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

UNH Center Works to Prevent Online Violence Against Children

Postcards from the College Journey in CA's Central Valley

Holiday Season Brings Uptick in Calls to CA Parent & Youth Helpline

WA University Student Pantry Confronts Root of Hunger on Campus

Maine Increases Rates of Children with Health Insurance

MO Project to Disrupt 'School-to-Prison Pipeline' Gets a Boost

PA Group Urges Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Report: How Schools Can Lure Students Back to Community College

Group Advocates for Inclusive Schools in Keystone State

Utahns Call on Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Health Insurance Coverage Increases for MO Kids During Pandemic

Groups Call for Halt to Revisions of NH Public School Standards

Settlement Money to Help NE Fight Epidemic of Teen E-cig Use

FL Child Uninsured Rate Stabilizes; Advocates Raise Future Concerns