This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Beshear signs long-awaited bill to keep Kentucky students in school until age 18
KYForward.com, Kentucky – March 19, 2013
Kentucky can now require students to stay in school until they turn 18. Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill raising the high school dropout age Monday, calling it “one of my most satisfying acts as governor.”

A sensible plan to tackle dropout rates
The Bakersfield Californian, California – March 23, 2013
Conceptually, a bill intended to curb high school dropout rates being promoted by state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg makes sense. Pulling off the task of keeping kids in school is a multifaceted problem, but Steinberg's bill looks like a valuable tool.

Alternative ed program would improve graduation rate
The Franklin News-Post, Franklin County, VA – March 18, 2013
Franklin County High School's B rating from the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) demonstrates the need for an alternative education center for "at-risk" students, according to school officials.  According to the current DOE grading system, 15 county schools received an A rating, said Dr. Mark Church, school superintendent. "Franklin County High School received a B rating, due to the declining graduation rate in the county."

Juvenile Justice

Lawmakers near major overhaul of juvenile court process
Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska – March 21, 2013
State lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a piece of the proposed overhaul of Nebraska's juvenile justice system.  Senators voted 39-0 to give first-round approval to a bill (LB464) that would require criminal charges against anyone younger than 18 to be filed in juvenile court.

Senate approves juvenile justice reforms
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia – March 21, 2013
The Georgia Senate Thursday signed off on a sweeping rewrite of the laws that govern how the state treats juveniles who run afoul of the law, another milestone in the state’s two-year effort to reserve expensive prison bed space in both the adult and juvenile systems for the most violent offenders.

Foster Care

Ground broken in East Austin for new housing for homeless youth
Your News Now, East Austin, TX – March 21, 2013
An affordable place for homeless and foster care youth is under construction in East Austin, thanks to a local nonprofit.  The organization behind the project, LifeWorks, broke ground Wednesday on the apartment complex located along Pleasant Valley Road.

Teen Pregnancy

Expecting teens gain advice at pregnancy conference
KETV ABC, Council Bluffs, IA – March 21, 2013
Teen parents-to-be attended the Council Bluffs Teen Pregnancy Task Force event Thursday at the Iowa Western Community College, learning how to care for themselves and their babies.

Support, hard work help teen parents beat odds
Sentinel and Enterprise, Fitchburg, WI – March 24, 2013
Up until late spring of 2011, life for Fitchburg High School couple Kristene Haywood and Eli Jackson had been much like any other students their age, filled with school, sports and friends.  Then Haywood and Jackson, who have been together since they were in the seventh grade, learned Haywood was pregnant.