This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Proposed tax levy may combat high school dropout rates
Herald and News, Klamath Falls, OR – August 28, 2013
Part of the tax levy that Klamath Community College is seeking will go toward solving a problem that President Roberto Gutierrez views as a major issue in the community — students dropping out of high school.

Charter school for homeless, dropout and at-risk youth hosting open house in renovated building
MLive.com, Grand Rapids, MI – August 29, 2013
The new year-round charter high school working with homeless, dropout and at-risk youth is hosting an open house on Sept. 19 for more than 300 community and business leaders, supporters, and students.

Hudson schools look to increase graduation rates
Register-Star, Hudson, NY – September 2, 2013
With the 2013-14 school year starting next week, the Hudson City School District is looking to reverse a drop in graduation rates seen in recent years.  At Monday’s board of education meeting at the high school library, Hudson City School District Superintendent of Schools Maria Suttmeier laid out the plan to help students achieve to school board members. That plan is being called “Destination Graduation.”

Juvenile Justice

Consensus Building to Reform WV Juvenile Justice System
Public News Service, Charleston, WV – August 28, 2013
West Virginia is moving toward comprehensive juvenile justice reform that lawmakers and citizen groups say is badly needed. A judge this summer ordered the state to take young offenders out of West Virginia's only high-security juvenile facility because of serious problems there. Since then, momentum has been building around the idea of intensive monitoring and treatment at home for some young offenders instead of locking them up.

A court to give juveniles a chance
Tampa Bay Times, Hillsborough County, FL – August 30, 2013
“Boutique courts" we called them, back when it seemed all the rage to set up a specialized court under one judge to deal exclusively with sex offenders, or domestic violence or drugs.  When a new one would come up, some at the courthouse would roll their eyes. What next? A special animal court to handle dog bites and barking dogs and such?  Well, yes. And turns out it's not a bad idea.

Foster Care

Professor’s book shines light on plight of children in foster care
Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia, NY - September 3, 2013
Foster care doesn’t always have a happy ending. At least, not according to Cris Beam, a foster parent and professor of creative writing at Columbia. In her new book, “To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care,” Beam offers an honest, personal perspective on a troubled system by following a handful of foster families. Spectator’s Rachel Dunphy caught up with Beam about the project.

Teen Pregnancy

TPS proposes teen pregnancy prevention program
Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK – September 3, 2013
Sex education could soon be expanding in Tulsa Public Schools.  On Tuesday, the school board will be asked to approve a comprehensive pregnancy prevention curriculum for students in grades seven, nine and 11 that would be provided beginning this fall by Youth Services of Tulsa, the Tulsa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and the Tulsa City-County Health Department.