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Item(s) found: 323
Challenges in Matching Student and Worker Information Raise Concerns about Longitudinal Data Systems
Date CapturedWednesday July 15 2015, 7:29 AM
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DATA Challenges in Matching Student and Worker Information Raise Concerns about Longitudinal Data Systems Report to the Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senate November 2014 GAO-15-27 United States Government Accountability Office
The Belmont Report
Date CapturedMonday November 24 2014, 10:57 AM
Belmont Report does not make specific recommendations for administrative action by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Rather, the Commission recommended that the Belmont Report be adopted in its entirety, as a statement of the Department's policy.
Building public trust in uses of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act de-identified data
Date CapturedFriday November 14 2014, 7:01 AM
Deven McGraw; The aim of this paper is to summarize concerns with the de-identification standard and methodologies established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, and report some potential policies to address those concerns that were discussed at a recent workshop attended by industry, consumer, academic and research stakeholders. Center for Democracy & Technology, 1634 I Street, NW Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006, USA; deven@cdt.org J Am Med Inform Assoc 2013;20:29-34 doi:10.1136/amiajnl-2012-000936
Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of Protected Health Information in Accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule
Date CapturedThursday November 06 2014, 3:15 PM
Does de-identification work or not?
Date CapturedThursday November 06 2014, 9:20 AM
About the author: Daniel C. Barth-Jones, M.P.H., Ph.D., is a HIV and Infectious Disease Epidemiologist on the faculty at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. His work in the area of statistical disclosure control and implementation under the HIPAA Privacy Rule provisions for de-identification is focused on the importance of properly balancing competing goals of protecting patient privacy and preserving the accuracy of scientific research and statistical analyses conducted with de-identified data.
The 'Re-Identification' of Governor William Weld's Medical Information: A Critical Re-Examination of Health Data Identification Risks and Privacy Protections, Then and Now
Date CapturedThursday November 06 2014, 9:00 AM
Barth-Jones, Daniel C., The 'Re-Identification' of Governor William Weld's Medical Information: A Critical Re-Examination of Health Data Identification Risks and Privacy Protections, Then and Now (June 4, 2012).
Dangerous Use of Seclusion and Restraints in Schools Remains Widespread and Difficult to Remedy: A Review of Ten Cases
Date CapturedFriday April 18 2014, 1:07 AM
US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Report February 12, 2014
Children’s Databases Safety and Privacy A Report for the Information Commissioner Foundation for Information Policy Research
Date CapturedWednesday March 19 2014, 4:42 PM
The specific background to the project is the establishment recently of databases relating to children across social services, education, crime and health.
What Information Do Data Brokers Have on Consumers, and How Do They Use It?
Date CapturedSaturday December 21 2013, 10:31 AM
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. to examine the data broker industry and how industry practices may impact consumers. The hearing comes after a yearlong Commerce Committee examination of how data brokers collect, compile, and sell consumer information for marketing purposes. In October 2012, Rockefeller launched an investigation into the data broker industry to give consumers a better understanding of how their personal information is handled, issuing information requests to nine representative data brokers. Rockefeller sent an additional set of inquiries in September 2013 to twelve popular personal finance, health, and family-focused websites to further explore data broker information collection practices, and further expanded the investigation in October 2013 by requesting that Experian provide specific information about the company’s customer vetting practices following news reports alleging that an Experian subsidiary sold data to an identity theft scheme.
Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2013
Date CapturedSunday November 03 2013, 9:39 PM
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), established in 1991, monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youths and young adults: 1) behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; 2) sexual behaviors that contribute to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy; 3) tobacco use; 4) alcohol and other drug use; 5) unhealthy dietary behaviors; and 6) physical inactivity. In addition, YRBSS monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma among this population. [Certain schools use active permission, meaning that parents must send back to the school a signed form indicating their approval before their child can participate. Other schools use passive permission, meaning that parents send back a signed form only if they do not want their child to participate in the survey.]
PROCEDURE FOR NY PARENTS TO REQUEST PARTIAL DESTRUCTION OF BABY DNA - NEW YORK DEPT OF HEALTH
Date CapturedThursday October 18 2012, 8:23 AM
State and District Receipt of Recovery Act Funds
Date CapturedFriday September 21 2012, 3:09 PM
A Report From Charting the Progress of Education Reform: An Evaluation of the Recovery Act’s Role; SEPTEMBER 2012: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA or the Recovery Act) of 2009 provided an unprecedented level of funding designed to “stimulate the economy in the short-term and invest wisely, using these funds to improve schools, raise achievement, drive reforms and produce better results for children and young people for the long-term health of our nation.”1 The distribution of Recovery Act funds was intended to reflect these multiple goals. Nearly $97.4 billion were allocated to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), of which $70.6 billion were awarded by ED for primary and secondary (K-12) education through existing and new federal programs.2 These funds were distributed to states and districts using formulas based primarily on population and student poverty and through competitive grants. In return for grants, Recovery Act recipients were required to commit to four core reforms or assurances: 1. Adopting rigorous college-ready and career-ready standards and high-quality assessments, 2. Establishing data systems and using data to improve performance, 3. Increasing educator effectiveness and the equitable distribution of effective educators, and 4. Turning around the lowest-performing schools.
New York Department of Health Letter to Schools regarding BMI
Date CapturedThursday January 26 2012, 9:12 AM
New York State Sample Parental Notice Language for 2011-2012 School Year
Date CapturedTuesday January 24 2012, 1:44 PM
If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, please print and sign your name below and return this form:
Addressing Emergencies on Campus June 2011
Date CapturedTuesday June 28 2011, 6:32 PM
United States Department of Education (USED) : Summary of two applicable Federal education laws administered by the Department of Education (Department): the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended. This Federal component is only one piece of what is necessary to consider in ensuring the safety of our Nation’s students, faculty, and school staff. A comprehensive and effective campus policy must incorporate all Federal and State policies regarding health and safety emergencies, education, student privacy, civil rights, and law enforcement, as well as specific local community needs.
The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting
Date CapturedFriday March 11 2011, 7:35 PM
FERPA does not preclude an institution’s compliance with the timely warning provision of the campus security regulations. FERPA recognizes that information can, in case of an emergency, be released without consent when needed to protect the health and safety of others. In addition, if institutions utilize information from the records of a campus law enforcement unit to issue a timely warning, FERPA is not implicated as those records are not protected by FERPA. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting, Washington, D.C., 2011.
Letter to: Chairman Boucher and Ranking Member Stearns
Date CapturedMonday June 07 2010, 6:26 PM
Mike Sachoff -- [In response to a discussion draft of a new privacy bill now under consideration by the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, ten privacy and consumer groups today called for stronger measures to protect consumer privacy both online and off. The organizations including the Consumer Federation of America, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Consumer Watchdog, World Privacy Forum, Consumer Action, USPIRG, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Privacy Times, Privacy Lives, and the Center for Digital Democracy, raised their concerns in a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher and Ranking Member Cliff Stearns. The groups recommended the following: *The bill should incorporate the Fair Information Practice Principles that have long served as the bedrock of consumer privacy protection in the U.S., including the principle of not collecting more data than is necessary for the stated purposes, limits on how long data should be retained, and a right to access and correct one's data. *The bill's definitions of what constitutes "sensitive information" need to be expanded; for instance, to include health-related information beyond just "medical records." *The bill should require strict "opt-in" procedures for the collection and use of covered data and should prohibit the collection and use of any sensitive information except for the transactions for which consumers provided it.]
The State of the News Media 2010 i
Date CapturedThursday March 18 2010, 1:24 PM
The State of the News Media 2010 is the seventh edition of our annual report on the health and status of American journalism.
Sebelius, Solis Announce Nearly $1 Billion Recovery Act Investment in Advancing Use of Health IT, Training Workers for Health Jobs of the Future
Date CapturedMonday February 15 2010, 6:21 PM
WASHINGTON, DC - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis today announced a total of nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act awards to help health care providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (IT) and train workers for the health care jobs of the future. The awards will help make health IT available to over 100,000 hospitals and primary care physicians by 2014 and train thousands of people for careers in health care and information technology. This Recovery Act investment will help grow the emerging health IT industry which is expected to support tens of thousands of jobs ranging from nurses and pharmacy techs to IT technicians and trainers. The over $750 million in HHS grant awards Secretary Sebelius announced today are part of a federal initiative to build capacity to enable widespread meaningful use of health IT. This assistance at the state and regional level will facilitate health care providers' efforts to adopt and use electronic health records (EHRs) in a meaningful manner that has the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of health care for all Americans. Of the over $750 million investment, $386 million will go to 40 states and qualified State Designated Entities (SDEs) to facilitate health information exchange (HIE) at the state level, while $375 million will go to an initial 32 non-profit organizations to support the development of regional extension centers (RECs) that will aid health professionals as they work to implement and use health information technology - with additional HIE and REC awards to be announced in the near future. RECs are expected to provide outreach and support services to at least 100,000 primary care providers and hospitals within two years.
Personal Health Information Privacy
Date CapturedSunday January 10 2010, 4:42 PM
News about medical and electronic health privacy risk.
PUBLIC Law, Chapter 230 LD 1183, item 1, 124th Maine State Legislature
Date CapturedSunday November 08 2009, 10:35 PM
SP0431, LR 597, item 1, Signed on 2009-06-02 00:00:00.0 - First Regular Session - 124th Maine Legislature, page 1 - 2. Marketing purposes. "Marketing purposes," with respect to the use of health-related information or personal information, means the purposes of marketing or advertising products, goods or services to individuals. 3. Person. "Person" includes an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, syndicate, organization, society, business trust, attorney-in-fact and every natural or artificial legal entity. 4. Personal information. "Personal information" means individually identifiable information, including: A. An individual's first name, or first initial, and last name; B. A home or other physical address; C. A social security number; D. A driver's license number or state identification card number; and E. Information concerning a minor that is collected in combination with an identifier described in this subsection. 5. Verifiable parental consent. "Verifiable parental consent" means any reasonable effort, taking into consideration available technology, including a request for authorization for future collection, use and disclosure described in the notice, to ensure that a parent of a minor receives notice of the PUBLIC Law, Chapter 230 LD 1183, item 1, 124th Maine State Legislature An Act To Prevent Predatory Marketing Practices against Minors collection of personal information, use and disclosure practices and authorizes the collection, use and disclosure, as applicable, of personal information and the subsequent use of that information before that information is collected from that minor. § 9552. Unlawful collection and use of data from minors
Target-Marketing Becomes More Communal
Date CapturedThursday November 05 2009, 10:45 AM
WSJ Emily Steel writes [["The data is becoming the most important component for marketers and Web sites. It tells them who their audience is," says Omar Tawakol, chief executive at Blue Kai. Some lawmakers, concerned about Internet privacy, are preparing legislation to make more transparent Web sites' tactics for collecting information on their users. In an effort to fend off legislation, data brokers say, they abide by industry standards and do not collect any personally identifiable information and sensitive data, such as health information. They also tout efforts to make their business practices more transparent to consumers.]
Predatory Marketing Law Opposed By AOL, News Corp., Yahoo, Others
Date CapturedSunday August 30 2009, 8:59 PM
A new privacy law in Maine is facing a court challenge from media organizations as well as a coalition of online companies including AOL, News Corp. and Yahoo. [The new law, officially titled "An Act To Prevent Predatory Marketing Practices against Minors," prohibits companies from knowingly collecting personal information or health-related information from minors under 18 without their parents' consent. The measure also bans companies from selling or transferring health information about minors that identifies them, regardless of how the data was collected. ] [Privacy advocate Jeff Chester said the law's basic premise is valid, but that it "likely needs to be revised to accommodate concerns about its impact on educational and other non-profit uses." ]
ELSI Panel Addresses Genomics Consent and Privacy at CSHL
Date CapturedFriday May 08 2009, 7:06 PM
GenomeWeb Daily News -- Andrea Anderson-- [For instance, some have expressed concern that even de-identified genetic data could be linked to study participants. Last August, the National Institutes of Health pulled their GWAS data from public databases in response to research suggesting that it might be possible to identify an individual from pooled genetic data. There has also been a great deal of discussion about what information participants should get back from such studies as well as researchers' responsibility for informing subjects about incidental findings. ]
Commission Extension of Deferral of Enforcement of the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule Until August 1, 2009
Date CapturedMonday May 04 2009, 4:43 PM
[The Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC” or “Commission”) is extending its deferral of enforcement of the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule to August 1, 2009.2 This rule was promulgated pursuant to § 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (“FACTA”). Congress directed the Commission and other agencies to develop regulations requiring “creditors”3 and “financial institutions”4 to address the risk of identity theft. The resulting Identity Theft Red Flags Rule requires any of these entities that have “covered accounts” to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. The identity theft prevention programs must be designed to help identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities – known as “red flags” – that could indicate identity theft. This rule applies to all entities that regularly permit deferred payments for goods or services, including entities such as health care providers, attorneys, and other professionals, as well as retailers and a wide range of businesses that invoice their customers.]
HHS Names David Blumenthal As National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Date CapturedSaturday March 21 2009, 1:00 PM
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes a $19.5 billion investment in health information technology, which will save money, improve quality of care for patients, and make our health care system more efficient. Dr. Blumenthal will lead the effort at HHS to modernize the health care system by catalyzing the adoption of interoperable health information technology by 2014 thereby reducing health costs for the federal government by an estimated $12 billion over 10 years.
Advertisers Get a Trove of Clues in Smartphones
Date CapturedWednesday March 11 2009, 3:05 PM
NY Times STEPHANIE CLIFFORD writes [The capability for collecting information has alarmed privacy advocates. “It’s potentially a portable, personal spy,” said Jeff Chester, the executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, who will appear before Federal Trade Commission staff members this month to brief them on privacy and mobile marketing. He is particularly concerned about data breaches, advertisers’ access to sensitive health or financial information, and a lack of transparency about how advertisers are collecting data. “Users are going to be inclined to say, sure, what’s harmful about a click, not realizing that they’ve consented to give up their information.”]
Behavioral Advertising and Privacy
Date CapturedFriday February 13 2009, 1:31 PM
World Privacy Forum - About Behaviorally targeted advertising, World Privacy Forum testimony and Comments, resources.
Center for Digital Democracy
Date CapturedFriday February 13 2009, 1:22 PM
FTC Online Privacy Guidelines Faulted
Date CapturedFriday February 13 2009, 1:11 PM
Business Week -- Douglas MacMillan -- [On Feb. 12, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued guidelines designed to give consumers more information about how advertisers collect and use data about their Web surfing habits. Among the recommendations: Every site that follows Web-use patterns to tailor marketing messages, a practice known as behavioral targeting, should spell out how it is collecting data and give consumers the ability to opt out of targeting. The report also urges sites to keep collected data "as long as is necessary to fulfill a legitimate business or law enforcement need," inform users of any changes made to privacy policies, and only collect sensitive personal data—such as financial and health records—in cases where the user opts in.]
E P I C A l e r t - Volume 16.02 - February 10, 2009
Date CapturedThursday February 12 2009, 11:42 PM
[1] Medical Privacy Moves Forward in Congress - [2] Civil Society Launches Campaign for Privacy Convention - [3] National Academies Report Calls for New Approach to Medical -Privacy - [4] President Obama Promotes Open Government [5] Report - Google Latitude Poses Significant Privacy Risks [6] News in Brief [7] EPIC Bookstore: "The Dark Side" [8] Upcoming Conferences and Events
U.S. stimulus bill pushes e-health records for all
Date CapturedThursday February 12 2009, 7:29 PM
Declan McCullagh - [The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved an $838 billion "stimulus" bill by a 61-37 vote, capping more than a week of political sparring between critics of the measure and President Obama, who claimed during a press conference that an "economic emergency" made it necessary. What didn't come up during the president's first press conference was how one section of the convoluted legislation--it's approximately 800 pages total--is intended to radically reshape the nation's medical system by having the government establish computerized medical records that would follow each American from birth to death. Billions will be handed to companies creating these databases. Billions will be handed to universities to incorporate patient databases "into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals." There's a mention of future "smart card functionality." Yet nowhere in this 140-page portion of the legislation does the government anticipate that some Americans may not want their medical histories electronically stored, shared, and searchable. Although a single paragraph promises that data-sharing will "be voluntary," there's no obvious way to opt out. "Without those protections, Americans' electronic health records could be shared--without their consent--with over 600,000 covered entities through the forthcoming nationally linked electronic health records network," said Sue Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom, a nonprofit group that advocates health care privacy.]
FTC Staff Revises Online Behavioral Advertising Principles
Date CapturedThursday February 12 2009, 6:19 PM
The report discusses the potential benefits of behavioral advertising to consumers, including the free online content that advertising generally supports and personalization that many consumers appear to value. It also discusses the privacy concerns that the practice raises, including the invisibility of the data collection to consumers and the risk that the information collected – including sensitive information regarding health, finances, or children – could fall into the wrong hands or be used for unanticipated purposes. Consistent with the FTC’s overall approach to consumer privacy, the report seeks to balance the potential benefits of behavioral advertising against the privacy concerns it raises, and to encourage privacy protections while maintaining a competitive marketplace.
DOD’s and VA’s Sharing of Information
Date CapturedFriday January 30 2009, 10:11 AM
(GAO-09-268) In the more than 10 years since DOD and VA began collaborating to electronically share health information, the two departments have increased interoperability. Nevertheless, while the departments continue to make progress, the manner in which they report progress—by reporting increases in interoperability over time—has limitations. These limitations are rooted in the departments’ plans, which identify interoperable capabilities to be implemented, but lack the results-oriented (i.e., objective, quantifiable, and measurable) goals and associated performance measures that are a necessary basis for effective management. Without establishing results-oriented goals, then reporting progress using measures relative to the established goals, the departments and their stakeholders do not have the comprehensive picture that they need to effectively manage their progress toward achieving increased interoperability. Further constraining the departments’ management effectiveness is their slow pace in addressing our July 2008 recommendation related to setting up the interagency program office that Congress called for to function as a single point of accountability in the development and implementation of electronic health record capabilities.
Federal departments fall short on civil liberties
Date CapturedTuesday January 27 2009, 10:14 AM
By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY - [WASHINGTON — The departments of Defense, State, and Health and Human Services have not met legal requirements meant to protect Americans' civil liberties, and a board that's supposed to enforce the mandates has been dormant since 2007, according to federal records. All three departments have failed to comply with a 2007 law directing them to appoint civil liberties protection officers and report regularly to Congress on the safeguards they use to make sure their programs don't undermine the public's rights and privacy, a USA TODAY review of congressional filings shows.]
Rethinking the Role of Consent in Protecting Health Information Privacy
Date CapturedTuesday January 27 2009, 9:52 AM
CDT is advocating for the inclusion of privacy protections in the President's economic stimulus bill, which contains at least $20 billion for a national health information technology network. CDT's paper argues that personal health information should easily flow for treatment, payment, and certain core administrative tasks without requiring patient consent, but that stricter limits need to be placed on marketing and other secondary uses. January 26, 2009. This paper advocates for a new generation of privacy protections that allow personal health information to flow among health care entities for treatment, payment, and certain core administrative tasks without first requiring patient consent, as long as there is a comprehensive framework of rules that governs access to and disclosure of health data. Patient consent is one important element of this framework, but relying on consent would do little to protect privacy. This paper also suggests how a framework of protections can provide patients with more meaningful opportunities to make informed choices about sharing their personal health information online.
Health care meets social networking
Date CapturedThursday January 22 2009, 3:59 PM
Jacksonville Business Journal - Kimberly Morrison -- [Mayo Clinic, which has a campus in Jacksonville, has come a long way in just a few years, since adding a Facebook page with more than 3,000 friends, a YouTube channel with videos of doctors talking about illness, treatments and research, a health blog for consumers and another for media to improve the process of medical reporting. It’s also creating “secret groups” on Facebook to connect patients to others with similar illnesses, an area it hopes to expand in the future. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg in the brave new world of Health 2.0.]
What Every American Needs to Know about the HIPAA Medical Privacy Rule* -- Updated November 2008
Date CapturedSunday January 18 2009, 9:39 PM
By Sue A. Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom and Robin Kaigh, Esq., an attorney dedicated to patients’ health privacy rights. [Did you know that under the federal HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) medical privacy rule, your personal health information—including past records and genetic information—can be disclosed without your consent to large organizations such as the following? Data-processing companies; Insurers; Researchers (in some instances); Hospitals; Doctors (even those not treating you); Law enforcement officials; Public health officials; Federal government.
Institute for Health Freedom (IHF)
Date CapturedSunday January 18 2009, 9:32 PM
Health Freedom Watch (Email newsletter published by the Institute for Health Freedom) January 2009 -- Contents: Economic Stimulus Package and Your Health Privacy ; HHS Secretary Confirmation Hearing: Questions Remain about How to Pay for Proposed Health-Care Expansions; Lead Plaintiff in Medicare Lawsuit Asks for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against SSA and HHS.]
Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) Applauds Critical Privacy, Security Provisions in Health IT Stimulus Bill
Date CapturedSunday January 18 2009, 5:59 PM
[The bill's privacy provisions include the following: Stronger protections against the use of personal heath information for marketing purposes; Accountability for all entities that handle personal health information; A federal, individual right to be notified in the event of a breach of identifiable health information; Prohibitions on the sale of valuable patient-identifiable data for inappropriate purposes; Development and implementation of federal privacy and security protections for personal health records; Easy access by patients to electronic copies of their records; and Strengthened enforcement of health privacy rules. The provisions in the bill are similar to those that received bipartisan approval by the House Energy & Commerce Committee in the last Congress.]
Privacy Issue Complicates Push to Link Medical Data
Date CapturedSunday January 18 2009, 5:39 PM
NY Times By ROBERT PEAR [“Until people are more confident about the security of electronic medical records,” Mr. Whitehouse said, “it’s vitally important that we err on the side of privacy.” The data in medical records has great potential commercial value. Several companies, for example, buy and sell huge amounts of data on the prescribing habits of doctors, and the information has proved invaluable to pharmaceutical sales representatives. “Health I.T. without privacy is an excellent way for companies to establish a gold mine of information that can be used to increase profits, promote expensive drugs, cherry-pick patients who are cheaper to insure and market directly to consumers,” said Dr. Deborah C. Peel, coordinator of the Coalition for Patient Privacy, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union among its members.]
Extortion Manhunt Highlights Need for Privacy Controls
Date CapturedFriday January 09 2009, 6:52 PM
Erik Larkin, PC World - [ Express Scripts, a large company that manages prescription-drug benefits, reported that both it and its clients had received letters threatening to reveal customer information--including Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and prescription information--if certain extortion demands were not met (for more information, visit the Express Scripts Support Site). Neither the FBI, which is investigating the matter, nor Express Scripts has released many details, but Stephen Littlejohn, Express Scripts's vice president of public affairs, says that the nature of sample records offered by the extortionists in their letters "correlates to data" held in the company's database.]
Obama adds health IT to economic stimulus package
Date CapturedFriday December 19 2008, 7:34 PM
Published on December 8, 2008 -- Government Health IT Paul McCloskey writes [The Wired bill, which failed to pass the Senate this summer, created incentives for health IT adoption and addressed several privacy problems that had long delayed the bill. Obama’s address followed remarks a day earlier by Sen. Tom Daschle, the designated Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The transition team will manage a series of “health care community discussions,” to run from Dec. 15 to Dec. 30, that will solicit opinions on health care reform directly from the public. The meetings will be modeled on the Obama election campaign, which took advantage of the Internet to solicit support directly from the public. Obama's Internet site asks people to submit ideas for how to improve the health care system.]
HHS -- Health Information Technology
Date CapturedThursday December 18 2008, 5:18 PM
Secretary Leavitt Announces New Principles, Tools to Protect Privacy, Encourage More Effective Use of Patient Information to Improve Care
Date CapturedThursday December 18 2008, 5:11 PM
The privacy principles articulated by Secretary Leavitt are as follows: Individual Access – Consumers should be provided with a simple and timely means to access and obtain their personal health information in a readable form and format. Correction – Consumers should be provided with a timely means to dispute the accuracy or integrity of their personal identifiable health information, and to have erroneous information corrected or to have a dispute documented if their requests are denied. Consumers also should be able to add to and amend personal health information in products controlled by them such as personal health records (PHRs). Openness and Transparency -- Consumers should have information about the policies and practices related to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information. This can be accomplished through an easy-to-read, standard notice about how their personal health information is protected. This notice should indicate with whom their information can or cannot be shared, under what conditions and how they can exercise choice over such collections, uses and disclosures. In addition, consumers should have reasonable opportunities to review who has accessed their personal identifiable health information and to whom it has been disclosed. Individual Choice -- Consumers should be empowered to make decisions about with whom, when, and how their personal health information is shared (or not shared). Collection, Use, and Disclosure Limitation – It is important to limit the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information to the extent necessary to accomplish a specified purpose. The ability to collect and analyze health care data as part of a public good serves the American people and it should be encouraged. But every precaution must be taken to ensure that this personal health information is secured, deidentified when appropriate, limited in scope and protected wherever possible. Data Integrity – Those who hold records must take reasonable steps to ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date and has not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner. This principle is tightly linked to the correction principle. A process must exist in which, if consumers perceive a part of their record is inaccurate, they can notify their provider. Of course the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule provides consumers that right, but this principle should be applied even where the information is not covered by the Rule. Safeguards – Personal identifiable health information should be protected with reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure its confidentiality, integrity, and availability and to prevent unauthorized or inappropriate access, use, or disclosure. Accountability – Compliance with these principles is strongly encouraged so that Americans can realize the benefit of electronic health information exchange. Those who break rules and put consumers’ personal health information at risk must not be tolerated. Consumers need to be confident that violators will be held accountable.
The Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information
Date CapturedThursday December 18 2008, 4:56 PM
The principles of the Nationwide Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information below establish a single, consistent approach to address the privacy and security challenges related to electronic health information exchange through a network for all persons, regardless of the legal framework that may apply to a particular organization. The goal of this effort is to establish a policy framework for electronic health information exchange that can help guide the Nation’s adoption of health information technologies and help improve the availability of health information and health care quality. The principles have been designed to establish the roles of individuals and the responsibilities of those who hold and exchange electronic individually identifiable health information through a netwo
Minnesota Department of Health Continues to Violate State Law and Individual Privacy
Date CapturedSaturday December 13 2008, 4:29 PM
St. Paul/Minneapolis – Concerned parents and the Citizens’ Council on Health Care (CCHC) called on Governor Tim Pawlenty to require his Commissioner of Health to cease and desist the warehousing of newborn blood and baby DNA without informed, written parent consent.
Education Department Reworks Privacy Regulations
Date CapturedMonday December 08 2008, 8:46 PM
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN -- [Ferpa has long allowed colleges to share information about a student if there is a "health or safety" emergency, but had stipulated that the definition of such an emergency must be strictly construed. The new regulations strip away this condition that the definition of the emergency must be narrow and emphasize that schools may use this health-or-safety exception as long as there is an "articulable" and significant threat to the student or other individuals. The regulations also specifically state that parents are among the appropriate parties who may be called in case of a health-or-safety emergency] [The new regulations will also tweak other parts of Ferpa, including areas dealing with electronic records, students' Social Security numbers, and outside contractors hired by educational institutions who are given access to student records to perform services for the institution. In addition, they will address the circumstances under which schools may give researchers access to aggregated student records.]
Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) And the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) To Student Health Records (ID: CSD5578)
Date CapturedThursday December 04 2008, 4:36 PM
The HIPAA Privacy Rule specifically excludes from its coverage those records that are protected by FERPA. At the elementary or secondary school level, students’ immunization and other health records that are maintained by a school district or individual school, including a school-operated health clinic, that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education are “education records” subject to FERPA, including health and medical records maintained by a school nurse who is employed by or under contract with a school or school district. Some schools may receive a grant from a foundation or government agency to hire a nurse. Notwithstanding the source of the funding, if the nurse is hired as a school official (or contractor), the records maintained by the nurse or clinic are “education records” subject to FERPA.
Medical Blogs May Threaten Patient Privacy
Date CapturedFriday August 08 2008, 4:57 PM
US News and World Report -- "In some cases, patients described in medical blogs may be able to identify themselves, the researchers said. For example, three of the blogs in the study had recognizable photos of patients, including one with an extensive description of the patient and links to photos. The researchers also found that some of the medical blogs allowed advertisements, and some promoted health -care products within the blog text. None of the bloggers who described products within the text adhered to medical ethics standards of providing information on conflicts of interest, or whether payment was received for promotion of the products. The study was published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine." (Dr. Tara Lagu, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar, and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania)
CDT Testimony before House Health Subcommittee, June 04, 2008
Date CapturedWednesday June 04 2008, 4:20 PM
CDT Testimony Supports Draft Health Health Information Legislation -- We need a comprehensive privacy and security framework that is based on fair information practices (i.e., the Markle Foundation Common Framework) and sets clear guidelines for use and disclosure of electronic health information. The framework should build on HIPAA and incorporate protections for health information held by non-health care entities.CDT today testified before the House Health Subcommittee in support of draft legislation regarding health information technology and privacy legislation. CDT supports the draft language because it takes critical steps toward the goal of a comprehensive privacy and security framework, and targets many of the key issues raised by the new e-health environment. CDT urged the Subcommittee to develop this framework by building on the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. CDT also recommended including strong protections for health information held, or managed on behalf of consumers, by employers and companies not part of the traditional health care system
Personal Health Records: Why Many PHRs Threaten Privacy
Date CapturedMonday June 02 2008, 5:26 PM
Prepared by Robert Gellman for the World Privacy Forum - "Significant privacy consequences of PHRs not covered under HIPAA can include: • Health records in a PHR may lose their privileged status. • PHR records can be more easily subpoenaed by a third party than health records covered under HIPAA. • Identifiable health information may leak out of a PHR into the marketing system or to commercial data brokers. • In some cases, the information in a non-HIPAA covered PHR may be sold, rented, or otherwise shared. • It may be easier for consumers to accidentally or casually authorize the sharing of records in a PHR. • Consumers may think they have more control over the disclosure of PHR records than they actually do. • The linkage of PHR records from different sources may be embarrassing, cause family problems, or have other unexpected consequences. • Privacy protections offered by PHR vendors may be weaker than consumers expect and may be subject to change without notice or consumer consent."
Student information found in recycle bin
Date CapturedThursday August 30 2007, 12:57 PM
Deseret Morning News reports, "Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), addresses, phone numbers and names of students fall into the category of 'directory information' and generally may be released by a school district unless the parents have objected in writing, said Jim Bradshaw, in the U.S. Department of Education. However, that doesn't release schools from the responsibility to dispose of records safely to protect student education records. 'That includes disposing of documents in a way that guards against unauthorized disclosure, such as shredding or burning,' Bradshaw said. 'Banks don't throw records in Dumpsters and schools are also obligated to protect the confidentiality of student records.'" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com 1 commentRecent comments Why indict the school on such a non-issue? Your article even cites... Owen | Aug. 30, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. Add your comment Stuart Johnson, Deseret Morning News Folders with student names and other information at Centennial Middle School in Provo are found in a recycling bin Wednesday. Most Popular Most Commented Detmer remains humble Cougs finalizing plans for Arizona Rocky says Buhler would be a 'disaster' Thursday Night Lights: Questions aplenty as Utes open at Oregon State tonight Bombard Comcast, not the dish folk Cousin is willing to risk his life Chinese victims of forced abortion are fighting back U.S. busts brazen ID theft ring in Utah Is there a 'workplace princess' at your firm? Mtn. woes? Try contacting Comcast direct 'Dawn' is an embarrassment 132 Utah mine owner Murray says Gov. Huntsman is jeopardizing 700 jobs 128 Cougar linebackers lead 'D' 96 At odds: Murray says Huntsman endangers jobs 94 The mtn. working for better exposure 90 Going independent not the solution to BYU's problems 89 Cougs counting down to rematch 88 MWC TV situation frustrating 87 Kirilenko praises Utahns, LDS to media in Russia 83 Ex-member of LDS choir pleads guilty in porn case 79 (Stories published in the last seven days with the most comments) Sports A & E LDS news Community Thursday Night Lights: Questions aplenty as Utes open at Oregon State tonight 29 Detmer remains humble 28 Behind the wheel — Roller derby makes women feel tough, sexy, empowered 3 Campgrounds will fill up this Labor Day weekend 0 Argentines fuel RSL victory 6 Concert review: Groban delights Salt Lake audience 0 Sirius channel to play Dead all the time 0 DVD reviews: 'Blades of Glory' tops DVD pack 0 Auditions 0 Wilson drops out of movie after his hospitalization 0 Anti-religion documentary includes visit to Salt Lake City 1 Idaho provides cash crop for Romney 0 Provo firm to produce movie on Emma Smith 6 Concert review: 'White Star' debuts at BYU 1 BYU Ed Week classes to air 0 Above the Rim — At Cloud Rim, Girl Scouts learn about outdoors and more 0 Touching nature — Syracuse park offers urban fishing, trails, wetlands 1 Helping hand 0 Artists to strum tunes at acoustic fest 0 Cherry Hill is celebrating 40 years 1 Columnists Contests Daily Index Education Family & Life Food & Dining Health & Fitness Help Line Home & Garden LDS Church News Local Births Marathon Mobile Politics Religion & Ethics Science & Tech Travel & Outdoors deseretnews.com: Home | Subscription services | Contact us | FAQ | Feedback | Jobs | Purchase photos | RSS | Privacy policy
Confront obesity in schools, too
Date CapturedMonday August 27 2007, 7:42 AM
Poughkeepsie Journal opines, "With childhood obesity's alarming growth, New York must help reverse the trend by creating a healthier eating atmosphere in its schools. That, in turn, could help children develop good habits that could last a lifetime."
College M.D. alert to stressed-out students
Date CapturedSunday August 26 2007, 9:41 AM
The Post-Standard reports, "This year, campuses across the nation are paying particular attention to identifying troubled students in their midst, as part of the aftermath of the April shooting deaths at Virginia Tech carried out by a student with a history of mental illness."
The Economic Losses from High School Dropouts in California
Date CapturedFriday August 24 2007, 7:47 AM
Belfield, C. and Levin, H. "This paper calculates the fiscal and social burdens from high school dropouts in California. We map educational attainment in California for current cohorts of students and young adults. This reveals in stark terms the low levels of educational attainment across the state. Next, the amount of government spending in California is catalogued; this shows how much is spent on various services and by which levels of government. Our main focus is on the economic consequences of inadequate education on earnings, on tax revenues, and on spending on health, crime, and welfare (net of the resources required to provide additional education). For each of these four domains the effect of education has been assessed statistically. This effect is then multiplied by the respective economic burden from each cohort of 20-year olds who fail to graduate in order to get an overall total cost. Using a consistent accounting framework, these costs generate a figure of what is being lost by failing to ensure that all students graduate from high school. The economic magnitudes are substantial."
Truancy could result in tickets
Date CapturedSaturday August 18 2007, 7:59 PM
Farmington Press reports, "The absence policy is on a semester basis. After three absences, a letter is sent to the parents about the school attendance policy. This letter is sent out automatically to those students who have missed that number of days, even if they have a doctor’s excuse. 'There is a contact number to call on the letter. Many times, parents who have received this first letter will call and say they have sent doctor’s excuses,' said Swinarski. 'They should not worry — if they’ve called, then that means they’re doing what they should do.' She explained this also gives parents an opportunity to perhaps let the district know about a certain health issue a child may have that can keep them from attending school. 'We can help them in whatever way they may need (after reviewing the case),' she said. A letter is also sent when a student has six absences in a semester. At seven absences, more steps are put into place. 'When a student reaches that seventh day, a letter is sent to the parents saying that anymore absences over that number would not allow the student to make up the work. We send out a date and time for a meeting that we would like to discuss this with them,' said Burch."
National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents (STUDY)
Date CapturedFriday August 17 2007, 9:31 AM
Study finds, "CASA’s unprecedented in-depth survey of drugs in schools shows that eight out of 10 high school students (80 percent) and more than four out of 10 middle school students (44 percent) have personally witnessed: • illegal drugs used on the grounds of their schools; • illegal drugs sold on the grounds of their schools; • students keeping illegal drugs at school, either on them or in their lockers; • students high on drugs at school; and/or • students drunk at school. This means that for 16 million teens (11 million high schoolers; five million middle schoolers) drug dealing and use, drug possession, and drug or alcohol intoxication are common features of school life."
National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents (PRESS RELEASE)
Date CapturedFriday August 17 2007, 9:27 AM
Compared to teens at drug-free schools, those at drug-infested schools are: · 16 times likelier to use an illegal drug other than marijuana or prescription drugs; · 15 times likelier to abuse prescription drugs; · six times likelier to get drunk at least monthly; · five times likelier to use marijuana; · four times likelier to smoke cigarettes; · four times likelier to be able to buy marijuana within a day; and · nearly six times likelier to be able to buy marijuana within an hour.
BREAKFAST FLUB
Date CapturedWednesday August 08 2007, 6:35 AM
NY Post opines, "Twenty-nine percent of kids from low-income families - or about 150,000 of the more than 750,000 students eligible for free or discounted meals - take advantage of the breakfast program. About 65 percent do so at lunch. Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, called on the city to expand participation by serving breakfast in classrooms, rather than cafeterias."
Drug Testing
Date CapturedTuesday August 07 2007, 8:57 AM
Post-Standard opines, "Perhaps drug testing in the schools will spare some kids a lifetime of addiction. Perhaps it will even save some lives. Just the same, parents need to be concerned about protecting their children's basic rights."
NCAA panel wants to inform pregnant athletes about rights
Date CapturedSunday August 05 2007, 5:33 PM
AP reports, "The NCAA should focus on educating schools and pregnant athletes receiving scholarships about their rights, not create new rules, the outgoing head of the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics said. The committee was asked by NCAA head Myles Brand to discuss the issue after athletes at Clemson and Memphis said they had to sign documents stating they could lose their scholarships if they became pregnant. One Clemson athlete told ESPN she had an abortion to stay in school."
No Child Left Behind thwarts refugees
Date CapturedWednesday August 01 2007, 9:06 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle guest essayist Henry Padrón opines, "These students have spent most of their lives running and in refugee camps where they may have received some but little formal schooling. Many of these children are suffering from post-traumatic shock disorder and a host of health issues — not to mention their academic needs based on NCLB expectations. This is a fatal shortcoming of NCLB that needs further attention. So, when analyzing the performance data as per NCLB, we need to take all of these factors into consideration."
PTA leader has strong message
Date CapturedMonday July 30 2007, 8:31 AM
Poughkeepsie Journal opines, "Men concerned about how schools handle issues that stretch well beyond classrooms should heed Saylors' call to get more involved by joining the PTA. You don't have to have a child in school to become involved. Membership is open to anybody concerned about the health, well-being and education of American children."
Community boost sought by child care coalition
Date CapturedFriday July 27 2007, 8:24 AM
Press & Sun-Bulletin reports, "Research shows that investing money in early childhood education and health saves money later in areas such as remedial education, coalition coordinator Barbara Nilsen said, adding some studies have shown a 7-to-1 payback ratio."
Grant aids districts to keep kids in school
Date CapturedMonday July 23 2007, 8:50 AM
Troy Record reports, "Goodwin [superintendent of the Lansingburgh School District] said the effort began as a look at issues affecting youth, which touched on the correlation between crime and young people, and then gradually narrowed its focus to keeping kids in school. 'There's a lot of issues that go into truancy - sometimes it's family structure, sometimes it's the child's education level, sometimes it's substance abuse or mental health issues that aren't being addressed,' Riegert said. 'Sometimes there's a perception by the child that there's no one who really cares if they go to school." Mary Capabianca, who is in her third year as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Troy district, concurred. She says reasons for truancy can include a lack of hope on the part of a student, or alternately a sense of obligation to help out their families during tough times.'"
Jury Backs Teacher Who Says Room Made Her Ill
Date CapturedSunday July 22 2007, 8:31 AM
Washington Post reports, "A Montgomery County [Maryland] jury has found in favor of a teacher who said she was driven from her job by mold in a portable classroom at a Burtonsville school."
Summer NYC school program feeds city's children for free
Date CapturedTuesday July 10 2007, 9:31 AM
Newsday reports, "The $23 million program takes more than 7,800 employees and 99 school kitchens to prepare the meals, and 84 trucks to deliver them. The food is being served at 1,166 locations, up from 966 last summer."
State measures on steriods in high school sports
Date CapturedSaturday July 07 2007, 1:04 PM
AP reports on state-by-state glance at high school steroid policies: TESTING MANDATED BY LAW.
Priorities set, chairs named for Children’s Cabinet
Date CapturedMonday June 25 2007, 7:59 AM
Legislative Gazette reports, "The governor has named the leaders of his new Children’s Cabinet and announced that health care for New York’s uninsured children and higher quality pre-kindergarten would be the panel’s top priorities. In an executive order issued earlier this month, Gov. Eliot Spitzer established the Children’s Cabinet and announced its ultimate goal would be the reform of children’s programs in the state."
Asbestos in Schools -- The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
Date CapturedSunday June 24 2007, 7:13 PM
US Environmental Agency
State bill would require campus security plans
Date CapturedTuesday June 19 2007, 9:43 AM
Newsday reports, "State Sen. Kenneth P. LaValle has introduced 'comprehensive campus security plan' legislation that would require all public and private colleges in New York to develop emergency plans, have a relationship with local law enforcement and conduct emergency drills. The bill would also provide $7.1 million to finance more mental health counselors for the state's public colleges in the aftermath of the April massacre at Virginia Tech."
GOP tax plan awaits response
Date CapturedSunday June 17 2007, 9:32 AM
Times Herald-Record opines, "Will the state have the $9.5 billion it will need? Why, after the state came up with an extra $1.9 billion in school aid this year, did property taxes not go down this year? Will the Republican estimate of $33 billion in increased revenues over the next five years hold up? And how much of that money will be available for school aid, how much is already earmarked for other programs, how much will be necessary for increases in transportation, health care and other spending? The impact on each community, the potential savings and the likelihood of participation will vary according to the level of taxation. That should make the proposal more palatable to those who worry about giving up control to the state. No other proposed piece of legislation awaiting action in the waning days of the legislative session can compare with this one for impact now and in the future."
Could privacy laws hide your student's distress signals?
Date CapturedSunday June 17 2007, 9:14 AM
FREE PRESS reports, "A federal inquiry into the Virginia Tech shootings released last week suggests that confusion about what university officials were authorized to reveal kept them from sharing information that might have assured that Cho got more aggressive medical treatment or stymied his efforts to purchase firearms. Cho's family members also have complained that they knew little about the extent of his troubles until he went on his rampage."
Fuzzy Understandings of FERPA
Date CapturedThursday June 14 2007, 8:16 AM
Inside Higher Ed reports, "A federal report on the Virginia Tech shootings considers the misunderstanding of federal and state privacy laws to be a 'substantial obstacle' to the information sharing needed to protect students."
Has privacy trumped common sense?
Date CapturedMonday June 11 2007, 6:38 PM
The Virginian-Pilot reports, "According to a post-massacre review ordered up by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a crisis-management team at the University of Florida meets weekly to name names and compare notes. The group, including campus police, the legal counsel's office, university counseling and student affairs, identifies and discusses "specific students who are considered at risk of being a danger to themselves or others." Compare that with the privacy firewall that enforces a code of silence among similar folk at Virginia Tech - and, no doubt, many other colleges and universities nationwide."
A Spectrum of Disputes
Date CapturedMonday June 11 2007, 8:22 AM
NY Times op-ed contributors Paul T. Shattuck, an assistant professor at Washington University’s School of Social Work and Maureen Durkin, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health write, "The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 1 in 150 8-year-old children are on the “autism spectrum.” This proportion is alarming if compared directly to estimates of the frequency of autism before the 1990s, which were in the range of 1 per 2,000 to 5,000. But does this really mean we have a growing autism epidemic, or have we just become better at counting autistic traits in the population that have always been there at roughly the same level?"
Lawmakers may compromise on education, energy
Date CapturedFriday June 01 2007, 7:29 AM
Star-Gazette reports, "The legislation to be negotiated would: •Set up nutrition and dietary standards for schools to follow, and require additional nutritional and physical education."
Capping property tax is way to escape 'tax hell'
Date CapturedThursday May 31 2007, 9:37 AM
Press & Sun-Bulletin op-ed contributor Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco opines, "A property tax-cap on its own would have merit, but our plan goes much further in assisting local school districts and municipalities with costs. It: * requires that the state pay for any mandate it imposes on a school district or municipality that costs more than $10,000 a year or $1 million statewide. * provides 100 percent reimbursement to schools for costs incurred in administering fourth- and eighth-grade math and English tests. * creates an Office of State Inspector General for Education to investigate financial abuse, corruption and misconduct in schools. * consolidates school district paperwork requirements. * lets neighboring school districts and municipalities join to pool their risks and so lower their health-insurance costs."
Steroids testing in high schools long overdue
Date CapturedFriday May 25 2007, 10:35 AM
Newsday Jim Baumbach writes, "Last year New Jersey installed a statewide random testing program for teams in all sports that qualify for the championships. Texas and Florida also have begun the process of random steroid testing. But Weisenberg's (Assemblyman) steroid-testing bill outdated those states by many, many years, yet it hasn't seen the light of day. It's been passed by the Senate numerous times and in January was passed on to the education committee, which is where it sits down. But there's still little hope. Weisenberg said he's managed to get it passed through the education committee in the past, but it has never made it past the codes committee, which oversees all new laws with penalties. But Weisenberg said the bill does not advocate seeking criminal offense for a failed steroid test. Instead, it seeks to use a failed test as a way to educate the athlete. 'There are no consequences,' he said. 'The consequences are that you have to get psychological help. Families need to understand the consequences of being involved in steroids.' Here's the exact wording of the summary listed on the bill: 'Requires the education department to establish guidelines for drug testing of student athletes by public and non-public school authorities wishing to conduct such testing; specifies that student and parent or guardian must consent to testing; makes numerous related provisions; establishes the class C felony of criminal sale of an anabolic steroid to a minor or, being over 21 years of age, knowingly and unlawfully selling an anabolic steroid to a person who is under 21 years of age; establishes state grants to school districts for the cost of testing students for anabolic steroid use, and appropriates $5,000,000 therefor.'"
Stony Brook posts personal info by mistake
Date CapturedTuesday May 22 2007, 8:57 AM
Newsday reports, "Instead of the usual fundraising pitch or another notice, letters sent to tens of thousands of Stony Brook University affiliates earlier this month contained disturbing news: The university had inadvertently posted their personal information on the Internet. The letters, dated May 7, said that during a Web site overhaul, the Health Sciences Center library had made public a long-dormant file containing the names and Social Security numbers of 89,853 current and former faculty, staff, students, alumni and others. The file had been stored on a university Web server from 2002 until it was inadvertently copied to a publicly accessible area."
Civics Exam: Schools of choice boost civic values
Date CapturedSunday May 20 2007, 9:23 AM
Patrick J. Wolf, professor of education reform and 21st century chair in school choice at the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions writes, "In summary, the empirical studies to date counter the claims of school choice opponents that private schooling inherently and inevitably undermines the fostering of civic values. The statistical record suggests that private schooling and school choice often enhance the realization of the civic values that are central to a well-functioning democracy. This seems to be the case particularly among ethnic minorities (such as Latinos) in places with great ethnic diversity (such as New York City and Texas), and when Catholic schools are the schools of choice. Choice programs targeted to such constituencies seem to hold the greatest promise of enhancing the civic values of the next generation of American citizens."
Abstinence-only education is failing our youth
Date CapturedSunday May 13 2007, 10:56 AM
Press-Republican opines, "Give them the abstinence-only talk if you want. But arm them with knowledge, just in case."
As Studies Stress Link to Scores, Districts Get Tough on Attendance
Date CapturedSaturday May 12 2007, 12:20 PM
Education Week reports, "Student attendance also has been a big focus in Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y. When officials of the 37,000-student Rochester district looked at attendance and achievement patterns, researchers found that students who had scored between 85 and 100 on the state English tests had attended school an average of 93 percent of the time. Students who scored below the 54th percentile had an 85 percent attendance rate. The district is now phasing in new minimum attendance requirements, shooting to hit 93 percent districtwide by 2004. Students are now required to attend school 85 percent of the time, or 153 days a year. The new policy would add the equivalent of 14 days of school. Rochester also is getting the community to help with its efforts. Attendance information is shared with community organizations such as the YMCA, city recreation programs, and churches so that they can help reinforce the commitment to school attendance. In addition, the city has coordinated a summer-jobs program for students who maintain at least C averages and who attend school at least 90 percent of the time. 'We must deconstruct the policies that encourage kids to miss or leave school, and construct the incentives to get them to stay,' said Clifford B. Janey, the superintendent of the Rochester schools. 'Attendance should be linked to achievement.' Meanwhile, Buffalo is already seeing gains that officials attribute to relatively simple adjustments in the district's attendance policy this fall. By stating a new minimum attendance rate—85 percent—and making it clear, for the first time, that students who fall short cannot take final exams, the district seems to be raising attendance. In report covering the first five weeks of the school year, one Buffalo high school's attendance rate went from 81 percent in the same period last year to 88 percent. The yearlong average-attendance rate for the school last year was 76 percent, which mean that one in every four students was absent. The 47,000-student Buffalo district is providing home visits for students who have health problems, and automated phone calls to homes for every absence. 'Children and families are making better choices,' said Susan Doyle, the principal of the Buffalo Traditional School and the chairwoman of the district's attendance committee. 'They're changing doctor's appointments, and students are coming to see me before and after school, not during classes.'"
Schools vary on drug-use penalties -- With no statewide protocol, area districts differ on severity
Date CapturedFriday May 11 2007, 7:59 AM
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports, "The state Department of Education, state School Boards Association and the Monroe County School Boards Association do not offer opinions on how long to suspend young people who abuse alcohol and drugs on campus. 'We leave it totally to local discretion,' said Jonathan Burman, spokesman for the state Education Department, which doesn't keep data on different schools' policies."
NYS Office of Mental Health and Education Department Together Promoting Healthy Child Development
Date CapturedWednesday May 09 2007, 10:02 AM
Michael F. Hogan, Ph.D., Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Richard P. Mills, Commissioner of the New York State Education Department (SED), today co-hosted a gathering of parents, school teachers and administrators, pediatricians, mental health providers and advocates, to celebrate National Children's Mental Health Awareness day. Held in the Cultural Education Center's Huxley Theater, the event celebrated children's emotional wellbeing and healthy development, and focused on the shared goals and new directions that OMH and SED are undertaking for the children of New York State.
NYSUT says more funding needed for violence prevention
Date CapturedMonday May 07 2007, 10:51 AM
Legislative Gazette reports, "The resolution approved by delegates urges amendments to SAVE that would increase funding for violence prevention programs and school-based mental health services, provide whistle-blower protections to those who report school districts not doing enough to maintain a safe environment, fund alternate settings for students who have been removed from the classroom and provide training to help teachers understand their rights in removing disruptive students."
Law gives parents more access to childrens' incident reports
Date CapturedMonday May 07 2007, 8:42 AM
AP reports, "A key provision of 'Jonathan's Law' will require residential health facilities to notify parents and guardians within 24 hours of incidents affecting the health and safety of their children. The law will require facilities to provide parents and guardians with incident reports upon request and it will give parents access to records pertaining to allegations of patient abuse or mistreatment."
Schools seek money, clarification of privacy laws to become safer
Date CapturedWednesday May 02 2007, 9:26 AM
The Journal News reports, "Meanwhile, the head of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities said state and federal lawmakers need to give more direction about when schools can notify families without violating student privacy."
STEPS pilot program a great resource for Rockland schools
Date CapturedWednesday May 02 2007, 8:34 AM
The Journal News opines, "This program can mitigate the self-evident price society pays from the stigma that stops identification of treatment of emotional problems. Look at teen suicide rates; look at what happens when that violence is turned outward."
An appeal for help at SUNY
Date CapturedWednesday May 02 2007, 8:25 AM
Times Union reports, "The recommended ratio of counselors to students on a college campus is one counselor for every 1,000 to 1,500 students, a range that takes into account the availability of off-campus support, according to data Ryan cited from the International Association of Counseling Services. At SUNY's state-operated campuses, which doesn't include community colleges, the ratio is one counselor for every 1,700 students. At the University at Albany, with 17,000 students, it is one for every 2,000 students."
FRIEDEN'S NEW FOUL
Date CapturedMonday April 30 2007, 7:45 AM
NY Post op-ed contributor David Yassky, north Brooklyn representative, New York City Council opines, "The rules would cost parochial schools millions of dollars, quite possibly forcing some of them to shut down. Most important, these new rules would cross the line that should separate church and state. Of course, we do want the Health Department to protect children against dangers like lead exposure. But existing rules already do that. Now the Health Department wants to impose much more comprehensive regulations on parochial preschool facilities - mandating a certain number of square feet per child, a certain number of toilets per child and so forth."
Secretary Spellings Seeks Public Comment on Campus and School Safety
Date CapturedSaturday April 28 2007, 10:35 AM
As part of this effort, Secretary Spellings today met with state and local leaders, educators, mental health experts, parents, students, and local law enforcement officials in Albuquerque, to determine how the federal government can best help states and localities keep students safe. Secretary Spellings announced that she is seeking public comment online at http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/dialogue.html in an effort to expand this important discussion and gather thoughts and suggestions from across the country. Secretary Spellings will consider these suggestions as she develops recommendations for a report to President Bush next month. "Nothing is more important to American parents than the safety of their children," said Secretary Spellings. "I invite all concerned Americans—parents, educators, law enforcement officials and students—to share their ideas about school safety online at safeschools@ed.gov. Together, we can strengthen our best practices, raise awareness of warning signs and help prevent tragedies."
If you pay 'em, they will come!
Date CapturedWednesday April 25 2007, 10:20 AM
NY Daily News reports on Mayor Bloomberg's trip to Mexico, "The Mexican government says the payments, which were created 10 years ago, have helped lower school dropout rates, boost school attendance and reduce health problems among children."
Educating Children in Foster Care: The McKinney-Vento and No Child Left Behind Acts
Date CapturedWednesday April 25 2007, 9:44 AM
Casey Family Programs write, "The recommendations, included as part of a comprehensive report released at a congressional briefing, deal with the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The recommendations are: Improve school stability by ensuring that the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act applies to all children in out-of-home care, and increase funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to a level that covers all eligible children. Ensure that children and youth in foster care have access to education-related support services by making them automatically eligible for Title I, Part A services and including them in the set-aside that exists for homeless children. Increase funding for school counselors and mental health services."
Laws Limit Options When a Student Is Mentally Ill
Date CapturedThursday April 19 2007, 9:14 AM
NY Times TAMAR LEWIN reports, "For the most part, universities cannot tell parents about their children’s problems without the student’s consent. They cannot release any information in a student’s medical record without consent. And they cannot put students on involuntary medical leave, just because they develop a serious mental illness. Nor is knowing when to worry about student behavior, and what action to take, always so clear."
Study: Abstinence Classes Don't Stop Sex
Date CapturedSaturday April 14 2007, 5:55 PM
AP reports, "The federal government has authorized up to $50 million annually for the program. Participating states then provide $3 for every $4 they get from the federal government. Eight states decline to take part in the grant program. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups believe the federal government should use that money for comprehensive sex education, which would include abstinence as a piece of the curriculum."
Why We Must Continue Funding Rural Schools
Date CapturedWednesday March 28 2007, 6:48 PM
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo writes, "Ideally, management of our forested land would generate the revenue necessary to assist with services in cash-strapped communities with large amounts of federally owned land. Unfortunately, that just hasn’t been the case for some time. We must continue to work to remove impediments to forest health and productivity. However, in the meantime, Congress must commit the resources necessary to ensure that rural communities across this country do not have to forgo road maintenance, close libraries, and make cuts to children’s education. Anything less is unacceptable."
Young African-American boys are in crisis -- and nation is silent
Date CapturedWednesday March 28 2007, 12:24 PM
Sun Times contributor Rev. Jesse Jackson writes, "These kids face long odds from day one. In the crucial early years -- from the time of conception to age 3 -- when the mind is largely forged, they are shackled. One in five children is raised in poverty in this rich country, with no systematic program to ensure prenatal care, health care, day care, parental education. We've got too many babies raising babies who don't have the resources or the knowledge of how to take care of their children. We should be mobilizing intervention on the front side of these lives. Instead, we spend more on police, crime and prisons on the back end."
Spitzer's school BMI plan borders on tyrannical
Date CapturedMonday March 26 2007, 8:54 AM
Times Union contributor and parent SVEN R LARSON, in a Letter to the Editor writes, "Ideas of enforced physical conformity have been practiced before, in a country six time zones east of New York. The results were disastrous. Perhaps the governor should give that some thought before he takes his BMI grade idea any further. He should also consider the risks of an epidemic of eating disorders among our kids. After all, that is the only way most kids will be able to comply with the anatomic standards in Gov. Spitzer's dream world."
Proponents tout legislation on sex education
Date CapturedMonday March 26 2007, 8:45 AM
Times Union reports, "The Healthy Teens Act, a bill before the state Legislature, would establish a fund for school districts that teach abstinence and explain how to use birth control. The federal government offers $13 million for abstinence-only programs but no money for sex education that teaches teenagers how to have safe sex, said JoAnne Smith, president and CEO of Family Planning Advocates of New York State. 'Young people deserve better,' Smith said. 'There is no evidence whatsoever, none, that abstinence programs work.'"
Blaming the poor for their plight
Date CapturedSunday March 25 2007, 10:14 AM
Newsday Op-Ed contributor Amy Stuart Wells, Professor of sociology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University writes, "Indeed, what makes people poor is their lack of access to decent paying jobs in a service economy that pays well-educated and well-connected professionals extremely well and pays people with less formal education next to nothing - not to mention their lack of benefits, most importantly health care. What keeps people poor is the growing segregation between the rich or well-off in terms of where people live and send their children to school. As income gaps have grown and housing prices have exploded, people with money have been able to move farther away from those without. The exclusivity of these communities, protected by zoning ordinances, is the very factor that sends their property values even higher, making their residents and public schools wealthier still."
White Plains elementary to be among state's first "green" schools
Date CapturedMonday March 19 2007, 8:38 AM
The Journal News reports, "A closed system of pumps and wells will circulate water through the earth hundreds of feet below a parking lot, then bring it back up to help heat and air-condition the building above. Windows and reflectors will be positioned to flood classrooms and hallways with sunlight instead of tungsten and florescence. Toilets will flush with quarts of water rather than gallons. Recycled steel and other materials will be used in everything from hallway lockers to linoleum tiles. The roof over the auditorium and cafeteria will be planted with grasses and wildflowers, providing a natural insulation. Welcome to the new Post Road Elementary School, a 21st-century showcase for environmentally smart architecture that will replace a 92-year-old building that opened in an era when anyone talking about a green building was referring strictly to its color."
State Implementation of Supplemental Educational Services under the No Child Left Behind Act
Date CapturedThursday March 15 2007, 8:48 AM
This CEP report was written by Angela Minnici, CEP senior research associate, and Alice P. Bartley, CEP research intern."Key Findings: Limited capacity to monitor -- Many states (38) are unable to monitor 'to a great extent' the quality and effectiveness of SES providers; only 10 states reported being able to do so. The greatest capacity challenges for states in meeting this federal SES monitoring requirement are insufficient numbers of staff and inadequate federal funding. Use of criteria in law -- Almost all (between 47 and 49) of the state education agencies we surveyed reported using the criteria required by NCLB law and federal guidance to review and approve applications from potential supplemental service providers. These criteria are intended to ensure that providers are financially sound, have a record of effectiveness, use research-based strategies, provide services consistent with district instruction, and adhere to health, safety, and civil rights laws. w Frequent updating. NCLB requires states to promote maximum participation of SES providers so that parents have as many choices as possible. Therefore, it is important for states to provide parents and school districts with a current and accurate list of SES providers that they can choose from. On our survey, 20 states said they review new SES provider applications more often than once a year (the minimum required by the NCLB law), and 22 states reported updating their SES provider lists more than once a year. Different reapplication policies -- The reapplication process varies widely by state. In 13 states, SES providers never have to formally reapply, and in 12 states, SES providers have to reapply every year." Nancy Kober, a CEP consultant, edited the report. Jack Jennings, CEP’s president and CEO, and Diane Stark Rentner, CEP’s director of national programs, provided advice and assistance.
PSA Designed to Prevent Underage Drinking among College Students Unveiled at Statewide College Conference
Date CapturedWednesday March 14 2007, 7:42 AM
The University at Albany was chosen out of submissions from 12 colleges throughout the state, each of whom were awarded up to $25,000 by OASAS to develop a PSA for both their college and surrounding community. These colleges included University at Albany, SUNY Delhi, Fulton/Montgomery Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Kingsborough Community College, SUNY - Office of University Life, SUNY College at Old Westbury, SUNY College at Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam, St. Bonaventure University, St. John's University and Suffolk County Community College.
Budget dance gets dirty as Spitzer, Senate face off
Date CapturedTuesday March 13 2007, 6:35 PM
AP MICHAEL GORMLEY reports, "_The Senate's Republican majority would add more than $1 billion to Spitzer's budget. It would include restoring most of Spitzer's funding cuts to hospitals and nursing homes for a total addition of $544 million in health spending. They would also add $338 million to school spending. The proposal also would provide greater property tax relief than Spitzer's plan and include more than $1 billion for the rebate checks to taxpayers. The GOP senators don't include the rebate checks in their budget total, accounting for the difference between their total and the one Spitzer cites. "
Long View HS truancy cases piling up
Date CapturedSunday March 11 2007, 7:22 AM
The News-Journal (Texas) reports, "According to state law, a student is truant upon having 10 unexcused absences in a school year. Absences are considered excused when they are due of health reasons or school-related activities, according to Jennifer Scott, LISD assistant superintendent. Each unexcused absence equals about $12 in lost state funds to the school district, Scott said. Truancy cases thus far have amounted to more than $70,000 lost by the district, which has a total budget of more than $50 million."
In War Over Teaching Reading, a U.S.-Local Clash
Date CapturedFriday March 09 2007, 8:57 AM
NY Times DIANA JEAN SCHEMO reports, "Robert Sweet Jr., a former Congressional aide who wrote much of the Reading First legislation, said the law aimed at breaking new ground by translating research into lesson plans. Under the law, the yardstick of a reading program’s scientific validity became a 2000 report by the National Reading Panel. That panel, created by Congress, with members selected by G. Reid Lyon, a former head of a branch of the National Institutes of Health, set out to review the research and tell Americans what worked. It named phonics and related skills, vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension as the cornerstones of effective reading instruction."
New York City principals powerless to quell violence - Public advocate charges DOE is not helping administrators get a handle on woes
Date CapturedSaturday February 24 2007, 2:25 PM
Brooklyn Heights Courier reports, "Some Brooklyn parents suggest that the DOE implement intervention services to prevent disagreements between students from escalating into all-out brawls that put school administrators and staffers in danger. They’ve called for the creation of school-based health centers in more local schools, as the facilities provide medical and psychological care to youths."
Commission on NCLB Final Recommendations
Date CapturedTuesday February 13 2007, 8:14 AM
Aspen Institute Webcast -- presentation begins 20 minutes, 39 seconds into video. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, Co-Chairs of the the Commission will be joined by: Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Senator Mike Enzi, Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Congressman George Miller, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Labor.
Obama Health Care
Date CapturedMonday January 22 2007, 2:52 PM
Promoting affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care was a priority for Barack Obama in the Illinois State Senate and is a priority for him in the United States Senate. He believes firmly that health care should be a right for everyone, not a privilege for the few.
Role of Rhode Island school nurse-teachers evolves
Date CapturedMonday January 15 2007, 9:35 AM
Newport Daily News reports, "School nursing has changed dramatically over the years, both Bryon and Watkinson [school nurses] agreed, in part because of advancements in neonatal health care. Premature or seriously ill infants who may not have survived a decade or two ago now grow up and go to school, where some continue to suffer from developmental, physical or behavioral problems. In addition, there are more children with asthma, ulcers and diabetes than when she started out as a school nurse-teacher, Byron said."
New Jersey bill removes all mercury products from facilities
Date CapturedMonday January 15 2007, 9:19 AM
Gloucester County Times reports, "Six months before the Kiddie Kollege day care center in Franklin Township was shut down due to mercury contamination, a county environmental group proposed legislation that would have reduced and possibly eliminated mercury in educational facilities statewide."
State aid fuels school construction projects
Date CapturedSunday January 14 2007, 8:28 AM
Post-Standard reports, "Each district was allocated a share of EXCEL aid in the state budget, based on enrollment and its financial need.However, districts must submit project applications that meet state criteria in order to collect. The project must involve school expansion or renovation, health and safety, accessibility, energy conservation and education technology. More than a dozen districts in Central New York have passed or are putting expansion and renovation projects before voters in coming months. And other districts are beginning to explore their needs to take advantage of the state's largesse. "
SUNY board approves no smoking policy for dorms
Date CapturedThursday January 11 2007, 5:25 PM
AP reports, "The State University of New York's trustees on Thursday adopted a policy to ban smoking from all dormitories as of July 1. The policy will affect the remaining 9 percent of SUNY residence hall beds where smoking is currently permitted, primarily at Stony Brook, Morrisville and Buffalo State, according to a statement issued by the university board."
Frozen Assets: Rethinking Teacher Contracts Could Free Billions for School Reform
Date CapturedTuesday January 09 2007, 6:57 AM
Education Sector report written by Marguerite Rosa . Many common provisions of teacher contracts require school districts to spend substantial sums to implement policies which research has shown have a weak or inconsistent relationship with student learning. This report examines eight such provisions: Increases in teacher salaries based on years of experience; Increases in teacher salaries based on educational credentials and experiences; Professional development days; Number of paid sick and personal days; Class-size limitations; Use of teachers’ aides; Generous health and insurance benefits; and Generous retirement benefits.
Bassett to open health centers at three schools
Date CapturedMonday January 08 2007, 6:30 AM
The Daily Star reports, "Soon it will be possible for children in three more local school districts to see a medical provider without having to leave school. Bassett Healthcare is opening centers this month in the Cooperstown, Worcester and Middleburgh central schools. Several centers are already open in other schools."
BOCES to offer college credit business course in September
Date CapturedMonday January 08 2007, 6:22 AM
Journal News reports, "The Rockland Board of Cooperative Educational Services is planning a merger. It is melding its role as the educator of nontraditional students with the desire of many traditional students to get an edge in the college selection process. Beginning in September, BOCES is planning to offer a college-credit business course in conjunction with Iona College. New Visions Business will be open to about two dozen high school seniors interested in economics, finance, marketing, management, international business and strategic planning. New Visions Business is similar to BOCES New Visions health program, a high school elective that allows 16 students interested in medicine to get a hands-on, college-credit course through BOCES."
Healthy Teens Act a priority for FPA
Date CapturedMonday January 08 2007, 5:57 AM
Legislative Gazette reports, "Clashing ideologically based opinions over how New York’s public schools should be teaching sex education have caused confusion among educators, with some teachers deciding to remain silent when it comes to human reproduction. But advocates of the proposed Healthy Teens Act say its time for state leaders to consider the consequences of remaining in that state of confusion. They say lawmakers must take into account both the impact this confusion is having on their young constituents’ health and the state’s economy when teenagers are having babies, contracting sexually transmitted diseases and getting abortions."
Roosevelt school is late, $10M over cost
Date CapturedMonday January 08 2007, 5:04 AM
Newsday JOHN HILDEBRAND writes, "Construction of a Roosevelt middle school is running $10 million over budget and more than a year behind schedule, according to state officials who blame overruns on the costs of cleaning up toxic pesticides on the site. State authorities add that delays in the middle-school project also will push back planned renovations of Roosevelt High School by a year, and that extra costs for the middle school could force cuts in the amount of work done at the high school."
6,000 in Maryland Suburbs Barred From Class
Date CapturedWednesday January 03 2007, 4:01 AM
Washington Post reports, "Students in grades 6 through 9 who had not provided a record of chickenpox and hepatitis B vaccinations -- or, in the case of chickenpox, month-and-year documentation of when they had the disease -- were told they could not return until they had the necessary paperwork in hand. The only exceptions were to be those who arrived with proof that they have appointments to get the shots by Jan. 22. Some students were held for the day in special rooms or centers in their schools. Others were sent home."
Boston school partnerships need a push
Date CapturedWednesday December 27 2006, 9:35 AM
Boston Globe opines, "On Jan. 4, the leaders of 10 struggling schools are scheduled to meet with university experts in the areas of public health, after-school programming, curriculum support, family engagement, and pedagogy. The plan, according to Deputy Superintendent Chris Coxson, is for the universities to step up in their individual fields of expertise and provide help across the board to the following schools: English High School; the Lewenberg and Curley middle schools; and the Agassiz, Winthrop, Chittick, Marshall, Russell, Elihu Greenwood, and Trotter elementary schools. The advantages of pairing private universities with individual public schools should not be overlooked in this effort to create a wide network of support services."
Almost famous in New York
Date CapturedSunday December 24 2006, 9:43 AM
Newsday reports, "Stern, 63, of Flushing, a retired vice president of the defunct Camera Barn retail chain, founded Friends of the New York City Hall of Fame in June 2002. Six months later, the nonprofit organization, which he heads, established a Web site, nychalloffame.org, to take nominations from the public for inductees in these categories: architecture, business development, charitable contribution, cultural contribution, communications, education, entertainment, health and science, heroism or act of bravery, humanitarianism, sports, and volunteerism."
Parents up-in-arms after school tests positive for lead
Date CapturedThursday December 21 2006, 7:35 AM
News 10 reports, "School and health officials[in Marathon, NY] say the levels aren't high enough to cause health problems. But, some samples had high enough levels that Appleby had to take action. All drinking fountains have been replaced with water coolers and taps are being flushed on a daily basis. After learning school officials have known about the problem for years, parents are upset they weren't told earlier."
Scarsdale school calls in experts to battle head lice
Date CapturedWednesday December 20 2006, 6:10 AM
The Journal News reports, "The team yesterday found lice on the heads of 10 middle-schoolers. They were then referred for treatment either in their homes or at Licenders Headlites Hair Care Salon at 315 Fifth Ave. Getting rid of the insects involves treating the head with a nontoxic shampoo, then picking out the nits by hand. That costs $250 for up to two hours in a home visit and $180 for a two-hour minimum at the salon, said Debra Rosen, Licenders' director of sales."
Breath tests for students becoming more common
Date CapturedWednesday December 20 2006, 5:17 AM
Newsday reports, "In New Hampshire, a school board recently approved allowing breath tests on school grounds of students suspected of drinking. Closer to home, school districts in Hewlett-Woodmere, Rockville Centre and West Islip have passed similar policies."
Washington state Gov. Gregoire's $30 billion budget invests heavily in education
Date CapturedTuesday December 19 2006, 4:48 PM
AP reports, "The $29.94 billion two-year spending plan dips liberally into the state's $1.9 billion budget reserve to spend on public schools and colleges, health care, Puget Sound cleanup, economic development, prisons, parks, pensions, salary increases and other programs. Free full-day kindergarten is proposed for 10 percent of the schools and early learning proposals would be expanded, at a cost of $42 million. A dropout academy is created. "
OASAS Announces Winner of Underage Drinking PSA Contest
Date CapturedTuesday December 19 2006, 10:36 AM
The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced that SUNY Albany has been selected by a panel of judges as the winner of the "Underage Drinking: Not a Minor Problem - College Edition" Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest. SUNY Albany was chosen based on submissions from 12 colleges throughout the state, each of whom were awarded up to $25,000 by OASAS to develop a PSA for both their college and surrounding community. SUNY Albany will now work with Sawchuck Brown, a professional advertising and marketing firm, to professionalize the campaign and revise it for distribution by OASAS throughout the State of New York. The professionalized PSA will be unveiled at the Statewide College Conference in Albany on March 11, 2007.
Lots of buzz over student drug testing
Date CapturedMonday December 18 2006, 10:41 AM
The Monitor reports, "Districts and government advocates argue that drug testing provides them with a relatively easy and inexpensive way to identity students who need help. They cite studies showing that drug use hurts academic achievement and mental health. But as they craft their testing programs, schools tread a fine line, subject to legal challenges from students, parents and civil rights organizations who maintain that drug testing constitutes an invasion of privacy. The Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that schools may test students involved in competitive extracurricular activities, but it is less clear whether other kinds of testing, such as that of students who drive to school, is constitutional."
Tough truancy rules sought
Date CapturedMonday December 18 2006, 7:41 AM
Baltimore Sun reports, "Board members [Howard County, Maryland] were told that truant students could face consequences that include community service, counseling, substance abuse evaluation and treatment, mental health evaluation and treatment, a curfew and loss of driving privileges. The Howard County truancy court would be based on a model used in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. However, unlike that model, which applies only to students 15 and younger, the Howard County court would apply to students 12 and older."
Not Enough Time for Phys Ed, Schools Plead
Date CapturedMonday December 18 2006, 4:54 AM
Post-Standard reports, "The education department's deputy commissioner also reminded all superintendents throughout the state of the physical education requirements and urged them to review their programs to ensure they are in compliance. The reminder was sent in the School Executive's Bulletin. The department sent the letters and reminders after reading an article in The Post-Standard last month that found only one of the school districts in Central New York in compliance with the physical education regulations. 'We learned of the allegation of noncompliance as a result of your reporting,' said Jonathan Burman, of the state Education Department."
Election results push AFT legislative agenda closer to passage
Date CapturedFriday December 15 2006, 8:51 AM
New York Teacher reports on "a working people’s agenda" and revamping the No Child Left Behind Act. "Other AFT legislative goals include: Securing federal assistance to help districts modernize and rebuild schools; Winning greater national investment in education, health care and job training; Reversing the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling that allows employers to deny union rights to workers by classifying them as 'supervisor'; Raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, indexed to inflation; Protecting retirement security for all workers; Expanding access to college by halving interest rates for student loans and raising the maximum Pell grant award to at least $4,500."
New Jersey student database raises concerns
Date CapturedThursday December 14 2006, 8:57 AM
The Reporter writes, "'It is quite clear that New Jersey has not built in any legal safeguards for the data,' [Joel Reidenberg, professor of law and director of the Center on Law and Information Policy at Fordham University] he said, noting that under current federal law, schools must preserve their students' privacy in certain ways, including a date for deletion, or risk losing their federal funding. There is no information about how long the state will keep the data. 'That means it becomes a statewide adult database as soon as the kids turn 18,' he said. The state has also said that third parties can view the data with permission, but not about what third parties those will be, he said, speculating that one of them will be the state Department of Health and Senior Services, given the health questions in the voluntary data set. One organization has already received federal funding to study the information in data warehouses similar to New Jersey's database, he said."
Alabama student drivers to be drug tested
Date CapturedWednesday December 13 2006, 8:53 AM
Cullman Times reports, "According to the policy, any 'activity student,' which is any student of any middle school or high school who participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities or who drives to school, may be tested for drugs."
Additional data helps student tracking system
Date CapturedMonday December 11 2006, 8:58 AM
Gloucester County Times (New Jersey) reports, "The purpose of the information, [Education Commissioner] Davy stated in the letter, is to create a unique student identification number that will be used for tracking progress of students. H. Mark Stanwood, Gloucester County superintendent of schools, said the tracking of students will benefit all districts, particularly ones with high student mobility. 'The primary benefit is so we can track student performance even as they change school districts,' Stanwood said. 'Right now we don't have an effective or efficient way to do that.'" 'Some parents feel uneasy giving all that information to the school district,' Borelli said."
Healthier and Wealthier: Decreasing Health Care Costs by Increasing Educational Attainment
Date CapturedSunday December 10 2006, 9:45 AM
This Alliance for Excellence Education brief argues that "higher educational attainment improves a student’s future income, occupational status, and social prestige, all of which contributes to improved individual health. The brief cites several reasons why, including the fact that Americans with higher educational attainment have more insurance coverage, individuals who lack health insurance receive less medical care and have poorer health outcomes, and lower education levels generally lead to occupations with greater health hazards."
Tests cast doubts on Pappas schools: Schools for homeless at center of education debate
Date CapturedSaturday December 09 2006, 9:09 AM
The Arizona Republic reports, "[Maricopa County, Arizona]County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling built her reputation and a small political empire on the idea that putting homeless students together in one school would help their academic and social development.'
Statement by Secretary Spellings on the Release of Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2006
Date CapturedThursday December 07 2006, 7:57 AM
The federal government supports local efforts to improve school safety by providing assistance and lending expertise, along with $535 million this year to fund programs directly related to school safety. Other funding measures include: More than $1 billion through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant program since the grant was first awarded in 1999. $115 million over the past four years through the Department of Education's Emergency Response & Crisis Management grant program to improve and expand upon school crisis response plans, including $26 million this year for the School Emergency Preparedness Initiative to help elementary and secondary schools plan and prepare for threats, including shootings and gang-related activity. Through a partnership with the Secret Service, funding to train 74,000 local education and law enforcement personnel in threat assessment. Under Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence), $24 million since 2001 for schools impacted by violence to restore their learning environment.
Systems Struggling to Address Student Health
Date CapturedTuesday December 05 2006, 8:26 AM
Washington Post reports, "Leonard Turkel couldn't believe his ears when he learned what happened to the results of eye screenings of thousands of Miami-Dade County public school students. Although the tests are mandated by the state, the businessman-turned-philanthropist discovered that nobody was actually using the scores to ensure that kids could see the blackboard in class."
Early action on early education
Date CapturedTuesday December 05 2006, 6:46 AM
Boston Globe opines, "Menino [Boston mayor] has a big vision: not just a program or two, but a citywide culture of excellence, an early-education artery that runs through maternity wards, pediatricians' offices, grocery stores, and neighborhoods. Narrowing the achievement gap that leaves many poor and minority students struggling to keep up is one goal. But Menino wants to go farther, to meet the needs of the whole family. So, for example, just as parents live in a given school district, very new parents might live in a certain early-education district, and that could mean access to any number of services, from home visits to parenting classes. Medical, dental, and mental-health care would be readily available. Prevention would be key, especially of well-known problems such as maternal isolation and depression."
Tests & Pests
Date CapturedMonday December 04 2006, 5:29 AM
NY Post DAVID ANDREATTA and HEIDI SINGER write, "Parents of a child found carrying a bedbug are notified. But the decision to issue a letter to the school community is made on a case-by-case basis by the Office of School Health."
Phys Ed Blues
Date CapturedWednesday November 29 2006, 9:57 AM
Post-Standard writes, "The survey done by The Post-Standard is another wakeup call to officials at all levels to make physical education more of a priority. School officials say they don't have enough time or staffing to offer what the state mandates. And they do have many demands on their limited time, including what clearly appears to be the state's No. 1 priority improving test scores. As a result, some schools have not only failed to meet the physical education requirements but have reduced gym time further over the past three years."
Group challenges No Child Left Behind
Date CapturedTuesday November 28 2006, 7:33 AM
The Journal News reports, "No Child Left Behind is up for reauthorization in the coming year. The collaborative's report devotes more than six pages to recommendations on how to improve the law. Chief among them is funding changes: the group is calling on the federal government to fully fund NCLB mandates, to earmark funds for after-school programs for low-performing schools, and to reimburse school districts for the costs of scoring exams. The collaborative also advocates changes to the testing regimen, recommending that tests be conducted on alternate years instead of each year, and for additional measures - such as portfolio assessments and classroom participation - to be used in measuring whether a student has met state and national standards. The report said, on the local level, government officials and residents can also play a role in improving student performance. Affordable housing, early childhood education programs, adult literacy programs and child-health programs could all contribute to the success of children in public schools, the report said."
Eight Parts to Coordinated Health
Date CapturedSunday November 26 2006, 1:36 PM
The Tennessean outlines components of coordinated health: Health Education, Physical Education/Physical Activity, Health Services, Nutrition Services and Health Promotion for Staff.
NYC Students Can Get Cellphone Waiver
Date CapturedThursday November 23 2006, 6:39 AM
The Queens Gazette reports, "A prior medical exemption provision allowed students to bring cell phones to school, but prohibited them from using or carrying the phones from class to class. Under the revised provision, students must have a doctor fill out a form describing their condition and explaining why they need to carry a cellphone during school hours. It is then up to the school principal to approve the student's request to carry the cellphone."
No spare time for lost school bus: Call in, ask for help
Date CapturedWednesday November 22 2006, 6:23 AM
The Journal News opined, "Buses will be delayed by traffic conditions or road detours at times. Substitute drivers are sometimes needed. Yet, we believe this incident was all the more upsetting because a health department worker first appeared to downplay the situation, and the parents believed they were given little information not only during, but after the event. Really, what matters here is common sense and clear procedures. If a bus is more than 10 minutes behind schedule, an aide or driver should have an easy and efficient way to communicate with a supervisor or dispatcher, which, in turn, should alert parents. If a driver is unsure about a route, early contact within minutes is needed. The communication technology is available. It should be used. There should never be a question about the location of a school bus."
Critics Question the Effectiveness of New Jersey’s High School Drug Tests
Date CapturedWednesday November 22 2006, 3:40 AM
NY Times reports, "The program, adopted in June by the state’s Interscholastic Athletic Association, made New Jersey the first state to require such tests. Only public and private school athletes competing in state playoffs, including players in this fall’s football playoffs, are subject to the tests. During this school year, about 500, or .002 percent, of the state’s 240,000 high school athletes are expected to be tested. Critics say that is too small a number to create a deterrent, and some suggest that the money spent on the program could be better used to educate more students about drugs and their risks."
New York schools' building bonanza
Date CapturedMonday November 20 2006, 5:00 AM
Times Herald-Record reports, "A one-time dose of state money injected into local school districts has fueled a frenzy of expansion and construction proposals. Eight districts have either gone to voters recently or plan to do so next month. The state Department of Education expects to see an increase in proposals as well. The state sweetened the pot this year with aid dubbed "Excel," or Expand Our Childrens' Education and Learning aid. Every district in the state can get the money if they have a project that fits: expansion or renovations, technology, health and safety, or access for the disabled. The money is a one-time shot. Districts can wait, but no one knows how much money future Legislatures and governors will set aside for the program."
Certifying readiness for entry-level jobs
Date CapturedSunday November 19 2006, 6:55 PM
Buffalo News reports, "Some 70 companies across the state were consulted in the past four years in developing the test of reading, math, verbal comprehension and judgment. 'The impetus for this whole project came from business. This isn't one of those government things that government cooked up,' said Doug Reamer, principal statistician at the state Department of Labor. The price of a single premature departure, which happens often in entry-level trades, ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 and more in training and recruiting costs, depending on a company's size. Entry-level is defined as jobs that don't require a college degree or involve managing. The category accounts for 51 percent of annual new openings in New York: from hospitality to retail, health care, manufacturing, temp agencies and government."
Hunger in East Tennessee - fallacies and facts
Date CapturedSunday November 19 2006, 3:54 AM
Knoxville News reports, "Food for Kids and Kids Cafe -- Youth programs serve more than 3,000 kids monthly in nearly 100 locations. These kids show increased attendance, improved learning, better overall health and healthier social behavior. Several corporations have donated $2,500 each to adopt and fund a neighborhood elementary school for a year."
Puberty education programs can empower girls
Date CapturedSunday November 19 2006, 3:45 AM
Times Union contributor TERI BORDENAVE President/CEO Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital District writes, "Our programs empower through education and motivation and are proven to reduce unsafe sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted teen pregnancies. We encourage all concerned parents to talk with their daughters sooner, rather than after it is too late."
GAO eyes abstinence programs
Date CapturedFriday November 17 2006, 8:22 AM
AP reports, "Most no-sex-before-marriage programs escape the type of scientific scrutiny required to show whether they work, a government watchdog said yesterday in a report on the federally funded abstinence education efforts. Also, the materials used by the programs face limited review for scientific accuracy, the Government Accountability Office said. The abstinence programs receive about $158 million a year in public money from the Health and Human Services Department."
'Guinea Pig' Kids Uproar
Date CapturedTuesday November 14 2006, 5:35 AM
NY Post CARL CAMPANILE and STEPHANIE GASKELL report on students as subjects in university studies, "More than 50 of those studies focused on health, psychology, race, ethnicity and religion - mostly on kids in the poorest neighborhoods. All were conducted with parental consent, but as an incentive, parents and kids often were compensated. 'This is outrageous,' Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron said. 'I'm concerned about any form of therapy going on in our schools.' But Mayor Bloomberg defended the research. 'We've been doing this for a number of years and we will continue to do it,' he said.
Class Drug Swabs
Date CapturedMonday November 13 2006, 4:51 AM
NY Post HEIDI SINGER and DAVID ANDREATTA report, "In a matter of minutes, officials can determine what kind of illegal narcotics are in their school, where drug dealers might be lurking and how young the users are. Newark school officials want to use the information to fine-tune their anti-drug message, adjusting it to the reality of what drugs kids are actually using, said Willie Freeman, security director for the Newark School District. But officials won't be using the test to bust individual kids, he said."
'Guinea Pig' Kids Stir Furor
Date CapturedMonday November 13 2006, 4:49 AM
NY Post CARL CAMPANILE reports, "City [New York City] education officials last year quietly approved more than 50 research projects related to health, psychology, race, ethnicity, gender and religion - mostly on kids in the poorest neighborhoods, a Post investigation has found. Nearly 200 studies - some of them financed by multimillion-dollar grants - were OK'd. All of the studies were conducted with parental consent. But as an incentive, parents and kids often were compensated. The city allows 'modest cash payments' to parents and teachers and gift certificates for kids, education officials said."
POLL FINDS SUPPORT FOR DRUG TESTS
Date CapturedSunday November 12 2006, 4:31 PM
Courier News reports, "In the weeks ahead, Central Jersey's high-school athletes will face a new challenge that has nothing to do with X's and O's or executing plays. They'll be subject to new, random testing for performance-enhancing drugs. An exclusive Courier News poll of 100 playoff-bound athletes shows widespread belief that the testing will level the playing field and create more of a dialogue about performance- enhancing drugs, but also some concerns about the program's fairness."
Elmira College offers new master's program
Date CapturedSaturday November 11 2006, 7:56 AM
Star-Gazette reports, "Elmira College will offer a new master's degree program in January that school officials hope will prepare the local work force for the future. Four areas of concentration -- in general management, information technology management, health services management and emergency-disaster preparedness management -- will be offered during the winter term that starts Jan. 8."
Asbestos in Schools
Date CapturedFriday November 10 2006, 8:20 AM
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Academics unite to protect New York state
Date CapturedThursday November 09 2006, 5:28 AM
Times Union reports, "Protect New York will sponsor panel topics such as the ethics of surveillance and the psychiatric aspects of disaster and organize reviews of current research priorities and educational offerings related to homeland security and disaster planning. The group will host a conference on lessons learned and future directions in the fight against terrorism and natural disasters in New York City in 2007."
New York City student cell ban adds med waiver
Date CapturedThursday November 09 2006, 4:40 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Although a medical exemption to the controversial cell phone ban was already on the books, the Department of Education yesterday set up a formal process to apply for the waiver."
Teachers use Election Day for professional development
Date CapturedWednesday November 08 2006, 6:09 AM
The Journal News reports on workshop on emotional intelligence, "Led by Marc Brackett, associate director of the Health, Emotion and Behavior Laboratory at Yale University, the workshop was intended to 'give teachers the skills to recognize, understand, label, express and regulate their emotions to improve classroom management and personal growth,' Brackett said. Subjects discussed during the seminar included how a student's emotions may affect his or her ability to learn, how teachers' emotions affect life inside a classroom, and the importance of recognizing different emotions in others. During one exercise, Brackett asked educators to select an emotion from a list and use facial expressions to convey that emotion to others."
Maryland court program brings truancy improvements
Date CapturedTuesday November 07 2006, 7:48 AM
The Daily Times reports, "In its third and possibly final year, the truancy reduction pilot program seeks to understand and intervene in the underlying issues that keep children from school, said Christen Niskey, program coordinator for the truancy court effort in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester county public schools. The intervention strategies range from counseling to medical support services, she said."
Phys Ed Class More Effective When There's More Talking
Date CapturedMonday November 06 2006, 9:07 AM
Science Daily reports, "Researchers at Ohio State and Denison universities developed and tested the new program in which students at a rural Ohio high school learned how create a personalized exercise program. The students spent one gym class each week learning the skills necessary for planning a lifelong exercise program. Nearly half of the students said that they spent no time exercising outside of school prior to beginning the program. That number dropped to less than one in 10 students once the program ended."
California Schools to Fingerprint Students
Date CapturedSunday November 05 2006, 7:45 AM
AP reports, "The scan will call up the student's name and student ID, teacher's name and how much the student owes, since some receive government assistance for food. It is meant to speed up cafeteria lines."
Port Chester's Edison School plans workshops for educators
Date CapturedWednesday November 01 2006, 7:14 AM
Journal News reports, "Principal Eileen Santiago began the first of many community programs with an after-school program 10 years ago, run by the organization SER. The school has since added other services, including adult job training, parenting programs, health services and English classes. As time went on, the improvised effort became an example of what came to be known around the country as "community schools" and received federal funding."
Presidential Task Force Calls for Moderation of Budget Growth Rate, Integrating Athletics Within Academics
Date CapturedMonday October 30 2006, 6:12 PM
NCAA PRESS RELEASE: Karen Holbrook, president at Ohio State University and chair of the Task Force’s subcommittee on student-athlete well-being, stressed that athletics is an integral part of higher education. “No university can afford to maintain an athletics program that is not fully integrated into the academic life of the institution,” Holbrook said. “While most of the sports do not have a high profile or big budget and do not attract large crowds, they all provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate skills and learn discipline that help them succeed both in the classroom and in life.”
The Second-Century Imperatives — Presidential Leadership and Institutional Accountability,”
Date CapturedMonday October 30 2006, 5:55 PM
NCAA REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON THE FUTURE OF DIVISION I INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: "The Task Force has developed a series of 'dashboard indicators' that can be customized for each campus and that will allow comparisons with specific peer groups. The indicators will show where each program is compared to the norm.The goal is to moderate the growth of athletics budgets. How this is done will vary from campus to campus, but that it must be done on most campuses is the consensus analysis of the Task Force. The reality for effective reform of spending and revenue-generating behaviors for college sports is this: Each college and university must hold itself accountable for exercising its independent will as an institution of higher education. And it will do that best through well-informed, value-driven presidential leadership."
Teen-drinking epidemic definitely crosses line
Date CapturedSaturday October 28 2006, 7:56 AM
Troy Record opined on teen drinking and school imposed consequences and plans to deal with the problem, "We are glad that teens who engage in such activity will have to face these tougher consequences. More school districts should take a cue from Averill Park. At the same time, parents everywhere need to be more vigilant and must hold their children accountable for their actions. Teachers and schools are not substitutes for a solid foundation of values taught at home. Children - even today's 'worldly' teenagers - want to know where the line is drawn. It is up to parents to make their children understand what will happen should they cross that line."
Districts mustn't scrimp on efforts to keep schools safe
Date CapturedFriday October 27 2006, 8:40 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle guest essayist Richard C. Iannuzzi, president, New York State United Teachers writes, "What does it take to build that trust in a school environment? School health professionals — such as nurses, guidance counselors, social workers and psychologists — must be recognized as integral parts of the school team. Along with teachers, they are trained to build relationships; listen; identify warning signs and overcome adolescents' natural reluctance to confide. They must work tirelessly and in unison to create a culture of trust."
FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA
Date CapturedThursday October 26 2006, 8:03 PM
Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, First 5 California, also known as the California Children and Families Commission, was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health, child care and other programs for expectant parents and children up to age 5.
SUNY chancellor promotes alcohol awareness
Date CapturedThursday October 26 2006, 12:30 PM
John R. Ryan, Chancellor, State University of New York writes about alcohol awareness programs at SUNY, "In each program, students answer questions about their individual drinking habits and general background, allowing the courses to be developed around each student’s personal risk profile. This interactive approach engages student interest more than other prevention strategies that are designed to treat larger, more generic groups."
New York agencies approve Valhalla athletic fields for use
Date CapturedThursday October 26 2006, 6:12 AM
Journal News reports, "State environmental and health officials have given a clean bill of health to a three-acre athletic field at Valhalla High built on loads of dirt and rock."
New Jersey rejects federal sex ed money over abstinence rules
Date CapturedWednesday October 25 2006, 4:12 PM
AP reports, "The Corzine administration has rejected federal abstinence education money because new rules won't let teachers discuss contraception and requires them to describe sex outside marriage as potentially mentally and physically damaging. State health and education officials sent a letter Tuesday to the federal government saying such requirements contradict the state's sex education and AIDS education programs. The state had accepted the $800,000 each year since 1997, but said new rules give them little flexibility."
School board stiffens penalties for drinking
Date CapturedWednesday October 25 2006, 5:09 AM
Times Union reports, "The code now calls for the following consequences for students who violate the district's drug and alcohol policy: a minimum five-day suspension (a combination of in school and out of school); a parent conference with the superintendent; four-week exclusion from extra-curricular activities; a referral to a student-assistance counselor; and attendance of a seven-week, county-run alcohol and drug program."
Buffalo schools lose on insurance
Date CapturedTuesday October 24 2006, 9:30 AM
Buffalo News reports, "In a decision stating that the Buffalo Public Schools engaged in 'heavy-handed bullying,' an arbitrator Monday ordered the school system to reinstate four health insurance plans for its teachers and to rehire - with back pay and interest - as many as 66 teachers laid off last year in a high-stakes insurance dispute. School officials responded that they will not back down, but instead will appeal the arbitrator's opinion."
Delaware County, Indiana schools teaching flu pandemic prevention
Date CapturedTuesday October 24 2006, 7:32 AM
Star Press reports, "With so much media attention given to the possibility of a flu pandemic, school officials are often asked if they are aware and how they will respond if a major outbreak occurs, Muncie Community Schools Supt. Marlin Creasy said. The letter alerts parents 'preliminary steps' schools are taking now, Creasy said. Education and communication about potential hazards and prevention is key, said Bill Gosnell, Delaware County Emergency Director."
Cleveland: Sex ed in kindergarten
Date CapturedFriday October 20 2006, 9:37 AM
AP reports, "[Cleveland] City schools will expand sex education curriculum to include age-appropriate lessons that begin as early as kindergarten, officials said."
Steroid testing of Texas high school athletes
Date CapturedFriday October 20 2006, 9:00 AM
The Olympian reports, "In 2005, state lawmakers considered a testing program but instead directed the UIL [University Interscholastic League, the state's governing body for public high school sports] to develop an education plan about the dangers of steroid use. The UIL is surveying school districts to gauge how well that program is work-ing. The results are due in December."
NFL Joins Fight Against Child Obesity
Date CapturedThursday October 19 2006, 3:35 PM
AP KAREN MATTHEWS reports, "Some 25,000 middle schools that are participating in the nationwide effort will get lesson plans intended to broaden physical activity in schools. A language arts lesson has students create and perform a rap that demonstrates action verbs. A science lesson has kids play scooter tag, with one group of students representing cholesterol and another representing healthy hearts."
Put N.Y.C.'s lice policies on ice
Date CapturedWednesday October 18 2006, 4:32 AM
NY Daily News contributor Amy Ellen Schwartz:, Professor of Public Policy, New York University writes on NYC schools head lice policy, "Second, schools are now paying for lice removal companies to screen kids for lice and sell the services they offer. It's wrong to open school doors to people hawking remedies for profit. What's next, cold medicine for sale when kids come to class with runny noses?"
Report highlights shortage of dentists in Massachusetts
Date CapturedMonday October 16 2006, 7:47 PM
AP reports, "The group [Oral Health Collaborative of Massachusetts, representatives of local dental schools, state lawmakers and health care activists} recommends the state expand access to dental care, in part by increasing funding to so-called 'safety-net providers' like community health centers."
Colleges using sobering tactics to curb partying
Date CapturedMonday October 16 2006, 7:26 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports, "Area colleges are taking several steps to try to dissuade or clamp down on underage and excessive student drinking. While Sunday marked the start of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, dealing with alcohol is a year-round endeavor at schools. It also is an uphill battle. Underage alcohol consumption is by far the most common crime committed on college campuses, according to federal statistics. Various studies show that a sizable minority of students nationwide drink frequently and heavily, and many end up in academic trouble, in scrapes with the law, and running health and safety risks."
School Gruel in Gross Cafeterias
Date CapturedMonday October 16 2006, 7:01 AM
NY Post reports, "A staggering 360 school cafeterias - nearly one out of every three - is infested with mice, according to shocking new health-inspection reports obtained by The Post. In all, 111 schools - nearly one in 10 - were slapped with so many flagrant food violations that they flunked their inspections. That's more than triple the prior year's 3 percent failure rate. And the total number of rodent violations in school food areas jumped 10 percent during the 2005-2006 academic year - to 413 from 370 the prior year."
Teacher, management collaboration a key lesson
Date CapturedSaturday October 14 2006, 9:57 AM
The Providence Journal reports, "Urbanski [director of the Teacher Union Reform Network] argued that you can't accomplish true reform unless you change what happens to children's lives before and after school. That means doing more in the areas of early childhhod education, after-school programs, health care and housing."
Kids need balance in school, expert says
Date CapturedSaturday October 14 2006, 9:18 AM
News Journal (Delaware) reports, "Comer [renowned child psychiatrist] said he had to tell his own story first so the audience of education and health professionals could see where he was coming from. He grew up poor in Chicago as one of five children, with a mother who was the daughter of a sharecropper and a father who was a laborer. Yet they provided their children with warmth and attention, taught them social skills, made them feel good about themselves and exposed them to museums and anything else they thought was educational."
Stress, trauma a reality for some kids in school
Date CapturedSunday October 08 2006, 9:28 AM
Enterprise reports, "School psychologists across the region agree. From day-to-day anxiety over high-stakes testing and problems at home, to tragic deaths from accident or illness, to increased bullying and fights in school yards, to fear of violence erupting in their classroom — students today face a multitude of challenges not often seen by their parents or grandparents."
Nonprofit builds new school playground
Date CapturedThursday October 05 2006, 6:35 AM
The Daily News reports, "It's the first project completed by Out2Play, dedicated to building and refurbishing city public school playgrounds. 'A lot of schools don't have gymnasiums or that kind of thing," she said. "We want to give them an outdoor space where they're encouraged to be physically active'"
Study Shows Abstinence Education Reduces Teenage Sexual Behavior
Date CapturedWednesday October 04 2006, 7:05 PM
Lifenews.com reports, "The nation's largest teacher's group is attacking abstinence education programs in a new report it co-sponsored. The attack is designed to persuade Congressional lawmakers to cut funding for abstinence education, which studies have shown is achieving its intended results in reducing sex and teen pregnancies."
Proposed Legislation To Get Lead Out of Child Care Facilities
Date CapturedWednesday October 04 2006, 1:02 AM
WIFR reports, "The Lead Poisoning Reduction Act of 2006 requires all non-home-based child care facilities to be certified lead-safe in five years. It establishes a five-year, $42.6 million grant program to help communities reduce lead exposure in day care centers, Head Start programs and kindergartens. It also establishes best practices for communities to test for and reduce lead hazards."
When a positive is a negative
Date CapturedMonday October 02 2006, 1:40 PM
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) reports, "Although a growing number of school districts nationwide are requiring athletes to pass drug screenings as a condition to participate in sports and extracurricular activities, the idea has come under heavy criticism by researchers and civil liberties groups that say its ineffective and intrusive. A federally funded 2003 study by the University of Michigan found that student drug use did not decrease in schools where students were being randomly tested."
Anti-Violence Funds for Schools Drops
Date CapturedSunday October 01 2006, 10:19 PM
AP reports, "Since 2001, federal funding for a grant program that helps U.S. schools pay for programs to prevent substance abuse and violence has declined significantly. Funding was $439.2 million in 2001 but has fallen to $346.5 million this year, with $310 million recommended for 2007."
It's time for testing in schools
Date CapturedFriday September 29 2006, 5:34 AM
Times Union Brian Ettkin opined, "New York legislation that would allow each school district to decide if it chooses to test for steroids -- and provide for a $5 million school grant program -- passed the Senate and is in the Assembly Codes Committee."
Pilot program will screen Plattsburgh High School sophomores for depression
Date CapturedTuesday September 26 2006, 6:49 AM
Press Republican reports, "The licensed clinical social worker [Mary Anne Cox], whose mental-health experience includes crisis intervention and intensive-case management, is coordinating a pilot program about to take wing at Plattsburgh High School called Columbia Teen Screen that will give mental-health checkups this fall to 10th-graders and, next spring, to eighth-graders."
Philadelphia Catholic schools receive city money for afterschool programs
Date CapturedSaturday September 23 2006, 6:41 PM
AP reports, "Five [Philadelphia] Roman Catholic schools will receive city funds to open centers that provide academic and recreational activities for children and their families after school and during evenings, weekends and summer in an effort to reduce violence and crime."
Roosevelt charter school nears probation
Date CapturedSaturday September 23 2006, 8:28 AM
Newsday reports, "Chiding the Roosevelt charter school for holding classes in a building that has no fire sprinklers, a committee of the SUNY Board of Trustees recommended Friday that the school be placed on probation."
Impact of steroids felt across high school sports
Date CapturedWednesday September 20 2006, 9:20 AM
San Francisco Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius writes, "Every high school [California] athlete must sign a pledge that he or she will not use anabolic steroids. Every coach and volunteer must complete the American Sport Education Program course on steroids. And finally, in many schools, such as Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco, parents are required to attend a meeting to discuss the use and abuse of steroids."
High School sports is more than wins and losses
Date CapturedTuesday September 19 2006, 1:03 PM
Gloucester Daily Times Steve Maniaci writes, "High school sports is a vehicle that gives student athletes the opportunity to enhance their academic careers. It is an after-school activity that takes place in a safe environment. It is also a place where kids can get some exercise, and relieve some stress from a busy school day. High school sports also provides the student athletes a chance to spend time with friends and make new friends. It is also a place where the student athlete can learn to work in a group and deal with pressure situations. Wins and losses also provide life lessons. A student athlete has the opportunity to learn why they won or lost each game, and can make adjustments to maintain or achieve a positive result."
Women athletes finally get their due
Date CapturedMonday September 18 2006, 7:43 AM
Kansas City Star reports, "The university [Central Missouri State] is inviting women who played sports before the early 1970s to attend the homecoming football game Oct. 14 to get letters that only male athletes could earn at the time. So far, about 100 women have indicated they will attend, organizers said."
Success in Philly Could Spread Here
Date CapturedMonday September 18 2006, 3:51 AM
NY Post reports, "The New York STD school-testing program is modeled after that of Philadelphia, which in 2003 found more than 17,000 cases of chlamydia - more than double the number reported a decade earlier."
Massachusetts, Pittsfield District has high hopes for grant
Date CapturedSunday September 17 2006, 11:38 AM
Berkshire Eagle reports, "Schools officials believe that a rare federal grant recently awarded to the Pittsfield Public School District will help increase school attendance, decrease disruptive behavior and improve graduation rates. The $2.8 million Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant is part of a joint effort by the U.S. departments of Education, Health and Human services. Only 19 districts across the nation were awarded the three-year grant, and Pittsfield secured the second-largest sum."
Laura Bush to Hold Global Literacy Conference
Date CapturedSunday September 17 2006, 11:26 AM
VOICE OF AMERICA reports, "The educators say the conference will focus on three initiatives for combating global illiteracy, including teaching mothers to read and to pass that skill on to their children. The other two initiatives are aimed at improving reading skills, so adults can make informed decisions about health issues, and ways to use literacy to build basic business skills."
Toughen home day care enforcement? Yes
Date CapturedSunday September 17 2006, 8:56 AM
NY Daily News Op-Ed contributor ELLIOTT MARCUS, associate commissioner overseeing the city Health Department's Bureau of Day Care opined, "An example of an issue we reviewed was what's called the "egress" policy. City and state laws require two means of exiting any building that houses a child-care center. The rule is meant to ensure that in the event of an emergency, children can be evacuated quickly and safely. We looked carefully at the policy's implementation, working closely with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the Fire Department. We met with community groups and considered the characteristics of the city's housing stock as well as the economic interests of providers who offer care in their homes."
New steroid policy in Santa Cruz, California schools
Date CapturedSaturday September 16 2006, 10:18 AM
Santa Cruz Sentinel reports, "Students in the Santa Cruz City Schools district will be taught the dangers of steroids beginning in the sixth grade, and athletes and coaches caught with steroids will be subject to stiff new penalties under a policy adopted this week by district trustees."
Shortage of Bronx school nurses critical
Date CapturedThursday September 14 2006, 9:01 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Maysoun Freij, an advocate for the New York Immigration Coalition, said, 'New York has the fortune of having a large pool of bilingual and bicultural students who could go on to become nurses and doctors if given the chance.'"
University of Hawai'i athletics to review privacy policy
Date CapturedWednesday September 13 2006, 10:55 AM
The Honolulu Advertiser reports, "Manin [sports information director] said the department, faced with some athletes who requested privacy and some who agreed to waivers, wanted to adopt a uniform approach. She said the policy was 'implemented to protect the privacy of student-athletes in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).'"
New York Children’s Action Network [CAN] wants state government to make children’s issues a priority
Date CapturedMonday September 11 2006, 1:54 PM
Legislative Gazette reports, " The network’s first step is to create a 'children’s budget,' which will strengthen programs and services that affect children and their families."
Is local Ohio school performance linked to poverty?
Date CapturedMonday September 11 2006, 1:48 PM
Athens News reports, "Several factors contribute to the discrepancy in test results between students living in poverty and those who don't, but the size of the gap is still surprising."
Curriculum Keeps College Students Sober
Date CapturedSunday September 10 2006, 12:48 PM
Newswise reports, "Texas Tech’s recovery community is the largest and one of the oldest of its kind in the nation. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the program provides support and services to prevent the relapse of nearly 100 students recovering from alcohol and other chemical addictions; it also has expanded its scope to incorporate issues such as eating disorders and gambling."
Proposed federal cuts hurt Illinois special education
Date CapturedSunday September 10 2006, 3:13 AM
The Southern Illinois reports, "'Without these funds, school districts will not be able to financially provide the mandated services such as nursing services, social work and speech therapy to low-income students in special education,' said Glenn [coordinates federally funded administrative outreach program]. 'The loss of these funds will cause special education students as well as regular education students to suffer.'"
CUNY ROLLS ON
Date CapturedSaturday September 09 2006, 8:16 AM
NY Post David Andreatta writes, "The 226,213 students registered at CUNY campuses represent a 2.5 percent increase over last year."
Reform of California's high school steroids rules has its skeptics
Date CapturedThursday September 07 2006, 7:07 PM
Mercury News reports, "The organization that oversees high school sports in California is poised to adopt a series of measures intended to educate coaches about the dangers of steroids and supplements among the state's 700,000-plus teenage athletes. But despite pressure for reform, many area athletic directors and coaches -- the ones closest to those teenagers -- expressed skepticism that the new policies are needed."
Backers push Arizona tax, say kids in need
Date CapturedThursday September 07 2006, 8:16 AM
The Arizona Republic reports, "The $150 million tax would pay for voluntary early-childhood education programs and health screenings for children up to 5 years old. advertisement That's the plan by the First Things First campaign, which pushed Proposition 203 on to the Nov. 7 ballot. Foes argue the measure creates a new layer of government and minimizes the role of parents." The proposal is modeled after a North Carolina program.
Unprepared for asthma
Date CapturedTuesday September 05 2006, 9:47 AM
AP reports, "Schools in Pennsylvania are not meeting the needs of students with asthma, nor are they fully prepared to deal with student asthma attacks, a newly released study suggests."
More face drug tests for Kansas school district
Date CapturedSunday September 03 2006, 2:38 PM
The Wichita Eagle reports, "The district cites two U.S. Supreme Court cases that it said allow it to do the testing. One case allowed mandatory drug testing among student athletes. The second, an Oklahoma case, allowed for random testing among middle and high school students participating in extracurricular activities."
CITY'S SCHOOL-SAFETY MATH PROBLEM
Date CapturedSunday September 03 2006, 8:15 AM
NY Post David Andreatta reports, "John Feinblatt, the city's criminal-justice coordinator, explained that the city depends not only on the NYPD to shape school safety policy but also on random inspections of school security procedures. 'We think that when you combine that with crime data, you have a pretty surefire way of judging the health of a school.' He added that staff reports are important but 'just like I would never ask a police officer to grade a paper, I would never ask a teacher to report a crime according to FBI definitions.'"
Teachers' contracts stall over health care: District standoffs rise 33%
Date CapturedFriday September 01 2006, 10:27 AM
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reports, "New York State United Teachers, the state's largest teachers union, reported Thursday that 209 local teacher unions and 169 NYSUT-affiliated unions -- cafeteria workers, bus drivers, teacher aides, teaching assistants and other professionals -- will work with expired contracts. Overall, 70,000 employees are in those locals. State law requires that teachers eligible for step raises get them even if the contract is expired."
Exercise Helps Students in the Classroom
Date CapturedThursday August 31 2006, 10:04 AM
NPR reports, "Increasingly, researchers are finding that brain activity and brain development are enhanced by physical exercise. It now appears that exercise can help kids learn at school."
Two Monroe County schools land physical education grants
Date CapturedWednesday August 30 2006, 9:43 PM
Rochester Business Journal reports, "The funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Education through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program. The program funds a variety of education agencies and community organizations to start, expand or improve physical education programs for students in grades kindergarten through 12."
$23 Million in Emergency Response Grants Awarded to 26 States
Date CapturedWednesday August 30 2006, 6:04 PM
As part of the No Child Left Behind education reforms, local school districts must provide assurances that they have plans that outline how they are working to keep their schools safe and drug free.
Fitness can be a stretch in Rhode Island
Date CapturedWednesday August 30 2006, 7:57 AM
The Providence Journal reports, "'It only takes a couple of minutes, but it can really refocus the student and get them ready to learn,' Ranaldi [teacher] said. 'Everyone keeps looking at the core content areas of NCLB, like reading and math, but if you really want your child to be successful, they also need to keep their mind and body stimulated.'"
N.Y. school janitors going green: Districts must buy 'environmentally friendly' cleaning supplies
Date CapturedMonday August 28 2006, 8:18 AM
Star-Gazette reports, "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates human exposure to air pollutants indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Some of the culprits are cleaners, waxes and deodorizers. Reducing or eliminating potentially harmful ingredients helps protect the environment and water supply, according to the legislation's sponsors."
New group backs push for Ohio early childhood initiatives
Date CapturedSaturday August 26 2006, 8:45 AM
Times-Reporter publishes AP report, "A growing number of states – among them Florida, Oklahoma and Georgia – have already extended publicly funded education to include preschool for 4-year-olds. But the Ohio plan takes the concept further than other states have so far, calling for Ohio to create a new preschool teaching license; to convene a legislative task force; to establish a Board of Early Education and Care; and to make its extensive resources more readily available to families. The recommendations also include combining all services for the youngest children under one state agency. That would include behavioral and physical health resources, services for the disabled, educational offerings and programs for needy families."
Connecticut Prevention Efforts No Longer Measured In Ounces
Date CapturedThursday August 24 2006, 7:57 PM
The Newtown Bee reports, "She [Zimmerman, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Children] pointed out that every dollar invested in prenatal care saves $3.38 in the cost of caring for low-birth-weight infants; that every dollar invested in preschool in Connecticut produces a return on investment of $18.39; and every dollar spent on quality after-school programs produces a return on investment ranging from $2.19 to $3.22 - not including the significant savings realized from lower crime."
No child left out of the dodgeball game?
Date CapturedMonday August 21 2006, 10:02 PM
CNN reports on the The 2006 Shape of the Nation and NCLB legislation, "Critics contend that the very legislation meant to bolster national academic standards -- the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 -- may be a culprit in the diminishing P.E. curriculum, unintentionally sapping schools of time and resources for exercise as educators focus more and more on test scores and rigorous academic coursework."
California higher education migrant program gets first grad
Date CapturedSaturday August 19 2006, 7:50 PM
The Ukiah Daily Journal reports, "The College Assistant Migrant Program, or CAMP, is a college grant program funded by tax dollars that helps enable students who come from a migrant or seasonal farm-working background, to successfully complete their first year of college and then continue to enroll and complete each academic year after that. This program helps to provide students with financial assistance and support services, with the goal in mind of preparing them to continue their education at a four-year college or university."
Girls' sports hit hard by bias - study
Date CapturedFriday August 18 2006, 8:35 AM
NY Daily News reports on gender inequity in sports, fewer college scholarship scouting opportunities for women, and study findings, "According to Gotbaum (public advocate), girls involved in team sports 'are less likely to develop osteoporosis, breast cancer and diabetes as adults, and more likely to adopt long-term exercise programs.' And they're less likely to use drugs, smoke, have unwanted pregnancies or commit suicide, she added."
Kentucky school health centers seek funding
Date CapturedThursday August 17 2006, 6:38 PM
Community Press and Recorder reports, "For parents of low-income families in Northern Kentucky, having a sick child used to mean struggling to get time off work, pulling a child out of school, and finding transportation to a doctor's office. Now, families have an alternative and schools are seeing improved attendance, says Nancy Penick-Woolum, community development specialist for the Northern Kentucky school-based health centers."
POL PITCH FOR 'TEEN' BOOZE LAW
Date CapturedWednesday August 16 2006, 7:19 AM
NY Post Kenneth Lovett reports, "A Westchester state senator yesterday said he is drafting two bills designed to curb underage drinking, just days after personally checking out the rowdy Chelsea bar scene last weekend with The Post."
Legislative Investigations Committee to Probe New York’s Liquor Laws and Regulations
Date CapturedWednesday August 16 2006, 7:10 AM
The Committee [NY Senate] will explore a number of issues aimed at determining whether the recent series of problems involving problem premises and underage drinking can be combated through stronger laws, regulation, and enforcement.
The State Education Department and the State Health Department memo and information pamphlet to underscore the potential magnitude of a pandemic on the education community and emphasize the need for preparedness
Date CapturedTuesday August 15 2006, 7:21 PM
In a severe pandemic, all employers—including schools —will experience a dramatic reduction in their workforce, as one-in-four employees becomes ill and others remain home to care for sick family members. Many schools may close because of excessive student and staff absenteeism. Available evidence indicates that school closure (perhaps as long as 12 weeks in duration) early in a pandemic may significantly reduce influenza transmission. Health officials will notify school authorities when conditions warrant school closure. In certain instances, school facilities may be asked to function as Points of Dispensing (PODs) for essential medications. We strongly encourage you to work closely with your county/city health department and emergency management officials to increase your district’s pandemic preparedness in the upcoming school year. To assist you in your planning process, we have prepared a pandemic information packet specifically designed for the education community.
GUIDELINES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROCUREMENT AND USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS FOR ALL PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK STATE
Date CapturedTuesday August 15 2006, 5:37 PM
New York State Office of General Services, August 4, 2006. These Guidelines and Specifications were developed in consultation with representatives of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health, Department of Labor and State Education Department, as directed by Chapter 584 of the Laws of New York, 2005.
Foster parents getting organized
Date CapturedMonday August 14 2006, 10:14 AM
USA Today reports on the needs of foster children, "The department [Washington state Social and Health Services] is trying to recruit more parents in places with a lot of foster children so a child, if moved, can stay in the same school, Spears says. 'We're moving toward more involvement from children's families, whether foster parents or relatives,' she says."
Breakfast being offered to all students at Lockport High School
Date CapturedThursday August 10 2006, 9:53 AM
The Buffalo News reports, "'We wanted to make sure all kids can have a nutritious breakfast, so we decided to do it. It's an important program because some kids may not get a good breakfast otherwise,' Board member David Nemi said. He added that it will not affect local property taxes because the state reimburses the district with a lot more aid than what it costs to operate the program."
School nurses cut: Targeted 45 schools with special-needs kids, 40% of them on Staten Island
Date CapturedWednesday August 09 2006, 7:17 AM
NY Daily News reports, "The moves are the result of concessions the city gained from two unions that represent school nurses, the United Federation of Teachers and District Council 37. The concessions, which went into effect July 31, freed the city from stipulations that forced it to put a second nurse in schools with even one special-education student."
School districts get more power in suspensions
Date CapturedMonday August 07 2006, 7:20 AM
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports, "Previously, local school officials couldn't allow suspended students to return to classes until they served the full penalty, Alesi noted 'This new law corrects that oversight, allowing school districts, the ones who know individual students' needs best, more control in the length of punishment and allowing a student who has voluntarily tried to make amends, to return to school early and continue pursuing their education,' Alesi [Sen.]said in a news release last week."
Gates Foundation expands scholars program
Date CapturedMonday August 07 2006, 7:14 AM
AP reports, "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says it will add $58 million to expand its $1 billion Millennium Scholars program to target low-income and minority students seeking a graduate degree in public health."
National Fresh School Snack program gets boost in New York
Date CapturedSaturday August 05 2006, 9:46 PM
EmpireStateNews reports, "Senator Hillary Clinton and Congressman Brian Higgins Wednesday announced that they had convened a bipartisan coalition of New York's Congressional Delegation calling for New York State to be included in a national healthy school food program. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program provides federal funding to schools to allow them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers and to provide them as healthy snacks for kids during the school day. Currently there are 14 states participating in the program."
Sullivan County Community College says cuts imminent without $1M from county
Date CapturedFriday August 04 2006, 9:10 AM
Times Herald-Record reports, "Some of the possible impacts: closing the Monticello Center, closing the Elderhostel program, cutting work-force education and training, slashing sports programs, leaving an admissions position vacant, not filling positions in nursing and culinary arts and not going ahead with planned health-care programs."
NYSSBA's Opinion - Taylor Law
Date CapturedThursday August 03 2006, 11:08 AM
By Timothy G. Kremer, Executive Director, New York State School Boards Association. Kremer writes on property taxes and the Taylor Law, "The problem is that the Taylor Law contains only a vague definition of bad-faith bargaining. PERB under the current chairman has been even-handed in its rulings, but past PERBS have been friendlier to the unions. The Abbate-Robach bills don’t punish the school board or mayor, but the property taxpayer. And it’s not as if public employees are still underpaid as they once were. A typical teacher earns an average of $53,000 in New York State. Public employees’ health insurance plans and retirement benefits are among the best. That they are somehow being taken advantage of at the bargaining table by cold-hearted local and state governments is pure fiction."
School health centers seek funding
Date CapturedThursday August 03 2006, 10:12 AM
Community Press & Recorder reports, "For parents of low-income families in Northern Kentucky, having a sick child used to mean struggling to get time off work, pulling a child out of school, and finding transportation to a doctor's office. Now, families have an alternative and schools are seeing improved attendance, says Nancy Penick-Woolum, community development specialist for the Northern Kentucky school-based health centers."
Tennessee immigrant influx tests shot policy: Law lets those kids start class without proof
Date CapturedWednesday August 02 2006, 11:59 AM
Tennessean.com reports, "State law requires that students receive all required vaccinations 'prior' to enrolling in public schools, but districts can't keep certain groups of students, including homeless kids — some of them new immigrants who have temporary housing — from registering and going to class even if they have missing or incomplete health records. And, while about 97 percent of all children statewide are immunized, the population of children who are less likely to have all their shots keeps going up."
Colleges right to ban smoking
Date CapturedWednesday August 02 2006, 8:26 AM
The Poughkeepsie Journal opined, "SUNY officials still are determining the specifics of how it will implement the new smoking policy. It is important they ease their students into the changes. Penalties for first violations should focus on education rather than punishment, and should not antagonize students."
Cutback on counselors
Date CapturedWednesday August 02 2006, 6:34 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Klein has pledged to fund the budget increase in the so-called empowerment schools by cutting $80 million this year from the system's central and regional bureaucracy. An added $200million is scheduled to be trimmed by next year."
Different genes may cause autism in boys and girls
Date CapturedMonday July 31 2006, 7:16 PM
EurekAlert reports, "In addition, the researchers also have discovered that other genes may play a role in the early onset form of the developmental disorder and in the recently verified regression, or late onset, type of autism, according to a new study published today in the online edition of the journal Molecular Genetics."
Educators, unions question vetoes
Date CapturedMonday July 31 2006, 7:55 AM
Star-Gazette reports, "Robert Lowry of the New York State Council of School Superintendents said there is a lot of concern about school property taxes, and the pro-labor bills would not have helped. 'If they want school districts to restrain costs, this is not the direction they ought to be headed in,' he said."
All work & less pay for school nurses
Date CapturedSaturday July 29 2006, 6:33 AM
NY Daily News reports, "Due to a summer payroll glitch, the Department of Education says that 30 occupational and physical therapists at Public School 37 in Staten Island and 65 nurses working at schools around the city were not paid for hours worked in July."
Study: College students find own ways to drink safely
Date CapturedFriday July 28 2006, 9:51 PM
AP reports, "The study, developed with data from more than 28,000 students at 44 colleges and universities, noted that about 73 percent of student drinkers protect themselves by using designated drivers, setting spending limits at bars, counting their drinks, going out in groups and trusting friends to speak up when someone is drinking too much."
U of New Hampshire study finds drug testing in schools slow to take off
Date CapturedFriday July 28 2006, 8:53 AM
Union Leader reports, "Small and rural school districts nationwide are embracing random drug testing far faster than their larger urban peers, according to a University of New Hampshire study."
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Date CapturedThursday July 27 2006, 9:36 PM
"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are 'eligible students.'" parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31): School officials with legitimate educational interest; Other schools to which a student is transferring; Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes; Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student; Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school; Accrediting organizations; To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena; Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.
Fight crime; restart 'War on Poverty'
Date CapturedWednesday July 26 2006, 8:59 AM
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle guest essayist Dr. Peter Mott writes, "Early studies showed clearly that children did better in school because of Head Start and nutrition programs, and that expensive visits to hospital emergency rooms fell dramatically when primary health care was accessible in neighborhoods."
California Gov. Schwarzenegger to Propose More School Health Clinics
Date CapturedMonday July 24 2006, 9:26 AM
LA Times reports, "The new clinics would be built on school grounds and offer basic services such as immunizations. Some could also provide mental health or dental services. Bigger clinics could include labs and pharmacies and offer treatment for adults as well as children."
The Oral Health of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation, 2005
Date CapturedSaturday July 22 2006, 1:13 PM
The National Survey of Children’s Health provides information on the health and well-being of children in the 50 States and the District of Columbia (D.C.). Survey findings for NEW YORK including the percentage of children whose teeth are reported to be in excellent or good condition and the percentage of children who received a preventive dental care visit in the past year are presented on this site. These indicators are also shown by children’s age, family income, race and ethnicity, and sex. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The National Survey of Children's Health 2003. Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005.
Young Latinas and a Cry for Help
Date CapturedFriday July 21 2006, 10:00 AM
NY Times editorial writes, "About one-quarter of Latina teens drop out, a figure surpassed only by Hispanic young men, one-third of whom do not complete high school."
Study shows benefits of kids' playtime
Date CapturedFriday July 21 2006, 8:59 AM
Times Union reports, "'Urban planners need to put more focus on things like road safety and the design of a neighborhood, so that children will be safe when they're playing outside,' said Roar Blom, a physical activity expert with the World Health Organization."
U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approves Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill for fiscal year 2007.
Date CapturedThursday July 20 2006, 11:31 PM
U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee July 20, 2006 press release.
Amherst College Gets $13M For Public Service Program; Donation Will Establish Center For Community Engagement
Date CapturedWednesday July 19 2006, 10:47 PM
ABC (Boston) reports, "The center will link students with local and national organizations active in areas including poverty, public education, human rights, the environment and public health."
Why Is Academic Testing Leaving Children Behind?
Date CapturedWednesday July 19 2006, 3:04 PM
Newswise reports, "Low-income children tend to do poorly on high-stakes academic achievement tests. A pilot study led by Deborah Waber, PhD in Children's Hospital Boston's Department of Psychiatry suggests their low scores may arise from developmental issues – particularly in 'executive' functions like organization, planning and control over thoughts and actions."
Smoking has no place in dormitories
Date CapturedTuesday July 18 2006, 8:11 AM
SUNY Chancellor John Ryan writes, "Our job as leaders of colleges and universities extends beyond the education we provide in class. We also have an obligation to keep our students safe, by helping them continue or embark on a path toward a healthy lifestyle."
Middletown school district awarded federal grant
Date CapturedSunday July 16 2006, 7:59 AM
Mid-Hudson News reports, "The Enlarged Middletown City School District has been awarded a $1.9 million federal grant for a program that will create a safer learning environment, promote healthy childhood development, and prevent youth violence and drug abuse."
America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2006
Date CapturedFriday July 14 2006, 5:57 PM
"The first section, Population and Family Characteristics, describes the context in which children live (including aspects such as changes in children’s family settings and living arrangements). The sections that follow highlight indicators of child well-being in four key areas: Economic Security, Health, Behavior and Social Environment, and Education."
America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2005
Date CapturedThursday July 13 2006, 10:50 PM
America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2005 is a biennial report to the Nation on the condition of children in America. Nine contextual measures describe the changing population, family, and environmental context in which children are living, and 25 indicators depict the well-being of children in the areas of economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. Racial categories were expanded from four racial groups (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, and White) to five racial groups (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White). Expansion of the racial categories and the introduction of multiple race categories—have a direct impact on many of the indicators presented in this report, particularly with respect to trend analyses. Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics Highlights. DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
$31 Million Awarded to 19 School Districts to Promote Safe Schools, Healthy Students
Date CapturedWednesday July 12 2006, 9:37 AM
More than $31 million in grants have been awarded to 19 school districts in 14 states as part of a joint effort by the U.S. departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice to support schools in creating safe learning environments that promote healthy childhood development and prevent youth violence and drug use.
Principal: Drug-testing students works
Date CapturedWednesday July 12 2006, 8:02 AM
USA Today Donna Leinwand writes, "Little research has been done on testing's impact on student drug use because it's difficult and expensive to study, says Lloyd Johnston of the Monitoring the Future study at the University of Michigan, which surveys 50,000 students a year."
More schools test for drugs
Date CapturedWednesday July 12 2006, 7:57 AM
USA Today Donna Leinwand writes, "Since the Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that random testing of student athletes and others in competitive extracurricular activities did not violate the students' privacy rights, the Bush administration has made testing middle- and high-school students a priority."
Sleep Strengthens Memory
Date CapturedMonday July 10 2006, 8:59 PM
Health Day Reporter writes, "A number of studies suggest that sleep plays an important role in effective memory acquisition, Vorona said. 'This study suggests that parents of students would do well to recommend that their children both study hard and obtain sufficient sleep in order to maximize their academic performance,' he added."
Court: Ontario can stop autism funding once children turn 6
Date CapturedFriday July 07 2006, 2:39 PM
Yahoo.com reports, "The court agreed with health experts that the time period between age two and five provides a unique window of opportunity for such an intensive intervention program, and that children over age five are in school and wouldn't have the time for the 20 to 40 hours needed for the therapy."
Drug Use Down Among College Athletes
Date CapturedFriday July 07 2006, 9:04 AM
WLKY reports, "The NCAA said the number of U.S. college athletes testing positive for steroids dropped 47 percent from 2000 to 2005."
Rejecting the 65-Percent Solution
Date CapturedThursday July 06 2006, 10:34 AM
A Monthly Column by EFAP Director John Yinger, July 2006. Yinger writes, "The real problem is that children in high-poverty schools cannot receive an adequate education unless their district spends far more than other districts on many items, such as counseling, health, nutrition, safety, and parental involvement."
Schools enroll Health Corps
Date CapturedThursday July 06 2006, 7:48 AM
NY Daily News reports, "An innovative "Health Corps" program designed to motivate students to eat healthy foods and exercise will be expanding in September to high schools in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx with the help of a $250,000 city-state grant."
Access to information is key to independence
Date CapturedWednesday July 05 2006, 10:04 AM
Special to The Washington Post by US 39th President Jimmy Carter on FOIA, "It is a critical tool in fighting corruption, and people can use it to improve their own lives in the areas of health care, education, housing and other public services. Perhaps most important, access to information advances citizens’ trust in their government, allowing people to understand policy decisions and monitor their implementation."
Sex-ed bill fails in state Senate
Date CapturedTuesday July 04 2006, 8:16 AM
The Journal News reports, "In New York, schools have to teach students about AIDS and HIV, but sex education is not required. Sex-education programs vary greatly among school districts."
Hearing focuses on health, education needs of disabled
Date CapturedSunday July 02 2006, 7:59 PM
Sex education advocates regroup
Date CapturedSaturday July 01 2006, 7:28 AM
Times Union
Alcohol-awareness education now required for University at Buffalo freshmen
Date CapturedThursday June 29 2006, 2:00 PM
SUNY to ban smoking in dorms
Date CapturedWednesday June 28 2006, 8:13 AM
Times Union
What role schools?
Date CapturedMonday June 26 2006, 8:27 AM
The Journal News
FITNESS REPORT: SCHOOLS 'LEAN' ON BIG APPLE STUDENTS
Date CapturedFriday June 23 2006, 7:02 AM
NY Post registration required
Healthy addition to report cards
Date CapturedFriday June 23 2006, 6:52 AM
NY Daily News
City Students To Receive Fitness Report Cards
Date CapturedThursday June 22 2006, 11:47 PM
NY1
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System -- United States 2005
Date CapturedThursday June 22 2006, 8:43 AM
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, including behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. In addition, the YRBSS monitors general health status and the prevalence of overweight and asthma. YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by CDC and state and local school-based surveys conducted by state and local education and health agencies.
23 States Get Failing Grade on CSPI's School Foods Report Card
Date CapturedTuesday June 20 2006, 4:49 PM
School Foods Report Card
Date CapturedTuesday June 20 2006, 4:29 PM
To determine the progress states have made in improving the nutritional quality of school foods, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) evaluated the school nutrition policies of all 50 states and the District of Columbia regarding foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal programs through vending machines, a la carte (i.e., foods sold individually in the cafeteria), school stores, and fundraisers. Each state policy was graded based on five key considerations: 1) beverage nutrition standards; 2) food nutrition standards; 3) grade level(s) to which policies apply; 4) time during the school day to which policies apply; and 5) location(s) on campus to which policies apply.
Some Kansas students to undergo random drug testing
Date CapturedMonday June 19 2006, 1:42 PM
REPLACING PARENTS (NY Post registration)
Date CapturedMonday June 19 2006, 7:42 AM
Kids’ Well-being Indicators Clearinghouse (KWIC)
Date CapturedSaturday June 17 2006, 11:33 AM
Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA)
Date CapturedFriday June 16 2006, 11:25 PM
The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA), is a statewide, nonprofit policy analysis and advocacy organization working to shape policies that improve the economic security and health status of low and moderate income New Yorkers, and help all children become capable adults.
Children's Health Series: Children's Nutrition
Date CapturedFriday June 16 2006, 11:22 PM
A four-page white paper, the second in a series on children's health produced by SCAA through its Children's Policy Agenda, to explore programs and policy interventions that support the development of healthy children in New York State.
CDC confirms high-end rate of U.S. autism
Date CapturedFriday June 16 2006, 9:54 AM
Prep for terrorism
Date CapturedFriday June 16 2006, 9:24 AM
Students Design New Playground
Date CapturedThursday June 15 2006, 4:18 PM
Test teens for steroids? Not yet
Date CapturedTuesday June 13 2006, 7:30 AM
Tier schools cool toward testing teens for steroids
Date CapturedMonday June 12 2006, 10:37 AM
Schools could get state money for steroid tests
Date CapturedSunday June 11 2006, 8:48 AM
New focus on wellness for students
Date CapturedSunday June 11 2006, 7:27 AM
Kentucky Board of education will start random drug testing, starting with themselves
Date CapturedSaturday June 10 2006, 9:02 AM
Kid power
Date CapturedSaturday June 10 2006, 7:46 AM
California schools found to default on physical education for children
Date CapturedFriday June 09 2006, 8:35 AM
New Jersey close to high school steroid testing
Date CapturedTuesday June 06 2006, 7:49 PM
Nutrition, Physical Activity Boost School Performance; Four-Year Program Improves Test Scores, Discipline, Attendance
Date CapturedThursday June 01 2006, 2:42 PM
Home Remedy (NY Times registration)
Date CapturedMonday May 29 2006, 8:06 AM
Ohio U. adopts stiffer alcohol policy
Date CapturedThursday May 25 2006, 8:15 AM
SUNY casts Web on student drinking plight
Date CapturedThursday May 25 2006, 7:42 AM
Preparing the Health Workforce
Date CapturedFriday May 19 2006, 5:36 PM
By Eleanor Schiff. A healthy nation depends on an adequate supply of well-educated and well-trained health professionals. As the demographics of the U.S. change with the baby-boom generation beginning to retire and the increasing cultural diversification of our society, the need for a stable or growing number of health professionals and a diverse workforce reflective of our population is increasingly important
New Report Highlights Food, Exercise Available to Children in Nation's Public Elementary Schools
Date CapturedTuesday May 16 2006, 6:05 PM
School to check drinking at door
Date CapturedSaturday May 13 2006, 8:42 AM
Religious groups discuss sex education
Date CapturedWednesday May 10 2006, 5:31 PM
Drug safety fears fueling new interest in ADHD behavioral therapy
Date CapturedMonday May 08 2006, 12:04 PM
3 seek $1.43 million in Yonkers schools suit
Date CapturedSaturday May 06 2006, 8:50 AM
Inside Albany (view schedule)
Date CapturedThursday May 04 2006, 8:37 PM
This week on Inside Albany: Testing, testing... NY Senate probes College Board snafu that misreported low scores on 4,000 SAT exams. Ban soda in school-- New bill targets junk food and sugary soft drinks to fight child obesity.
Drug testing for N.J. high school athletes clears another hurdle
Date CapturedThursday May 04 2006, 4:46 PM
Beverage companies to stop selling non-diet sodas to schools
Date CapturedWednesday May 03 2006, 10:16 AM
Shape of the Nation - - Status of Physical Education
Date CapturedTuesday May 02 2006, 8:03 PM
Read the Shape of the Nation Report -- information about the status of physical education in each state and the District of Columbia in the following areas: time requirements, exemptions/waivers and substitutions, class size, standards, curriculum and instruction, student assessment, teacher certification.
Other demands outmuscling PE instruction
Date CapturedTuesday May 02 2006, 6:25 AM
New Major at Ithaca College Will Offer Leadership Opportunities in Health Care
Date CapturedFriday April 28 2006, 2:05 PM
Education, health care lobbies say overrides needed
Date CapturedFriday April 21 2006, 6:58 PM
A Letter Regarding Bard College Alcohol Information Campaign
Date CapturedFriday April 21 2006, 7:31 AM
K-12 educators sought for national alcohol and drug education survey
Date CapturedTuesday April 18 2006, 11:28 AM
Migrant Education, Health, Welfare
Date CapturedMonday April 17 2006, 7:31 AM
Teacher, health-education center honored by BOCES for work
Date CapturedThursday April 13 2006, 11:40 AM
Health Clubs for Older Brains? (NY Times registration)
Date CapturedMonday April 10 2006, 9:52 PM
White House Refocuses on Drugs in Schools
Date CapturedSunday March 26 2006, 12:19 PM
Expanded School Mental Health: A Collaborative Community-School Example
Date CapturedSunday January 15 2006, 3:37 PM
Source: Children & Schools. Weist, Mark D; Ambrose, Melissa Grady; Lewis, Charla P. School-based mental health programs are becoming increasingly prominent.
SCAA: Children's Oral Health
Date CapturedFriday December 02 2005, 11:45 AM



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