Child Welfare
Efforts to improve Pennsylvania’s child welfare system in the post-Sandusky era will likely start with changes to the way its child abuse hot line works, reports John Finnerty of the Daily Item.
Meanwhile, in Washington, a work group gets going next month on the issue of post-adoption child abuse, reports Barbara LaBoe of The Daily News.
Education/Jobs
The Columbia University Democrats liked what they heard about education in President Obama’s State of the Union address, writes Sarah Gitlin, the group’s media director.
At least one Nebraska state senator wants to take Obama’s entreaty to raise the dropout age to 18 and run with it, reports Joe Dejka of the Omaha World-Herald.
Claudio Sanchez of NPR reports on mixed opinions about Obama’s claim that higher dropout ages mean more graduates.
Higher education advocate Rich Williams, writing in the Huffington Post, draws attention to a looming deadline: On July 1, student loan interest rates will double for almost 8 million students.
Washington Times columnist Catherine Poe slaps Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for his rigid stance on the DREAM Act.
Juvenile Justice
Georgia is looking for ways to avoid locking up low- and no-risk juvenile offenders, reports NECN. Changing its ways might help the state protect up to $2 million in federal funding, according to the story.
