JUVENILE JUSTICE
- The national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is reaching out to kids already in legal trouble. And the Cedar Rapids-East Central Iowa chapter is joining that effort by now accepting kids referred by juvenile courts.
- FLORIDA — Juveniles in Escambia County who commit a first time misdemeanor might be given a second chance. The Juvenile Civil Citation Expansion program will help give *some a chance to keep a clean record.
CHILD WELFARE
- The Chronicle of Social Change points out that the longer Latino families are in the United States, the closer they get to everything from incarceration to alcoholism and divorce. This, in part, leads to more Latino kids in the foster care system.
- MICHIGAN — A House panel has approved legislation that would strip some welfare benefits for families whose children don’t meet school attendance requirements.
EDUCATION
- CA Gov. Jerry Brown says lawmakers will get ‘the battle of their lives’ if they balk at his plan to give more funds to poor districts and more spending flexibility to all school districts.
- Lawmakers in Michigan are taking the lead to stop education standards developed and pushed by governors and school leaders across the country.