Partnership with Children’s Post

"Among the solutions suggested by the report is more investment in community schools. The report cited evidence that community schools have demonstrated their effectiveness in providing wraparound services for children and families and serving high-poverty, low-opportunity neighborhoods. Schools should create supportive environments that address children’s history with traumatic experiences. Services should go where the children are." https://lnkd.in/g-Dnve7q

The American Rescue Plan dedicated an unprecedented $190 billion to schools, called the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief funds. The deadline to spend these funds is September 30, which means decisions are being made now about which programs schools will be able to sustain moving forward. In a new brief, EdTrust provides a review of how some states used this funding to support students. In Washington, for example, some of the funding was dedicated to supporting students experiencing homelessness and the state legislature has committed to continuing to fund some of that vital work in the coming two years. As this brief argues, moving forward districts should prioritize programs that support students social, emotional, and academic development: https://edtru.st/3WkqP48

NEW: OPINION | When Will We Fully Fund Student Mental Health Services and Restorative Justice Practices? As Seattle's midyear budget process begins, community is closely watching how promised funds for student mental health services and restorative justice practices will be allocated. In 2023, $20 million was pledged for youth mental health solutions, but only half of that amount is proposed for 2024, raising concerns about how community partners will be able to continue to support youth. Mark Epstein and Oliver Miska explore the implications of this potential shortfall and discuss the community's efforts to hold city (and state) leaders accountable. As Seattle's Finance, Native Communities & Tribal Governments Committee meets on July 17, many are urging for the full implementation of the promised funds. Read the full op-ed by Epstein and Miska to learn more on the Emerald. https://lnkd.in/drsaQdSi /// #Voices #Opinion #Education #MentalHealth #Youth #RestorativeJustice #Seattle #SouthSeattle #SouthEnd

"During the pandemic and as it fades from our collective consciousness we are left with a society that is still looking for a rudder to provide direction for how we should function in groups and treat one another as compatriots... Schools can rebuild expectations for civility and create a sense of shared responsibility and purpose." Jarrett Young's blog post on leveraging shared governance to empower our school communities is as relevant today as ever. Read his post and consider how shared governance can deepen parents' sense of agency and connection at your school ➡ https://lnkd.in/e_t4Xkqc #Community #Empowerment #SharedGovernance

A Community Consultation and Co-Production Approach to Transforming the Primary to Secondary Transition Thank you to all the participants who took part in the community consultation online session on Friday. The session was full of rich conversations and invaluable contributions from parents, teachers, school staff, and a range of other professionals. The scariest, yet most exciting part of a community consultation is having the boldness to leave the outcome open-ended, truly centering the voice of the community rather than just paying lip service to another buzzword. Over the past four years, I've built Paradigm Project and our "My Next Steps" program with a determination to empower and equip children through this critical transitional period. We also explore methods to identify risk and vulnerability at an earlier stage. Some insights from Friday's session: - Communication needs to be improved between primary and secondary schools. - Vulnerable groups need additional support to ensure they don't get left behind. - Parents need more support and to be listened to throughout the process. - Schools need support to provide comprehensive transition aid. - While there are examples of good practice, they are fragmented, lacking a universal approach. Paradigm Project might be small, but we have big ambitions to be a catalyst for reform, helping protect and empower our children. Addressing children's needs at this age is a proactive approach to mitigating more complex needs down the line. I look forward to delivering the same session to students on May 8th and adding their insights before we rebuild and scale our offer. Big thanks to Daniel Pink for helping spread the word and recruit for these sessions, and to Eve Froude for all her help behind the scenes.

There are more than 100,000 students in New York City schools who have been identified as homeless. Research confirms that students experiencing homelessness face distinct challenges to their educational success: They have lower average attendance rates, change schools more often, and are less likely to be proficient on standardized tests, compared with their low-income but stably housed peers. The Research Alliance's new Spotlight post, by Zitsi Mirakhur and Kaitlyn G. O'Hagan, PhD, examines a program called Bridging the Gap, which places social workers in NYC schools, where they provide a range of supports to students experiencing homelessness. Our exploratory analysis compares attendance rate trends in schools that received a BTG social worker to trends in similar schools that did not receive a BTG social worker. Read Do “Bridging the Gap” Social Workers Improve Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness? https://bit.ly/3QSWTtY

Have you heard of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act? The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that ensures children and youth experiencing homelessness have equal access to public education. Individuals who lack a permanent address have the legal right to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. The law provides protections and services to support these students, from preschool to higher education. It's a crucial part of breaking the cycle of homelessness and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to receive an education and build a brighter future. Knowledge is power, and education is a fundamental right for all. Learn more about McKinney-Vento here:

Preparing Special-Needs Kids for the Future — as We Did With Our Son Morgenthal: Parents should maximize their children's independence, be flexible, seek out other families, stay involved & enjoy the successes that come By Marion Morgenthal August 21, 2023 The views expressed here are those of the author. As the mother of a 37-year-old son with special needs living independently, I often reflect on our journey. Alex, an original member of the POINT (Pursuing our INdependence Together) residential community in White Plains, NY, is thriving beyond our expectations. Here are key lessons from our experience: Maximize Independence: Encourage self-reliance early on. Overprotection limits potential. We sent Alex to camp from ages 9 to 17, fostering leadership and independence. Be Flexible: Adapt as needs change. Alex transitioned from inclusive classrooms to a special needs boarding school, each providing unique growth opportunities. Seek Visionary Professionals: Find educators and mentors who focus on potential rather than limitations. Key figures in Alex's life included supportive school staff and proactive camp directors. Build a Community: Join forces with other families. We collaborated with others to create POINT, providing a supportive network for both Alex and us. Stay Involved: Actively engage in your child's education and development programs. Advocacy and support partnerships have been crucial. Celebrate Successes: Focus on achievements, big or small. Alex now leads a productive life with friends and community interaction, milestones that were once unimaginable. By fostering independence, adapting to changing needs, and building a strong support network, we’ve seen Alex flourish. Our journey underscores the importance of community, flexibility, and celebrating every success. #Autism #SpecialNeeds #Independence #InclusiveCommunity #Parenting #DisabilitySupport #ResidentialCommunity #SpecialEducation #AutismAwareness #FamilySupport #CommunityBuilding #AutismParents #IndependentLiving #SupportNetworks #SpecialNeedsHousing #InclusiveHousing #AutismAcceptance #VocationalSkills #SelfAdvocacy #DignityOfRisk #DevelopmentalDisabilities #Neurodiversity #LifeSkills #PeerSupport #Empowerment

Between 2009 and 2017, there was a significant increase in homeless students enrolled in public schools, with every grade level affected. Particularly alarming is the growth in homeless high school students, which surged by about 104,000 during this period. #EducationForAll #EndHomelessness #SupportEducation #HomelessStudents #EdTechhttps://lnkd.in/e5rm7yS5

Two reports have been published over the last two days which say a lot about how sections of our society are treated. First, Grenfell. Much of we learned we knew already. 72 people died in a fire, 85% of which were from ethnic minorities within a ward in the 10% most deprived in England. They died because they lived in a tower block wrapped in a giant firelighter and because those with responsibility from a range of organisations were dishonest, negligent and many other things. Let's see how many go to prison. Fire safety in tower blocks like Grenfell remains a very serious concern. Those residents should not still be waiting for it to be put right. A fire in a similar block in London was ongoing at the time the report was published. Second, the IPPR report published this morning by five authors, the first four of whom are from The Difference. Check out their work if you haven't already. Kiran Gill, Shaun Brown, Cristín O'Brien, Jenny Graham and Efua P. 32 million days of learning lost to suspension and unauthorised absence in 2022/23 (latest national data) – up from 19 million pre-pandemic (2018/19). As The Difference's CEO Kiran Gill says that is the equivalent of every child in Liverpool not going to school for two years. All of this is ON TOP of the 100,000 plus of young people of school age who are not even on a school roll. For clarity I am not saying that home-schooling automatically means they are not receiving education but those numbers have risen so sharply for year after year. It has not just been about those parents who wanted to home school for a very long time. So who is most likely to be losing out on learning according to this report? That would be children who are 👉 growing up in poverty 👉 in contact with social services 👉 on child protection plans 👉 with special educational needs 👉 facing a mental health crisis 👉 with mental health needs 👉 experiencing racism Go to Sky News and watch Jason Farrell's report which focuses on the brilliant work of Haringey Learning Parnership with students like Amario and their headteacher Gerry Robinson. For transparency, I know HLP well. Whether you call it institutional or structural (or both) it is deeply embedded in our society. If you do not like me saying that, then stop following. I work with lots of public sector senior leaders, like Gerry, who want nothing more than to create a different world. They need the general public to notice the most shocking incidents and statistics and demand change. I do not want to hear our new government talking to me about inherting difficult economic circumstances. In economic terms alone the cost from the full impact of these two reports is colossal. Equity, diversity and inclusion is not only right it is beneficial to everyone. Structural issues like this cost us all. #HopeCollective Gary Trowsdale