Elev8kids Feed

Sen. Kwame Raoul Visits Reavis Elementary in Chicago

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:33:18 -0700

In late March, Elev8 Chicago students traveled to the state capitol and met with a number of elected officials and staff, raising the issue of neighborhood safety, among other concerns. They made a strong impression of Senator Kwame Raoul from the 13th District.

Finding a Voice through Film

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:29:28 -0700

It's a Tuesday afternoon at Wilson Middle School in Albuquerque, and Steven Quezada, a professional actor, is coaching 6th-grader Alfredo Martinez on how to make a convincingly terrified flight down a second floor hallway.

Elev8’s Use of Data Applauded in New Report

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:25:56 -0700

Elev8's work is highlighted in a new report released by Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) about how to use data to support effective community collaborations. As the authors note, "a growing number of foundation- and government-funded initiatives are bringing together diverse partners within communities....

Elev8 Op Eds Highlight Effective School Discipline Strategies

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:00:51 -0700

In response to a Department of Education report that revealed disturbing racial disparities in school discipline, Elev8 wrote "A Better Approach to School Discipline". The Op Ed ran in numerous outlets around the country, in such diverse states as Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Washington.

Elev8 NM Students Make the Most of Children and Youth Day at the State Capitol

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:56:19 -0700

Elev8 student Richard Arkie, who attends Laguna Middle School, spoke during the Children and Youth Day news conference. He highlighted startling statistics about his home county (Cibola), including the fact that only 10 percent of the young adults there have a college degree. “We need after-school programs that help us with our academics and social skills,” said Arkie.

A Better Approach to School Discipline

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:04:57 -0700

On March 6, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released data from a national survey of more than 72,000 schools, covering a range of issues that included school discipline. The data revealed startling racial disparities in suspensions, expulsions and arrests in districts and states.

Elev8 Chicago Engages Elected Officials

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:45:08 -0700

Elev8 Chicago and the Federation for Community Schools have launched a new project, "read more

Community Schools Called "America's New 'Village'"

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:59:21 -0700

Neal Peirce, whose weekly syndicated column appears in over 50 newspapers around the country, wrote a piece titled “Community Schools: America’s New ‘Village’” this week.

Elev8 Chicago Students Bring their Concerns to the State Capitol

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:32:20 -0700

On March 23, two busloads of students, drawn from five Elev8 Chicago schools, traveled to Springfield, IL, to share their policy concerns and priorities with state lawmakers, focusing much of their time on issues related to community safety.

Delegations from each school went to see senators and representatives from their respective districts.

Elev8 Chicago Hosts Discussion with US Department of Education About Improving College Access

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:21:11 -0700

On Monday, March 19, Elev8 Chicago and the Federation for Community Schools hosted US Secretary of Education Senior Advisor Greg Darnieder, who led a dynamic discussion about improving college access.

National School-Based Health Care Convention June 24-27

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:07:25 -0700

Every year the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC) brings together more than 900 child and adolescent health providers and advocates for the National School-Based Health Care Convention.

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Students to Springfield: More $ for Health Services

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:31:14 -0700

(This article is reposted with permission from LISC)
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Elev8 Advocates for Critical Education, Health and Workforce Investments in 2013 Budget

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:27:14 -0700

Elev8 joined more than 900 other national, state and local organizations to send a letter urging Congress to prioritize funding for health, education, job training, social services, and children's programs in the 2013 appropriations cycle.
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Elev8 Chicago Student Wins First Place in School Health Center Essay Contest

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:25:12 -0700

Linda Taylor, a student from Perspectives Middle Academy, won first place for middle and elementary students in the IL Maternal & Child Health Coalition's recent Students' Key to Success: School Health Centers essay contest. We're very excited for her and for Perspectives!
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Community Schools Model Gains Traction

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:23:21 -0700

This March 13 article in Education Week reports growing interest in the Community School model. "Partnerships between schools and community organizations have existed for years. But the ‘community school' model, as a strategy to scale up throughout a school district, is getting renewed attention from policymakers, including President Barack Obama and U.S.
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Elev8 School-Based Health Centers Meet Critical Needs in New Mexico

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:50:04 -0700

By Elizabeth Duffrin

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“When My Children Needed a Doctor”

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:26:31 -0700

Deanita is an Oakland parent who spent time in prison and who, upon her release, struggled mightily to meet her children's basic needs. Finding adequate local healthcare was a particular challenge.
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Elev8 Celebrates National School-Based Healthcare Awareness

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:23:11 -0700
The evidence is clear that healthier students miss fewer days and perform better in school. School-based health centers have particular advantages. Students who use them have higher attendance rates, more "seat time," higher grade point averages, and higher graduation rates than students who do not.
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Article Focuses on Education Gap between Rich and Poor, Provokes Debate about Whether Anything “Works”

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:02:21 -0700
The New York Times published a provocative front-page article on Feb.
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Important Win: Child Tax Credit Extended, Without Proposed Exclusions

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:53:05 -0700
Elev8 recently spoke out against a proposal that would have prevented millions of taxpaying immigrants from accessing the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Along with other advocates, Elev8 urged policymakers to protect all taxpayers' eligibility for the CTC, and on Feb. 17, Congress passed a payroll tax cut extension without the proposed limitation.
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Annie E. Casey Foundation Releases “Data Snapshot” Showing More Children in Concentrated Poverty

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:00:15 -0700
As summarized in the introduction to this new brief, "All children need strong families and supportive communities to realize their full potential. For the nearly 8 million children under age 18 living in areas of concentrated poverty...
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Elev8 Chicago’s Ames Middle School Launches Student Incentive Program

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:57:22 -0700
This year, students at Ames middle school have a new reason to put in some extra hours of school work. The recently launched Incentive Program was developed to increase attendance, motivation and achievement in core subject areas. Students are given a raffle ticket for every grade they increase in reading, writing, math, science, or social science.
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New Report Presents Lessons from “Turnaround” Middle Schools

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:48:53 -0700

This report by the Research Alliance for New York City Schools examines two groups of public middle schools--one that greatly improved performance between 2006 and 2010, and one that remained basically stagnant--to discern effective strategies for turning around low-performing schools.
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Elev8 School Based Health Center Steps Up to the Plate

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:22:19 -0700

When a teacher at Gadsden Middle School, in New Mexico, noticed that Marcos, a 7th grade student, had been suffering from headaches and anxiety and his grades were dropping, the teacher sent him to the school's new Elev8 health center.
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February Is National School-Based Healthcare Awareness Month

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:42:34 -0700
For several years, we have been chronicling the success of Elev8's school-based health centers (SBHCs)-from groundbreaking and opening ceremonies in Oakland and read more

Elev8 School-Based Health Centers Boost Attendance, Academic Achievement

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:04:18 -0700

Last May, a 13-year-old girl walked into Orozco Academy's new health center in Pilsen, complaining of abdominal pain.

In a typical clinic, the real cause of her pain would likely have gone unnoticed, said her doctor, Elena Lopez. "In a regular clinic, it's, 'Here's a prescription. Goodbye.' "
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Elev8 Baltimore Remodels Health Center

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:39:54 -0700
The health suite at Tench Tilghman Elementary Middle School is currently being upgraded and will be unveiled at an Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 29. The health center will have a medical doctor on site once a week, in addition to a full-time nurse and medical assistant.
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Elev8 Calls for Improvements to Essential Health Benefits Available Under Healthcare Reform

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:33:42 -0700
Elev8 submitted extensive comments in response to the Department of Health and Human Services' recent Bulletin, which proposed a worrisome approach to the Essential Health Benefits that are part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The approach prioritizes reducing costs and protecting state flexibility, while failing to ensure that citizens will receive the healthcare they need.
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Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Publishes Op Ed on “Escaping the Constraints of No Child Left Behind”

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:29:05 -0700
In a piece published in the Washington Post, Secretary Duncan praises states' efforts to adopt "bold and comprehensive reforms to support academic achievement for all students," but laments the fact that NCLB is "unintentionally creating barriers for these reforms." He goes on to discuss the Obama administration's waiver plan, which is "offering states flexibility from
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Elev8 Reflects on 2011 Advocacy Gains

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:30:00 -0700

In 2011, Elev8 joined a range of partners to support programs that keep young people—including our most vulnerable—on track toward high school graduation, college and careers.
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