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Elev8 Policy News
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New Mexico’s Children and Youth Day: Linking to Our Future! was held on January 17, the opening day of the 2012 legislative session. Students from Elev8 NM joined youth from across the state to advocate for school-linked afterschool programs, behavioral health services and school-based healthcare. A video about the day can be viewed here.
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In the wake of a recent Department of Education report that revealed disturbing racial disparities in school discipline, Elev8 published Op Eds around the country, highlighting emerging lessons from Elev8's flexible, full-service community school model and promoting several key policy reforms.
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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. While the data suggest that harsh, inequitable approaches to school discipline are widespread, there are also many schools taking a different approach.
Teaser: Elev8 Chicago and the Federation for Community Schools have launched a new project, " Three Questions for...," which poses education- and community-schools-related questions to local, state and federal elected officials. This month features U.S. Representative Judy Biggert.
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 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. Sen. Kwame Raoul was inspired to write about their visit in the local Hyde Park Herald, calling for innovative solutions to reduce community violence and praising the Elev8 model.
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Elev8 joined more than 900 other organizations on a letter urging Congress to prioritize funding for health, education, job training, social services, and children's programs in the 2013 appropriations cycle.
Teaser: Elev8 recently spoke out against a proposal that would have prevented millions of taxpaying immigrants from accessing the Child Tax Credit (CTC) On Feb. 17, Congress passed a payroll tax cut extension without the proposed limitation.
Teaser: 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). Elev8 also joined 75 other groups in requesting a 45-day extension on the acceptance of comments about the Essential Health Benefits proposal. We were pleased that this was covered by several media outlets, including Politico, Congressional Quarterly and The Hill.
Teaser: 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. Our national advocacy efforts helped preserve funding for critical education, health, and social service programs and raised awareness about the importance of engaging families and communities in building effective schools.
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As policymakers consider deep cuts to the federal budget, representatives from Elev8's diverse communities—in Baltimore, Chicago, New Mexico and Oakland—have come together to identify a set of shared funding priorities for 2012. These include essential education, health, nutrition and social service programs. Click here to learn more.
Teaser: The New Mexico state legislature is considering whether to ban corporal punishment in the state's schools.
Legislators need to hear from parents and community members. Elev8 supports banning this out-dated, ineffective punishment!
Teaser: The Let’s Move! campaign, started by First Lady Michelle Obama, has an ambitious national goal of solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight.
Teaser: The Obama Administration will host a National Youth Summit on Saturday, February 26, 2011, in Washington, DC.
Teaser: On August 24, 2010, Renee Paisano-Trujillo, Director of Elev8 New Mexico testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee on "Innovative Approaches to School Time."
Teaser: At the dedication of a new health center at Reavis Middle School, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said Elev8 represents an innovative approach to education, adolescent health and community development, and has shown early success in meeting its goals.
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On behalf of Elev8 Chicago, the Federation for Community Schools is applying for an Invest in Innovation grant.
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On February 18th, Elev8 Chicago students ate breakfast with Congressional staff.
At the briefing, Elev8 students, their families, and community members spoke about the impact Elev8 has had on their lives. >>
Teaser:  Elev8 brought over 150 students, parents, and supporters to Santa Fe, NM to advocate against proposed state education, after-school enrichment, and health care budget cuts.
"Invest in Children, Strengthen New Mexico" was the message. >>
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On October 30th Perspectives-Calumet Middle School hosted a visit from Adolfo Carrión, Jr., director of the White House Office on Urban Affairs, who said he hoped to replicate initiatives like the school's Elev8 program.
Teaser: Recognizing the important role schools play in building vibrant
communities, the Illinois State Senate recently passed a bill that will
greatly benefit community schools, including the five Elev8 Chicago
schools.
Teaser: Elev8 New Mexico students at Wilson Middle School in Albuquerque have
been formally recognized by the state for their Crock Pot Project, a
student-run campaign around hunger awareness and the need for greater
access to free lunch for fellow students.
Teaser: On Thursday, May 7, 2009, the Illinois Senate formally recognized the Elev8 Chicago initiative by passing a resolution about the unique value of the Elev8 approach and lauding the work each of the five sites is performing in their schools and communities.
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