Voices for Children in Nebraska

  Earlier this week, Governor Heineman vetoed a bill to provide grants to help with the start-up costs of new school-based health centers.  School-based health centers are just what the name implies: a health center housed within a school. It’s a concept that takes the idea of a school nurse and expands it to allow kids regardless of their [...]

All students should have the opportunity to access a quality education and earn a high school diploma. Many states have raised the minimum age at which students may drop out of high school. While a well-meaning policy, the research is inconclusive whether mandatory attendance actually increases the graduation rate. Attendance does not equal engagement. Though such [...]

February 13, 2012 To: Members of the Judiciary Committee From: Sarah Forrest, Policy Coordinator – Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Re: Support for LB 933 – Improving Responses to Excessive Absenteeism Education is critical to children’s growth into healthy, productive adults. School attendance is one among a number of factors that impact children’s educational success. [...]

January 30, 2012 To: Members of the Education Committee From: Sarah Forrest, Policy Coordinator – Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Re: Neutral Testimony on LB 996 – Eliminating the Option to “Drop Out” All of Nebraska’s children deserve a quality education that puts them on the path to future success. Unfortunately, we know that not [...]

Dr. Bryan Williams shared his research with us on the link between premature births and academic achievement in first grade as part of the release of the Kids Count in Nebraska Report. He generously shared his time (and his PowerPoint slides!) with us. Prematurity and Academic Achievement

The 19th annual Kids Count in Nebraska Report continues to provide pertinent information on the well-being of all children in areas of health, education, safety and economic stability and features a commentary on the importance of investing in early childhood. Children do not choose the family, the geographic location, or the circumstances into which they [...]

  Join Voices for Children in Nebraska for the release of the Kids Count in Nebraska 2011 Report KIDS COUNT in Nebraska 2011 REPORT RELEASE When: Thursday January 12, 2012 12:00 – 1:15 pm Lunch provided Where: State Capitol Room 1023 Lincoln, NE   National expert Bryan L. Williams, PhD will present on the effect of [...]

Today, Voices for Children in Nebraska released the 18th annual Kids Count in Nebraska Report.  This report contains the same statistical information and commentary about the state of children in Nebraska you have come to expect in the Kids Count in Nebraska Report, plus a few special online-only features.   View the Kids Count in [...]