Our nation's educational system has scored many extraordinary successes in raising the level of reading and writing skills in younger children. Yet the pace of literacy improvement in our schools has not kept up with the accelerating demands of the global knowledge economy. In state after state, the testing data mandated by No Child Left Behind…

In recent years, there has been increased policy interest in the way young people spend their time out of school, and in promoting the availability of opportunities for them to spend this time in productive and developmentally supportive ways. Out-of-school opportunities (such as arts and music programs, sports teams, community service, youth …

Noting that the after-school hours are peak hours for Illinois juveniles to be either victims of crime or involved in criminal activity, this report provides evidence that making quality after-school programs available to all youth who need them will reduce crime and provide constructive activities for youth. The report details statistics on…

Childhood and adolescent obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and are growing. The sedentary routines found in schools and in the home as well as the overexposure to unhealthy snacks and nonnutritional foods contribute to the pervasiveness of this disease that afflicts America's children. Obese children face…

Discusses the particular need of high schools to develop Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) policies. Discusses the prevalence and risk of HIV in the adolescent population and the legal implications of policies. Describes and evaluates various policies of Illinois public high schools. Concludes with a…

Because of the importance of nutrition during teenage pregnancies, the Illinois State Council on Nutrition held public hearings in Chicago and in Carbondale, areas having a high incidence of infant mortality. Several issues were identified: (1) effects on nutrition of low income, poor nutrition habits, and lack of understanding of the increased…

Participants in the 1981 Illinois Conference on Children's Priorities for the '80s were provided with two main working documents: (1) "Summary--Recommendations of the 1980 Illinois White House Conference on Children," and (2) "Narrative Summary of State Agency Questionnaires on Selected Recommendations from the Report of the 1980…