Late Summer Leadership

Abstract

INITIATIVES FROM winter-spring legislatures tend to draw much of the public's attention. But by the last spring frost, most of these state legislatures had adjourned. By summer, public attention turned to staying cool and hydrated, and most of us were no longer paying attention to what education policy was hitting the fan. Other states, however, continued to do some legislating throughout June, July, and into the dog days of August. California, for example, sometimes seemed to produce as many bills during August as it did peaches. So fall's cool down is a good time for picking a few bills that ripened in the sunshine. Addressing the needs of the whole In Illinois, H.B. 4456 created the Commission on Children and Youth Act, noting that it has been over 22 years since an Illinois commission explored how the state serves children and youth and allocates resources that most effectively support its younger citizens. The commission will create a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for providing services to children, youth, and young adults from birth to 24, monitor its implementation, and review and revise the strategic plan where needed. The five-year strategic plan calls for the commission to make recommendations to achieve the following outcomes: * Thriving: preventive health. Access to adequate health care and education about healthy lifestyle choices to prevent illness and disease. * Learning: education completion. Opportunity to earn a high school diploma and receive appropriate individualized supports when faced with challenges in doing so. * Working: workforce development. Opportunity for education, skill building, and work experience to prepare them for success in the workforce. * Connecting: social and emotional development. Opportunities to develop essential social and emotional skills to communicate effectively, resolve conflict, and manage stress. * Leading: civic engagement. Opportunities to build relationships with adults and peers and cultivate leadership skills through service learning, mentoring, and other safe activities in their communities. The governor appoints up to 30 public members to the commission. Public members must include rural, suburban, and urban entities; direct service providers; child advocates; human rights organizations; faith-based service providers; philanthropic organizations that invest in children and youth; at least three parents of children under age 16; and at least three young people between ages 16 and 24. Multiple state agencies also are represented, but not in a voting capacity. Also in Illinois, H.B. 3677 requires that a comprehensive health education program include sexual assault awareness in secondary schools. Universities and community colleges must also provide sexual assault awareness education to incoming students. Employing Principals S.B. 273 in Massachusetts changed parameters for school principal contracts. Previously, state law specified that contracts would cover no more than three years. The new provision states that a principal's initial contract will be for at least one year and no more than three years, and a second contract would last at least three years and no more than five years unless both parties agree to a shorter term of employment. All subsequent contracts are to be for at least three years and no more than five years. Regardless of past employment, these conditions apply to the initial contract of each school principal. Calculating and Reducing Dropout Rates Massachusetts S.B. 2766 requires the state department of education to provide districts with a standardized format for reporting graduation and dropout data. This data must include a four-year graduation rate, five-year graduation rate, and adjusted graduation rates and must be disaggregated by limited English proficiency, low-income, special education, race or ethnicity, and gender. …