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Youth Programs

The following is a selection of recent state actions to create or fund programs that promote the engagement of youth in positive and healthy endeavors.

Finds that youth participation in the political process is the lowest among any age group. Further finds that various steps need to be taken in order to arrest the decline in voter participation and ensure that generations of California voters will remain engaged in the democratic process. Expresses support for aggressive and creative implementation of the Federal Higher Education Act which requires publicly funded colleges and universities to make a good faith effort to supply incoming students with voter registration forms; a televised, youth oriented debate during the gubernatorial election in 2002; and greater inclusion of hands-on civic participation opportunities in the curriculum of high schools and colleges of California.

Finds that youth struggle with four main risk factors-academic failure, substance abuse, involvement in the criminal justice system, and teen pregnancy. Declares the goal of the legislature to give every young person in California access to a quality mentoring relationship. Encourages state agencies and departments to collaborate to build youth developmental assets. Stipulates that in order to obtain funding appropriated by the legislature, mentor programs must have adopted the California Mentor Initiative Quality Assurance Standards. Further stipulates that programs must provide data regarding mentee outcomes.

Establishes the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens program. Stipulates that the purpose of the program is to create incentives for establishing locally driven after school enrichment programs for high school pupils in the hours following the school day. Requires the state department of education to select a minimum of 10 programs to receive funding. Sets program guidelines for application and operation as well as selection criteria. Stipulates that implementation of the program is dependent upon the appropriation of federal funds. States the intent of the legislature to annually appropriate federal funds in the Budget Act. Authorizes a successful applicant to receive a 5-year grant, subject to annual reporting and re-certification requirements.

Creates the Voting by Minors Act. Requires the State Board of Education and the State Board of Elections to develop a pilot program under which elementary and secondary school students in kindergarten through grade 12 in participating school districts and counties may participate in a simulated election held on the date of the general election in 2004. Requires the formation of a non-profit, volunteer board to administer the program. Provides that funding is contingent upon receipt from private sources. Allows for the State Boards to make their employees available to help administer program on a consulting basis. Requires the program to have a reasonable amount of classroom instruction. Creates a timetable for the boards to develop the program.

Creates the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education. Stipulates membership requirements. Resolves that the commission must examine the extent to which citizenship education, including service learning, is currently included in the visions, missions, values and practices of Maine school administrative districts and institutions of higher education. Also directs commission to study national models for educational continua that cover preschool through college; models for involving students and giving them a voice in the governance of institutions; and models for providing opportunities for student engagement and leadership. Provides for compensation for the members of the commission. Requires the commission to submit a report with findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, no later than December 3, 2003.

Implements the recommendations of the Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Requires the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse to develop recommendations for the establishment of a permanent Youth Advisory Committee within the Executive Branch to serve as a resource for any state agency charged with developing, implementing or enforcing programs, policies or laws that apply specifically to youth. Requires the director of the Office of Substance Abuse to review their procedures in surveying and collecting information on youth substance abuse. Further requires the Director to review procedures for awarding grants for substance abuse prevention programs. Requires the Commissioner of Education to review policies for student athletes proposed in the 2002 report by the Youth Policy and Empowerment Project and discuss that report with the Advisory Council during the fall of 2003. Makes changes to Council membership.

Establishes the Task Force to Study the Mentoring and Monitoring of Children in Custody of or Under the Supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Establishes membership requirements including appointments by the governor. Stipulates the task force to look at feasibility of certain programs and make recommendations on findings. Requires the task force to report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by October 1, 2004.

Establishes a dropout prevention and recovery program for high school students and creates an oversight council. Requires the program to provide and coordinate services to assist students in completing high school; encourage students to go to college by assisting in securing part-time work to accompany that education; introduce students to skills necessary in the workplace; provide tutoring, study skills training, and schoolsite mentors; provide alternative secondary school services with high academic standards; deliver work-based learning experiences such as internships, job shadowing and school-sponsored workplace mentoring, provide opportunities for community service and peer-centered activities that link youth with adult mentors; provide support services and transitional links that assist students in the elimination of barriers and establish an 85% graduation rate and 90 percent return-to-school rate.

Creates a youth council to encourage young people throughout New Mexico to consider and discuss the problems they face and to develop possible solutions. Requires council to meet quarterly and issue an annual report summarizing activities and findings by November 15th each year. Stipulates that the council shall consist of at least 1 youth aged 12-19, from each legislative district. Creates a "youth council coordinator" position to perform administrative duties for the council and act as a liaison between the council and any interagency coordinating group consisting of certain cabinet secretaries if that entity is established by executive order.

Transfers $2,249,642 from the TANF Block Grant to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to expand statewide the Support Our Students (SOS) program, a community-based afterschool initiative that links students with adults to create clubs, participate in athletic activities and complete homework in a structured setting.

Creates the Positive Youth Development Revolving Fund, consisting of monies received by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth from state and federal funds designated or intended for use to fund grants and contracts for community-based positive youth development programs.

Creates the Inner City Educational Enhancement Pilot Project Act of 2003. Allows local education agencies (LEA's) with the greatest number of schools placed on notice or probation status to establish an inner city educational enhancement pilot project. Stipulates that pilot projects shall consist of after-school programs at all or a significant portion of the LEA's placed on notice or probation status. Includes before-school, Saturday, or summer programs in program type. Designates services programs shall include. Requires the department of education and the office of education accountability to jointly monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the pilot programs and report recommendations to each member of the education oversight committee, and the education committees of the senate and house of representatives.

Authorizes each school district to provide a mentoring program to students at risk of dropping out of school. Requires a district that chooses to offer a mentoring program, using compensatory education funds, to meet standards adopted by the governor pursuant to the mentoring initiative established by the governor. Requires the board of trustees of the district to obtain the consent of a student's parent or guardian before allowing the student to participate in the program. Authorizes the district to arrange for any public or private community-based organization to implement the program. Authorizes funds allocated under Section 42.152 to be used to fund a district's mentoring services program.

Allows funds appropriated for the Bright Futures Fund to be used to award grants for the development or expansion of community programs targeted for youth, aged 14 - 18, including recreational programs, equipment, facilities or existing community-based youth programs which address youth-specific needs in the applicant region. Authorizes the commissioner to establish rules and criteria for awarding grants.

Finds that nonprofit youth organizations provide services that enable young people, particularly those at-risk, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Directs the department of community, trade and economic development to establish a competitive process to solicit proposals for and prioritize projects whose primary objective is to assist nonprofit youth organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential services, excluding outdoor athletic fields. Requires the DCTED to evaluate and rank applications in consultation with a citizen advisory commitee. Requires projects to have a recreational component and either an educational or social service component. Requires applicants to demonstrate that the requested assistance will increase the efficiency or quality of the services it provides to youth. Stipulates that grant assistance must not exceed twenty-five percent of the total cost of the project.