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Oct. 20, 2014 Issue 21
Student Health

The National School Boards Association ended its health curriculum partnership with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., highlighting the longstanding efforts of tobacco companies to influence what students are taught about cigarette smoking.

Officials in California, which has long been a leader in tobacco-use prevention, said it was unlikely schools in the state have used a youth smoking prevention curriculum marketed by Reynolds. Read more in EdSource Today  
Student Safety


After-school programs provide homework assistance and tutoring, sports and arts activities, as well as a safe place to go after school before parents arrive home from work.
 
In a national ranking, California is at the top in providing quality after-school programs based on the percentage of students involved, parent satisfaction and other factors, according to "America After 3 p.m.," a report by the Afterschool Alliance. Programs served 1.66 million students in California in 2013-14, the survey found. "From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is the danger zone," said former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is honorary chair of the Afterschool Alliance. Read more in EdSource Today
School Climate

Los Angeles Unified School Board member Monica Garcia announced that the district will "blow the whistle" on bullying and hazing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student athletes. Read more
The Dolores Huerta Foundation and other groups filed suit against the Kern High School District alleging discriminatory discipline practices for African-American and Latino high school students. Read more
Webinars:



Open and supportive relationships between schools and parents are part of a positive school environment where families, staff and students feel welcome. Parent involvement is also one of eight California state priorities that districts must address in their new Local Control and Accountability Plans, which are spending road maps for district budgets.
 
An interactive webinar on Nov. 12 will discuss how districts can take concrete actions to create positive school-family partnerships. The webinar will feature Karen Mapp, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-author of the recent federal Partners in Education framework.
 
Co-hosted by WestEd and the California Department of Education. "New Guidance for Partnering with Diverse Families: The National Framework for Dual Capacity Building," Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. PT. To register, click here. 
Student Assistance Programs are a school-based approach to providing support to students for academic, behavioral and attendance issues that may be caused by substance abuse, mental health or other issues.

In a webinar on Oct. 31, Kristin Nelson, a San Francisco Unified School District social worker, will cover best practices for creating an effective multi-disciplinary team at school. According to the webinar description, the Student Assistance Program is a "learning support" structure that brings together all support service providers at a school site to coordinate services for students experiencing academic, attendance, behavior/social, or health problems.

Hosted by the California School-Based Health Alliance. "Creating Student-Assistance Programs, Friday, Oct. 31, from 10 to 11 a.m. PT. To register, click here.
Recent Editions of the EdHealth Newsletter:


EdHealth Newsletter Issue 20: Mixed results for student health-related legislation
EdHealth Newsletter Issue 19: Will kids eat more school lunches in quiet cafeterias?
EdHealth Newsletter Issue 18: California ahead in abolishing harsh discipline policies
EdHealth Newsletter Issue 17: Measuring social and emotional factors for accountability
EdHealth Newsletter Issue 16: Vaccination opt-outs rise as school nurses try to educate
 
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