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In The News …

The Effect Of Youth Unemployment On Crime (DCentric via Justice Policy Institute): “DC has an unemployment disparity, in which joblessness is very low in wealthy neighborhoods, while low-income neighborhoods have Depression-era unemployment rates. The Justice Policy Institute report also showed how unemployment is chronically high in places with a lot of crime.” A graph of 2010 property crimes, violent crimes, and unemployment rates by DC Ward show that the three correlate almost exactly. The report also points out that “as compared to their more advantaged peers who may have received more preparation from their family, school and overall community environment, youth from low-income areas of the District may need additional guidance to meet the expectations of the workplace.”

Let Teachers Teach (The Atlantic): “Freeing teachers and principals to do what they do best is a big step. It takes enormous dedication to students and a clear commitment to accountability in order to work. But when all these elements are combined — a clear goal and achievable standards, authority at the school level, and flexibility in the classroom — the results are powerful and transformative.” Mike Feinberg, co-founder of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter school system, here discusses how schools might “free up teachers to teach and principals to lead” and thus create better opportunities for students. What do you think? How can schools see that teachers have the necessary freedom and flexibility?

How Philanthropy Can Help During Crises (Chronicle of Philanthropy): “As the nation marks the 20th anniversary of the riots that engulfed Los Angeles, grant makers say the biggest lesson the tragedy taught them about responding to catastrophe is that collaboration with governments, businesses, and other nonprofits matters more than anything else [...] Another lesson is that change comes slowly and requires persistent efforts.” According to Carol Goss of the Skillman Foundation, which aims to develop good schools and neighborhoods in Metropolitan Detroit, “Philanthropy has a lot of resources like influence and data, and we could come together to share these resources [...] And we as a sector can speak up and push for change.” What might be an example of such timely and successful collaboration?

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