More than 20 percent of U.S. children ages 0-8 are Hispanic. Although many are from immigrant families, nearly 90 percent are citizens. They are more likely than non-Hispanic white children to live in low-income households. This 11-page brief from the National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics has more. Click here for the report: www.ecehispanic.org/work.html#briefs

On February 26, the Alliance for Excellent Education published updated state cards for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Now in their third year, these concise summaries were developed to provide an overview of relevant data for policymakers, government officials, and concerned citizens. “The State Card is a quick reference for vital information about each state’s high schools and how they perform in relation to national averages,” says Governor Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. “It provides information that is fundamental to any conversation about transforming America’s high schools.”

State Cards are available at http://www.all4ed.org/
map_states.html. Information on graduation rates, academic achievement, and data collection systems are included, as well as statistics on the gap between national and state expectations and teacher mentoring.

A partnership to promote public health
The NHCSL Healthy States Initiative helps state leaders access the information they need to make informed decisions on public health issues. The initiative brings together state legislators, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials, state health department officials and public health experts to share information and to identify innovative solutions.

State legislators play a vital role in determining the structure and resources available to state and local agencies dedicated to protecting the public’s health. Public health agencies educate the public and offer interventions across a wide spectrum of public health issues including:

  • Ensuring that children and at-risk adults are immunized against deadly diseases
     

  • Assisting victims of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease and asthma
     

  • Preventing disease and disability resulting from interactions between people and the environment
     

  • Researching how HIV/AIDS infections and other sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented
     

  • Promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities
     

  • Working with schools to prevent risky behavior among children, adolescents and young adults

If you are interested in the learning opportunities available through the Healthy States Initiative, visit www.nhcsl.org and learn more about important public health issues.

State of the States 2007, Building Hope, Raising Expectations
A new report, published by State Coverage Initiatives, explores innovative reforms enacted by state policymakers to increase health insurance coverage among the uninsured.

TrendsAlert: Using Sound Science to Prevent Chronic Disease: State Policy Implications
How states are using 20 key proven strategies to prevent chronic diseases.

Tool Kit: Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)
Find out why GDL laws are needed and what state legislators can do to improve their state’s laws for teenage drivers.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America.