ED’s safe & supportive schools News
Kevin Jennings Assistant Deputy Secretary	Volume 5, Number 42
In This Issue 1. Every Kid deserves a Home – and an Education--From the Desk of Kevin Jennings… 2. U.S. ED’s IES’ NCES Releases Back to School Statistics for Fall 2010 3. Anti-Drug Update--Get the Word Out: September is Recovery Month 4.  FYI—Presidential Proclamation—National Preparedness Month, 2010 5.  U.S. Department of “Justice Resource Update” e-Newsletter Highlights Office of Justice Programs Partnerships 6. NIDA to Launch National Drug Facts Week—November 8-14, 2010 NOTE:  If you have trouble reading this LISTSERV, please open attached document NOTE: The material provided in this ED’s SAFE & SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS NEWS  is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein may not always reflect the views of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools or the US Department of Education, nor do they imply an endorsement. We hope that you find this information to be useful. If you think ED’s SAFE & SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS NEWS would be helpful to a friend or colleague, please send  them to  this web site to self enroll. Contact Us OSDFS website NOTE:  If you are experiencing difficulty in receiving the newsletter, you may have to make some changes in your controls.  Please check your screenshot to make sure your screen resolution is large enough to be able to properly see it.  You can make it larger by going to  Start—Control Panel—Appearance and Personalization—personalization—adjust screen resolution .  If there is no link to open your web browser, you can go to the top of your e-mail to “Other Actions.”  After clicking this, you can select ‘View in Browser.’ This will allow you to shrink it to whatever size necessary to fit your screen.  If you have any  questions or suggestions, please contact me at: [log in to unmask] David  Quinlan Editor	EVERY KID DESERVES A HOME—AND AN EDUCATION—FROM THE DESK OF KEVIN JENNINGS… This week, Secretary Duncan, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, and I met with Barbara Poppe and Jennifer Ho, the Executive and Deputy Directors of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH).  USICH has just issued the first-ever federal plan to end homelessness (http://www.usich.gov/) and the plan has a special emphasis on homeless children and youth. These children, who often are living in shelters or “doubling up” or “couch surfing” with friends and family, tend to be “invisible” as the public image of homelessness is with adults who live on the streets.  But these young people are among the biggest victims of the current economic downturn: at the end of the 2008-2009 school year, public schools enrolled a total of over 960,000 homeless children and youth - a 40 percent increase since the 2006-2007 school year.  Homeless children often are quite young and are in this situation because their entire family has lost its home.  The disruption of their education results in “learning loss” that causes them to lag behind their peers and often perform poorly in school, starting them down the road to eventually dropping out.  Homeless adolescents are called “unaccompanied youth,” usually because they become homeless after leaving their family or foster home because conditions there have become intolerable.  Regardless of why homelessness occurs for a young person, this is population that is deeply underserved and USICH is galvanizing efforts to make their needs a top priority – something we at ED very much support.  The Department’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is one of only two federal programs targeted exclusively to homeless children and youth. The EHCY program removes barriers to the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school.   You can learn more about this program at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html. You can also find great resources through the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (http://www.naehcy.org/), whose 22^nd annual conference (where I will be speaking) will be in Houston on November 6-9. Mahatma Gandhi once said “A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."  Surely there are few who are as vulnerable as homeless children and youth.  As we start a school year when it is very possible the number of such children may break 1 million for the first time in American history, let’s do our best to make sure they get both a home and an education. U.S. ED’s IES’ NCES RELEASES BACT TO SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR FALL 2010   America's schools and colleges will welcome back large numbers of students this fall as population increases and high enrollment rates continue to be reflected in more students in  America's schools than ever. In particular, record numbers of prekindergarten and kindergarten students are expected to enter the Nation's public school systems. Here are some key back-to-school facts to consider: • In fall 2010, nearly 49.4 million students will attend public elementary and secondary schools. Of these, 34.7 million will be in prekindergarten through 8th grade and 14.7 million will be in grades 9 through 12. An additional 5.8 million students are expected to attend private schools this fall. • Approximately 1,094,000 children are expected to attend public prekindergarten this fall. Enrollment in kindergarten, at approximately 3,693,000, is also projected to be at an all-time high. America's schools and colleges will welcome back large numbers of students this fall as population increases and high enrollment rates continue to be reflected in more students in America's schools than ever. In particular, record numbers of prekindergarten and kindergarten students are expected to enter the Nation's public school systems. Here are some key back-to-school facts to consider: • In fall 2010, nearly 49.4 million students will attend public elementary and secondary schools. Of these, 34.7 million will be in prekindergarten through 8th grade and 14.7 million will be in grades 9 through 12. An additional 5.8 million students are expected to attend private schools this fall. • Approximately 1,094,000 children are expected to attend public prekindergarten this fall. Enrollment in kindergarten, at approximately 3,693,000, is also projected to be at an all-time high. • Current expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools will be about $540 billion for the 2010−11 school year. The national average current expenditure per student is projected at $10,792, up from $10,297 in actual expenditures in 2007−08. • In fall 2010, a record 19.1 million students are expected to attend the Nation’s 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, an increase of about 3.8 million since fall 2000. For all back to school statistics and the sources, please see: http://nces.edgov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372 ANTI-DRUG UPDATE—GET THE WORD OUT: SEPTEMBER IS RECOVERY MONTH Recently, the President proclaimed September 2010 as National Alcohol and Drug Addition Recovery Month stating, "Across America, we must spread the word that substance abuse is preventable, that addiction is treatable, and that recovery is possible." As such, it's a great opportunity to raise public awareness about addiction, celebrate people in recovery, and assist others who are still struggling.   Recovery Month also provides a platform to promote the societal benefits of treatment for substance abuse disorders, laud the contributions of treatment providers, and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug disorders in all its forms is indeed possible - a point emphasized by the 2010 theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Now More Than Ever!"   The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering a variety of materials to help local organizations and leaders reach out to their communities throughout the month to raise awareness of substance abuse issues. Available materials include: 2010 Recovery Month Toolkit - Focuses on the effectiveness of substance abuse and mental health prevention and treatment services, and features helpful statistics, resources, event ideas, suggestions, and samples on how to reach local media, as well as fact sheets for key constituency groups, special audiences, and more. 2010 Recovery Month Commemorative Poster - Features the 2010 theme with graphics. 2010 Recovery Month Flyer (in English or Spanish) - Describes the 2010 National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month observance and theme. 2010 Recovery Month Brochure (in English or Spanish) - Provides description of the 2010 National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month observance and 2009 accomplishments.   You may download or order these and other materials by going to the SAMHSA Web site at http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/recoverymonth/pubsSC2010.aspx. Many local organizations observe Recovery Month by hosting community and media events, which is an exciting and important way to make a difference within the community. Recovery Month events, no matter how large or small, can go a long way in promoting the benefits of recovery. SAMHSA offers an online database of more than 600 events to help people search for activities in their area, as well as a Recovery Month Event Widget for community organizations to post on their Web sites so visitors may search the database - available online at http://www.recoverymonth.gov/Community-Events.aspx. The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign also offers a variety of resources - including FREE customizable ads, brochures, CD-ROMs, youth posters, and postcards - to help community groups and parents address the abuse of drugs and alcohol and other risky behaviors with their teens. Please visit www.TheAntiDrug.com/Resources to download materials or place your order. FYI--PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION--NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH, 2010 By the President of the United States of America—A Proclamation--During National Preparedness Month, we stress the importance of strengthening the security and resiliency of our Nation through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards threatening the United States in the 21st century, including natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease, and acts of terrorism.  This year marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most tragic and destructive disasters in American history.  In remembrance of this national tragedy, we must reaffirm our commitment to readiness and the necessity of preparedness. By empowering Americans with information about the risks we face, we can all take concrete actions to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our country.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign provides simple and practical steps every American can take to be better prepared.  At the community level, Citizen Corps enables volunteers to contribute to homeland security efforts by educating, training, and coordinating local activities that help make us safer, better prepared, and more responsive during emergencies.  I encourage all Americans to visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov for more information and resources on emergency preparedness, including how to prepare a family emergency plan, create an emergency supply kit, and get involved in community preparedness efforts. My Administration has made emergency and disaster preparedness a top priority, and is dedicated to a comprehensive approach that relies upon the responsiveness and cooperation of government at all levels, the private and nonprofit sectors, and individual citizens.  I also encourage Americans to get involved with the thousands of organizations in the National Preparedness Month Coalition, which will share preparedness information and hold preparedness events and activities across the United States.  By strengthening citizen preparedness now, we can be ready when disaster strikes. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as National Preparedness Month.  I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and observe this month by working together to enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. BARACK OBAMA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’s “JUSTICE RESOURCE UPDATE” E-NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS PARTNERSHIPS The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has released the August 2010 issue of its Justice Resource Update e-newsletter. The latest issue features OJP's partnerships with criminal and juvenile justice agencies, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, private foundations, and tribal leaders. It also reports on the confirmation of new directors for the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an evaluation of the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance's National Drug Court Resource Center, among other matters. Resources: Access the current issue of Justice Resource Update at www.ncjrs.gov/OJPNewsletter/august2010/juvjust.htm NIDA TO LAUNCH NATIONAL DRUG FACTS WEEK—NOVEMBER 8-14, 2010 National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is an opportunity for teens to shatter the myths about drug abuse and to get answers from a scientific expert. To help you, NIDA provides a step-by step “how-to” kit (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/planyourevent.php), including a list of fun activities (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/activities.php), instructions on how to receive their NEW drug facts booklet (http://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov/order/order.aspx?id=NIH10-7589) to distribute at events, assistance in finding a scientific expert in your community, and online interactive quiz (http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/IQchallenge.php), and much more. But NIDA needs you to make it happen.  Encourage teens to organize an event during NDFW and support them by being an adult advisor and registering an event with NIDA. For more information or questions, please contact us at [log in to unmask] OSDFS has partnered with NIDA for their first National Drug Fact Chat Week, Drugs: Shatter the Myths.  The past Drug Fact Chat Days have been very successful so NIDA has expanded to a week-long event. Please feel free to forward this to your colleagues in substance abuse prevention. National Drug Facts Week is being supported by multiple federal agencies that share an interest in preventing teen drug abuse. They are: The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in HHS, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at NIH, the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools in the U.S. Department of Education, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Guard, part of the U.S. Department of Defense. Each of these agencies will post National Drug Facts Week information on their Web sites, and many will hold special events linking scientists to teens.  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the principal biomedical and behavioral research agency of the United States Government. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.