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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:
Positive parenting can protect against stress in childhood and adolescence.
School districts face a fiscal cliff: the expiration of federal Covid relief funds.
To address food insecurity, West Virginia University Extension offers families virtual lessons on growing and cooking food.
To read more, click on the following links.
Research & Practice
Positive parenting can help protect against the effects of stress in childhood and adolescence, new study shows
The Conversation: Warm and supportive parenting can help buffer against the effects of stress during childhood and adolescence, according to a study published in the journal PNAS Nexus. The research shows that children who experience stress may have less brain tissue in the hippocampus, a region crucial for learning and memory, but this effect is found to be mitigated in those who receive positive parenting. The study analyzed brain scans of nearly 500 children aged 10 to 17 years and found that positive parenting protected against the connection between stress and behavioral problems. Children who perceived their parents as warm and supportive showed less challenging behavior, even when they experienced distress from negative life events. The findings highlight the importance of nurturing parenting in promoting healthy brain development and resilience in children.
Latino Teachers Share How Their Communities Can Reshape Education — If Given the Chance
EdSurge: This article discusses the unique challenges faced by Latino children in the US education system and explores the strengths that Latino culture brings to transforming public education. The article highlights the importance of numbers and representation — in some areas Latinos make up 40% of the student population in some — emphasizing the power of Latinos’ collective voice. The article also points to the culture of perseverance within the Latino community, noting that many students and teachers are the children or grandchildren of immigrants who have overcome significant challenges. There are also challenges. During the pandemic, Latino students suffered significant setbacks in their learning, and they are underrepresented in science, technology, and math classes. Fortunately, the sense of community, shared experience, and inclusivity in Latino culture can positively impact education. And Latino educators’ insights and perspectives demonstrate the potential for improving education by embracing and leveraging these cultural strengths.
Policy
Analysis: State Laws Leave School Districts Unprepared for Looming Fiscal Cliff
The 74: For the past three years, school districts in the United States have received a record $190 billion in federal funding to address the challenges caused by the pandemic, including learning loss and mental health issues. However, this financial aid is set to expire in about 14 months, and the majority of states lack laws to protect districts from the fiscal emergency that will follow. The potential end of relief funds, along with declining enrollment, higher staff costs, and inflation, will create significant financial strain on school systems. Experts recommend that districts plan ahead by estimating revenues and spending, and setting aside money for emergencies, but few states have such requirements. Without additional planning and financial safeguards, districts may face destabilizing deficits that could harm students.
Families with young children face increased hardship after pandemic relief policies end
EdSource: Pandemic-era policies such as eviction moratoriums, expanded child tax credit, increased food stamp benefits, and free school meals helped alleviate hardship for families with young children. However, when these programs were discontinued, many of these families experienced an increase in hardship. This finding come from the RAPID survey, which collected data from 14,357 parents of young children nationwide every month between April 2020 and April 2023. The survey revealed a “chain reaction to hardship,” where financial struggles lead to increased distress in parents, ultimately affecting their children’s well-being and early learning. Advocates stress the importance of supporting families’ economic stability to ensure better outcomes for children and urging policymakers to implement more policies to aid low-income families.
Around the Nation
Amid Rising Hunger, Educators Are Teaching Kids Virtually How to Grow, Cook Food
The 74: Heather Cook, a virtual instructor for West Virginia University Extension, is teaching kids and families how to grow and cook their own food via Facebook live cooking demonstrations. The program aims to combat childhood nutrition insecurity in West Virginia, where one in seven children lack access to sufficient food. Due to the pandemic, WVU Extension shifted its Family Nutrition Program online, reaching more families in the 40 counties they serve. The virtual classes have enabled wider participation, especially for families with transportation and time constraints. The program offers in-person and virtual nutrition classes, a kids’ market program with vouchers for fresh produce, and a “Grow This” initiative providing seeds and gardening instruction to residents. By teaching gardening and healthy food choices, the program aims to alleviate food insecurity and promote self-sufficiency. See also: Number of children receiving free summer lunches down by almost 45 percent
$120 per child in food benefits coming to NYC public school families
Chalkbeat: New York City public school families will receive an additional $120 per child through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to help cover summer meal costs. The benefit is available to all families, regardless of income or immigration status, since NYC public schools have universal meals. The funds will be distributed later in the summer, with a deadline of December 31 to issue them as per federal guidelines. The P-EBT program has provided $5.4 billion in benefits since 2020, with the upcoming summer installment being the final round for school-age children. Families do not need to apply for the benefits, and eligible families who lost their state-issued P-EBT card can get a replacement. The benefits can only be used to purchase food items and will be available for 274 days after issuance.
What does restorative justice look like?
Hechinger Report: Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools district is implementing restorative justice practices to address discipline and build positive relationships among students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Restorative justice focuses on have students understand any harm they caused and taking responsibility for this. The process also involves finding ways to move forward rather than focusing on punishment. The district has hired instructional specialists in restorative justice to help defuse conflicts and strengthen relationships among students. Restorative practices were made mandatory by a 2019 Maryland law. However, the approach has faced skepticism and pushback from some parents and teachers who believe harsher discipline is necessary. The district is working on improving implementation and tracking effectiveness while navigating the challenges of the pandemic’s impact on student behavior.
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