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MyPlate.gov says toddlers should sit upright for meals and snacks and not wander while eating items such as hot dogs, candy, nuts and seeds, raw carrots, grapes or popcorn, which may cause choking. (Adobe Stock)

University in IL studies link between toddler food access and development

Parents wanting to ensure their children have nutritious meals can serve as their best example, according to new data. Research from the University …

The University of Illinois-Chicago recommends children use a straw to help reduce the contact of sweetened beverages with teeth. (Adobe Stock)

Parents' dental habits set the tone for kids' healthy teeth

February is Children's Dental Health Month and experts said getting kids started early on good oral care sets the stage for a healthy lifetime habit…

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers its Soul Shop for Black Churches program to help faith leaders minister to congregants who may be struggling or who have been affected by suicide. (Adobe Stock)

Research shows harmful social media content impacts Black youths

Social media platforms are used by practically everyone but most widely by teens. One study pinpoints a link between online racism and higher rates …

The Illinois State Board of Education Literacy Standards indicate fourth graders should be able to determine the main idea of a text, explain how it is supported by key details and summarize the text. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Illinois' child well-being varies widely by race

A new report looks at children's well-being in every state and finds in Illinois, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its Race for …

A 2019 report by the Cook County Advisory Board called for the end of punitive room confinement but Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice officials found in 2022, the disciplinary measure is still used. (Adobe Stock)

Summit paints grim picture of IL juvenile detention centers

At a Wednesday summit, advocates for juvenile justice reform took up the most recent slate of complaints about Illinois' juvenile detention centers…

YouthTruth Student Survey finds 74% of the class of 2023 wants to go to college while 66% expect to go to college. The survey also finds the gap is further exacerbated when factoring in race and ethnicity. (Adobe stock)

Illinois high school seniors face big college application challenges

Illinois high school seniors have new hurdles to overcome to get to college. High school students are waiting several extra weeks to get their hands …

College students walk on the quadrangle lawn of the Foellinger Auditorium on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana. (Adobe Stock)

America’s 'culture wars' influence students' choice of college campuses

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

Many librarians are concerned that groups pushing them to pull certain titles from their shelves are promoting authoritarianism rather than democracy. (Adobe Stock)

State Officials Testify in Senate On Illinois Anti-Book-Ban Legislation

A pair of Illinois state officials testified Tuesday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the state General Assembly's adoption of a bill to …

The New York Times reports six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades. (Adobe Stock)

IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences

It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …

Young people who are adjudicated as delinquent may be placed in multiple types of facilities, from youth prisons and detention centers, to residential treatment facilities or group homes. (Jan H. Andersen/Adobe Stock)

IL Sees Significant Long-Term Decline in Youth Incarcerations

Illinois is seeing a steady drop in youth arrests and therefore, fewer adolescents locked up in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Josh Rovner…

At 80 universities and colleges, the net price more than doubled for the lowest-income students, while at 19 it more than tripled, and at 10 it quintupled, according to analysis of federal data by The Hechinger Report. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Lower-Income Students See Higher Tuition than Higher-Income Peers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News …

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

Illinois had almost 1,000 juveniles incarcerated in adult correctional facilities in 2021, at an annual cost of almost $33 million, according to a Human Rights for Kids report. (napatacha/Adobe Stock)

IL Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Unfair Youth Sentencing

Illinois could soon be the fourth state to pass a law to prevent unfair youth sentencing. The legislation encourages criminal courts to recognize …

For the first time since 1998, the State of Illinois has updated the County Detention Standards for juvenile detention centers to reflect current best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Officials Hold First-Ever Review of IL Pretrial Juvenile Detention System

Attorneys, state employees and juvenile justice reform advocates will gather virtually Friday to receive updates on county pretrial juvenile …

According to the CDC, children who regularly see a dentist and brush daily with fluoride toothpaste are likely to have fewer dental problems as adults. (Adobe Stock)

Dentists: Teach Kids Good Dental Hygiene for a Lifetime of Smiles

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, giving parents another reason to watch their children's intake of Valentine candy this week…

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

Under the Expanded Child Tax Credit, the number of American children living in poverty in 2021 dropped by 46%. (Pexels)

Illinois Child Advocates Demand Action on Renewing Child Tax Credit

As Congress moves toward its deadline to pass a new budget, social advocates are urging lawmakers to reinstate the Enhanced Child Tax Credit for next …

Bullying is not gender specific; research indicates roughly equal numbers of girls and boys report being bullied. (Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Means Awareness of Social-Emotional Learning

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and experts are reminding Illinoisans to be aware of the patterns within bullying. One in …

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is partnering with community groups to interrupt cycles of gun violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL Leaders to Issue Call to Action Over Youth Gun Violence, Mental Health

State and local leaders are joining community groups for a call to action this weekend to draw attention to efforts to support at-risk youth in Illino…

Juvenile detentions dropped dramatically nationwide during the early part of the pandemic, but numbers have bounced back up, especially for African American youth. (Sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

IL Juvenile Justice Groups Press to Raise Age for Pre-trial Detention

Currently, children as young as 10 are held behind bars while awaiting trial in Illinois, and now, juvenile justice reform groups are calling for the …

Experts say mental health is just as important as physical health in a child's ability to thrive. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 213,000 Illinois Kids Struggle with Mental-Health Challenges

Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the mental-health struggles facing Illinois kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released …

In a study of roughly 2,400 students spanning three years, a University of Pittsburgh study found more than a quarter of all Black students faced disciplinary actions for

Advocate: IL Schools Should Adopt Restorative-Justice Policies

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner for Illinois students. As children return to class, one advocate is urging school …

A 2019 report from the Economic Policy Institute found teacher shortages were especially acute in higher-poverty schools. (Adobe Stock)

Union Leaders Push for More Support for Students', Teachers' Mental Health

As the nation processes the horrific shooting in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, teachers' unions across Illinois and America …

A report from the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab compared more than 7,000 OneGoal participants to students from the same communities with similar academic profiles. (Adobe Stock)

IL Program Aims to Boost College Enrollment for Low-Income Students

Students from low-income communities in Illinois have historically faced numerous barriers to higher education, but one Chicago-based program offers …

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Department operates five facilities across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Officials Undercount Incarcerated Kids

A new report revealed in 2019, young people in the United States were locked up in juvenile facilities nearly a quarter million times, and current …

Black students are more likely to be suspended for discretionary reasons such as dress code or hairstyle. (simona/Adobe Stock)

Starting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools

Starting Jan. 1, a law goes into effect banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools. Studies have shown one in five Black women working in …

Advocates for eliminating group-home settings for foster care say they are more expensive per child than in-home placements with families, and lead to worse outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Family Foster Homes, Not Group Homes

CHICAGO -- Group homes and large institutional foster-care settings should be phased out, according to the latest survey of kids in the system…

Black youths are disproportionately impacted by the lack of a minimum age for criminal responsibility in Illinois; 60% to 62% of kids age 10 to 13 who are arrested are Black. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

CHICAGO -- At this week's World Congress on Justice with Children, Illinois experts and researchers shared ways the U.S. could work to get back in …

During his visit to McHenry County Community College, President Joe Biden talked to 200 students and teachers about the importance of investing in child care and education among other things. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Biden Visit to IL Highlights Investments in Community Colleges

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. - President Joe Biden visited McHenry County Community College in Crystal Lake yesterday to promote his economic proposals - for …

Illinois raised the age for charging juveniles as adults in misdemeanor cases in 2009, and for felony cases in 2013. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Fewer IL Youth in Prison Since Raising Criminal-Responsibility Age

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The number of kids and teens behind bars has decreased since Illinois raised the age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18…

Approximately 28% of Illinois kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 42% in 2010. (Darren Baker/Adobe Stock)

IL Child Well-Being Improved in Last Decade, Although Disparities Remain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Child well-being in Illinois was looking up in 2019 compared with 2010, but advocates say the full impact of COVID-19 is yet to …

More than 450 students have completed the Curt's Caf� three-month workforce training and life-skills curriculum. (ibravery/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice reform groups say helping young people with work and life-skills training reduces recidivism more effectively than …

The bill to ban deception in juvenile interrogations was passed unanimously by the Illinois State Senate. (Nick Youngson/Pix4free)

Illinois to Be First to Ban Deception in Interrogations of Juveniles

CHICAGO - Illinois is set to become the first state to prohibit the use of deception by law enforcement in interrogations of juveniles. Laura …

In the last decade, three of the Illinois Youth Center sites have closed. Groups that advocate against youth incarceration want the remaining five facilities to follow suit. (methaphum/Adobe Stock)

Interactive Tool Illustrates Incarceration's Impact on Young People

CLARIFICATION: The name of the organization that developed the tool, Performing Statistics, was added. (1:45 p.m. MST, May 20, 2021) CHICAGO - …

A bill to teach more Asian American history in schools has gained traction in the wake of an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the United States. (Sam Cheng/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Racial-justice advocates are urging the state Senate to pass a bill called the TEAACH Act, making Illinois the first state to …

Juvenile defenders say in-person meetings are critical for building trust and strong relationships with their clients. (ijeab/Adobe Stock)

Report: For Kids, Virtual Court Hearings Put Legal Rights at Risk

CHICAGO -- As courts across the country consider whether to continue holding hearings remotely post-pandemic, juvenile-justice advocates are asking …

In 2019, about 76,000 children were prosecuted in the adult system, and more than 80% of them were racial minorities, according to a report from Human Rights for Kids. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate

CHICAGO -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers will introduce a package of bills to make the way children and teens are treated in the federal cri…

18-year-olds who commit misdemeanors are currently charged in adult court, but a bill seeks to change that. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to juvenile court …

Students with daily school-day tutoring in the Chicago Public Schools were able to progress two to three times faster than their peers. (vlorzor/Adobe Stock)

Report: High School Not Too Late to Improve Student Outcomes

CHICAGO -- As school districts grapple with the pandemic's academic fallout, new research shows intensive in-school tutoring could help bridge the …

In 2020, nearly 60 kids younger than age 13 were detained in the Illinois juvenile-justice system. (cookcountyil.gov)

Report: Too Many IL Kids Detained Pre-Trial During Pandemic

CHICAGO - Illinois criminal-justice reform groups are urging legislative action to keep children and teens out of detention before their trials…

Educators are kicking off Black History Month with a week dedicated to sharing educational resources to fight racial bias and injustice in curricula and schools. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

IL Teachers Join Campaign to Improve Outcomes for Black Students

CHICAGO -- Many Illinois teachers are joining a national campaign this week, called Black Lives Matter At School, to raise awareness about structural …

A human rights report gives Illinois 3.5 points out of 10 for how kids are treated in the criminal-justice system. (AdobeStock)

Report: IL Out of Step on Juvenile-Justice Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Advocates say Illinois and many other states are out of step with other developed countries when it comes to the treatment of …

More than 18,000 children in Illinois are waiting to be adopted. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Celebrates Forever Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Like many other observances in 2020, Adoption Awareness Month in Illinois is taking place in the virtual world. Throughout the …

Chicago-area high school students are phone-banking from home as part of a get-out-the-vote effort. (Adobe Stock)

Chicago High Schoolers Educate Voters on Civic Duty

CHICAGO -- While they can't legally cast a ballot themselves yet, dozens of Illinois high school students are working to ensure that people of voting …

In Illinois, Black men ages 18 to 24 are nine times more likely to be jailed than their white peers. (Adobe Stock)

Criminal Justice Report: 18-Year-Olds Don't Belong in Adult Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A new report puts some weight behind arguments that young adults should not be prosecuted in adult court in Illinois. The …

Pre-trial juvenile detentions in Illinois fell 19% between March and April. (AdobeStock)

Data Shows Dozens of Pre-Teen Illinois Kids Detained in 2020

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice advocates say Illinois is failing its children by allowing kids as young as 10 years old to be locked-up …

Should instructors be allowed to decide if a course is held in person or online? (AdobeStock)

Illinois Professors: "We're Putting Lives at Risk"

CHICAGO - A coalition of unions representing university and college faculty, staff and graduate workers are questioning the safety of returning to …

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