Public News Service

Meat-processing facilities have become a flashpoint in the debate over rolling back child labor laws in various states. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Even with WI veto, some fear further weakening of child labor laws

Despite a recent policy victory, Wisconsin labor leaders still express concern about the current environment for shielding young teens from unsafe …

According to the Wisconsin Literacy organization, a child of parents with low literacy is 72% more likely to have low literacy themselves. (Adobe Stock)

In helping people read better, experts tout accessibility, incentives

Even though March is barely underway, parents of Wisconsin kids are being encouraged to plan for summer reading activities - especially if their …

According to the World Resources Institute, more than 1,200 electric school buses are operating in the United States, with several thousand more either on order or being delivered. (Adobe Stock)

Electric bus movement looks to accelerate

Most school and transit buses on the nation's roadways these days are still powered by diesel engines but in Wisconsin and elsewhere, there is hope …

According to the USDA, Wisconsin is among the top ten states for farmers' markets. Officials with a new grant program said it is one reason why the Badger State can serve as a leader in getting more locally grown food into school lunches. (Adobe Stock)

New grants designed to give WI 'farm to school' efforts more muscle

In making school meals healthier, so-called "Farm to School" programs are nothing new but Wisconsin might see the efforts reach new heights with a …

According to the advocacy group Kids in Danger, there were 100 children's product recalls in 2022, the highest number since 2013. (Adobe Stock/Generated with AI)

Did your child receive a 'smart toy'? Experts urge parents to research them

The "smart toy" market is now a more than $16 billion industry, and is expected to double by 2027, and this holiday season, experts are warning …

Just like community libraries, Wisconsin's school libraries blend traditional reading with technology. The Wisconsin Schools Digital Library Consortium says more than 200 K-12 school districts provide more 50,000 e-books and audiobooks to over 400,000 kids, for $1.65 per student. (Adobe Stock)

School libraries no longer just defined by Dewey Decimal System

American Education Week is underway, and those who work with Wisconsin school libraries are highlighting the value they provide to students. School …

Conservative-linked groups such as Moms for Liberty have established local chapters in states such as Wisconsin in hopes of getting more supporters elected to school boards. But education observers say voters have had a lukewarm response to the movement. (Adobe Stock)

As other states mull results, recruiting starts for WI school board candidates

While many other states analyze school board races from this week, Wisconsin candidates will soon begin filing paperwork for elections next spring…

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says nationwide, up to 600,000 eligible people would be turned away from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children under a spending proposal from House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

WI Families Could See 'Double Whammy' From Budget Policies

Congress is again steeped in a looming budget crisis as lawmakers face a deadline to approve a new government spending plan. In Wisconsin, policy …

According to the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, more than half a million children have been disenrolled from Medicaid in just 21 states that post child enrollment data on a more-timely basis. (Adobe Stock)

WI Kids Losing Health Coverage in Medicaid Unwinding

As Wisconsin kids head back to school, families who rely on Medicaid are reminded to ensure their children still have health insurance. States are …

Health equity groups said dental therapists can go out into settings like schools and federally qualified community health centers, and provided much-needed oral health care to underserved populations. (Adobe Stock)

Dental Therapists Touted as Key to Advancing Dental Care Equity

The term "food deserts" is used a lot in the fight against hunger, but groups calling attention to the shortage of oral health care professionals say …

In key categories measuring child well-being, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top 20 states in an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Despite High Ranking, Child Well-Being Concerns Persist in WI

An annual report measuring child well-being in the U.S. said several benchmarks have worsened overall. States like Wisconsin fared better in the …

Wisconsin is among the handful of states that have yet to formally adopt expanded postpartum health coverage through Medicaid. So far, nearly 40 states have done so. (Adobe Stock)

WI Budget: Renewed Push to Include Expanded Postpartum Health Care

Wisconsin policymakers have less than a month to adopt a new state budget. Advocates for extending postpartum health coverage through Medicaid hope …

In the past two years, 12 states saw significant declines in their rate and/or number of uninsured children. Wisconsin held steady at 4%. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Stable Numbers for WI, Concerns Linger Over Kids' Uninsured Rate

A new report found Wisconsin is holding the line in preventing children from going without health insurance, but advocates for families who qualify …

Children ages 5 to 17 miss nearly two million school days in a single year due to dental-health problems, according to the Healthy Schools Campaign. (teeth.org.au)

Health Screenings Seen as Important Factor for Student Success

School students across Wisconsin are still getting settled as the new academic year unfolds. And experts say it's important to get them in for a …

Mental health providers have reported a sharp rise in needs for services among children. And in states such as Wisconsin, analysts say it is even more pronounced among children of color. (Adobe Stock)

WI Child Well-Being Summary: Glaring Mental-Health Disparities

An annual summary ranks Wisconsin 10th in the nation for child well-being, and like many other parts of the country, mental health is a growing …

In an April 2021 Pew Research Center poll, more than 40% of parents said they thought their child was

Education Leaders, Kids' Health Advocates Want Social-Media Reform

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and some education leaders and medical experts are urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring …

Doctors, judges, juries and law enforcement have rejected a dozen child abuse diagnoses made by former University of Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Barbara Knox, a joint investigation by Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News revealed. (Claire DeRosa/Wisconsin Watch and University of Wisconsin)

Investigation Reveals Numerous Wrongful Child-Abuse Allegations by WI Expert

By Brenda Wintrode for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Serv…

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, located in Irma, will be repurposed into a new adult facility. (Adobe Stock)

Closure of Controversial WI Youth Prisons on Horizon

Wisconsin legislators passed a bipartisan agreement this month to build a replacement for the controversial Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prison…

Ros Pilarz and Anna Markowitz presented their research to lawmakers Tuesday, as part of UW-Madison's Family Impact Seminar program, which connects researchers and lawmakers to tackle pressing public policy issues. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Mull How to Meet WI's Child-Care Issues

The pandemic has exacerbated long-standing issues in Wisconsin's child care infrastructure, and experts are weighing how to restructure the system to …

Excessive exposure to screens and the blue light they emit can impact kids' sleeping patterns. Per Wisconsin's Office of Children's Mental Health, kids aged 6-12 should sleep nine to 12 hours a night, and teens should get at least eight hours. (Adobe Stock)

As WI Schools Integrate New Tech, Experts Advise Managing Screen Time

The pandemic has compelled many teachers to integrate new technology into their lesson plans, increasing the risks excessive screen time can pose to …

The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act temporarily increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 annually to a maximum of $3,600 per child. (Adobe Stock)

UW Expert: Child Tax Credit End Could Be 'Devastating' for WI Families

Wisconsin families may have received their last Child Tax Credit payment for a while, as Congress has missed its year-end deadline to pass President …

Human service providers say even after a foster contract has been fulfilled, maintaining connections with kids who have aged out of the system can provide much-needed stability as they move into adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Making the Holiday Season Brighter for Foster Kids Entering Adulthood

MILWAUKEE - With the holidays here, Wisconsin foster families and other mentors are encouraged to maintain close connections with older teens no …

Wisconsin's Black infant mortality rate is the highest in the country. Backers of the Build Back Better Act say it's one priority the legislation could address. (Adobe Stock)

Report: BBB Could Help with Maternal Care Needs in WI

MADISON, Wis. - As Congress debates the Build Back Better plan, a new report shows how it could address health coverage needs for children and …

A new report says the onset of the pandemic saw a drop of nearly 60% in children's visits to U.S. pediatricians. (Adobe Stock)

Pediatricians: Families Should Dust Off Their Wellness Visit Calendars

APPLETON, Wis. - The pandemic paused many facets of life, and a new report says wellness checkups for children were among them. With school resuming …

The expanded Child Tax Credit will give families an advance on half the sum through monthly payments through December. The rest can be claimed when taxes are filed next spring. (Adobe Stock)

Budget Stabilizer: Child Tax Credit Payments Arrive for WI Families

MADISON, Wis. -- The federal government today begins issuing monthly payments under the expanded Child Tax Credit. Advocates for working families in …

An annual child well-being report gives Wisconsin high marks for economic stability and health, but racial gaps persist. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Concerns Surround WI Child Well-Being Report

MADISON, Wis. -- Before the pandemic, Wisconsin was mostly faring well in providing positive outcomes for children, but an annual wellbeing report …

Federal education officials say Wisconsin Republicans need to commit more state-level aid, or risk losing federal COVID relief dollars for schools. (Adobe Stock)

K-12 Funding Emerges as Big Concern in WI Budget Talks

MADISON, Wis. - Public-school advocates say they're alarmed about the education spending levels being floated in the Wisconsin Legislature - and one …

As they look to prevent child abuse, outreach officials in Wisconsin say social isolation and distance learning are among the ways parents are feeling added stress right now. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Child Abuse by Building Stronger Families

MADISON, Wis. -- Building stronger families is a core message being stressed in Wisconsin as part of child-abuse prevention efforts. Those doing …

A nonpartisan analysis says if Wisconsin were to expand Medicaid, it could result in more than $1 billion in savings for the state over the next two years. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Uninsured Rate for Kids Growing Faster in Certain States

MADISON, Wis. -- A new report shows states that have resisted Medicaid expansion are putting kids at risk because not as many families are accessing …

A new national report sheds light on the added struggles vulnerable families are facing during the crisis, including Wisconsin households with children. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Fallout Creates 'Basic Needs' Pressure for WI Families

MADISON, Wis. -- Meeting basic needs is something out of reach for many Wisconsin families because of the pandemic. The challenges facing households …

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis is one of 57 faith leaders in Wisconsin to sign a letter organized by a national faith group, demanding the Trump administration end policies that are viewed as harmful to immigrant children. (Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice)

WI Faith Leaders Join Call for Changes to Immigration Policy

MADISON, Wis. -- Faith leaders from across the country say it's time for the U.S. to end what they call inhumane treatment of immigrants and their …

In Wisconsin, according to a new report, the gap between students and teachers of color rose from about 19 percentage points in 2009 to 25 points in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WI Woefully Lacking Teachers of Color

ARCADIA, Wis. -- Wisconsin's public school student population has become more racially diverse, but its teacher workforce still is mostly White…

In addition to Monday's school board vote, the Madison City Council is expected to formally endorse a decision to no longer have city police officers patrol school buildings. (Adobe Stock)

Madison District Joins Movement to Remove Police from Schools

MADISON, Wis. -- One of Wisconsin's largest school districts has decided to stop having police officers stationed inside its school buildings…

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says it expects schools to reopen this fall, but parents and students can expect things to look very different after of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Can Wisconsin Schools Afford to Reopen Safely?

MADISON, Wis. -- Parents and educators face uncertainty over the potential reopening of school buildings closed because of the pandemic. Wisconsin …

Nationwide, an estimated 27 million people in the United States have lost their jobs - and therefore their health insurance - during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

WI Families Aren't Seeking Public Insurance Aid During Crisis

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's jobless rate sits at 12% in the economic fallout caused by COVID-19. Health insurance gaps are expected, including for …

Census officials say undercounting of young children has been an issue for decades, and fear it could be a bigger problem for the 2020 count. (Adobe Stock)

Early-Childhood Funding Vital in Counting All WI Kids

MADISON, Wis. -- Outreach groups for the 2020 census count say Wisconsin relies heavily on federal funding for early-childhood education. They say …

Education accounts for one-third of general revenue spending in Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WI Budget Fallout Could Harm Lower-Income Schools

MILWAUKEE -- If Wisconsin policymakers freeze or cut education spending amid the coronavirus budget fallout, lower-income districts might shoulder …

The Federal Communications Commission says roughly a half-million Wisconsin residents lack access to high-speed internet. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Underscores Wisconsin's Broadband Woes

MADISON, Wis. - Like other states, Wisconsin is trying to function during the pandemic with workers and students connecting online in their homes…

A new report says Latinx and white children, and children under age six, are among the groups that saw the biggest increases in loss of health insurance from 2016 to 2018. (Gtorres8944stash/Morguefile)

Number of WI Uninsured Children Holds Steady, but Just Barely

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin saw a slight increase in the number of uninsured children between 2016 and 2018. And according to a new report…

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos kicked off her 2019 Back-to-School Tour at St. Marcus Lutheran School, which serves 900 students. The administration touts the school as home of the first-ever education freedom program. (Pixabay)

Wisconsin Parents Urge DeVos to "Care" About Public Education

MADISON, Wis. — During Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' recent visit to a Milwaukee voucher school, public-school supporters showed up to …

The American Heart Association and others are confirming that, yes, we learn better and think more clearly after a good night's sleep. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors Confirm Mom’s Wisdom: ‘Get to Bed, It's a School Night’

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – With school back in session, doctors are saying, “Well, your mom is right – time to turn the phone off and get to …

A shortage of substitute teachers is one of the biggest challenges facing Wisconsin school districts in the 2019-2020 term. (StockSnap)

Wisconsin School Districts Scramble to Find Substitute Teachers

MADISON, Wis. – Just days into the new school year, many Wisconsin districts are already dealing with a serious shortage of substitute teachers…

Wisconsin ranks 13th overall in the nation for children's well-being, and a new report says it's in desperate need of federal funds to help address the disparities faced by children of color. (cherylholt/Pixabay)

Progress for Wisconsin's Children Stalls, Worse for Kids of Color

MADISON, Wis. — The well-being of children in Wisconsin has gotten worse since 2010, according to the new 2019 Kids Count Data Book by the …

States across the country are driving the trend of placing a higher percentage of children in foster care with families. (jess2284/Flickr)

Wisconsin Sees Rise in Finding Families for Foster Kids

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin is making a big effort to keep foster kids in family settings, with a 5% improvement over a 10-year period, according …

Wisconsin is among the 19 states with partial Medicaid expansion. (vjohns1580/Pixabay)

Report: Wisconsin Loses Gains in Kids' Health Coverage

MADISON, Wis. – For the first time in a decade, the number of children without health coverage in the United States has gone up. According to …

A new report suggests under-employment keeps thousands of Wisconsinites living below the poverty line. (Pixabay)

Study: Poverty Rate Lower, But Many in Wisconsin Still Struggle

MADISON, Wis. — A new report shows the poverty rate in Wisconsin was at 11.3 percent in 2017, which is down slightly from the previous year and …

More than textbooks and apples come to mind as the Wisconsin school year begins. Local law enforcement is researching ways to beef up school security. (Pixabay)

New Mapping Technology Could Make WI Schools Safer

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Emergency-response timing is key in 'active shooter' situations, and Wisconsin is examining new technology to get emergency …

Poverty affects an estimated 200,000 children in Wisconsin. (StockSnap)

Census Count: Report Warns WI Kids Could be Missed

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin is doing well by its kids, ranked 12th overall in the new 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today. The Annie E…

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