Item A: Adoption of 2007 Legislative Policies

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VII. Y OUTH A.EDUCATION FUNDING A quality public education system is a universal benefit to the civic well-being of the entire state, and is linked to the economic vitality of cities of well-trained and well-educated work forces. Recommendation: The City supports a bipartisan, adequate and sustainable funding policy for Oregon’s 1. public education system. B. AFTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAMS Reliable data indicates that students are safer at school than away from school and that the majority of juvenile crime occurs in the afternoon hours immediately after the close of school when many youth are unsupervised. Juveniles who are engaged in positive activities such as sports, arts, clubs, and homework, especially when those activities involve contact with caring adults, are less likely to go astray. There is conclusive evidence that young people in Oregon who participate in after school programs generally make healthier choices for themselves (less tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use), have higher school performance (fewer suspensions, absences, higher grade point averages) and have lower incidence of juvenile crime or violent tendencies. Local resources available for after school programs have been severely reduced due to recent local property tax reductions, but the need has increased. Recommendation: 1. Support legislation that provides for quality after school and school-break programs, mentoring, community schools and other coordinated prevention programs for youth, children and families. Specifically, support funding for a pilot program to provide grants to smaller Oregon communities to initiate or expand such programs. City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2007 Session With IGR Mtg 10/17 and 10/26 Amendments C:\Documents and Settings\ceexelf\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK10B\LegPol2007Sesxx1.doc Updated on: 11/6/2006 By: Last saved by ceexmfw 55