Via the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus newsletter
Truancy: According to the interim evaluation of Project KEY (Keep Engaging Youth) by Community Research Partners, 199 students from the six pilot schools went through mediation by March 31 because of five or more unexcused absences. Ninetynine (50%) attained the goal of no unexcused absences for 30 days and 54 (27%) had two or more 30-day periods without unexcused absences. The percent decrease of unexcused absences in the target schools ranged from 36% to 76%. A final evaluation of Year 1 will include data from comparison schools. Funding has been attained to continue the project for the 2008-2009 school year.
Poverty and the Working Poor: Following BREAD's Nehemiah Action Meeting, all three Franklin County state senators (two Republican, one Democrat) voted for House Bill 545 to STOP the excessive 391% annual interest rate charged by Payday stores. Governor Strickland signed the bill on June 2. It limits borrowers to four shorttermloans a year and caps annual interest rates at 28 percent. The Payday Loan industry is circulating petitions to get a repeal measure on the ballot this November.
