SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 51

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LAMPE (Sponsor), NASHEED, McNEIL, WEBBER, HODGES, McDONALD, KIRKTON, STILL, McCANN BEATTY, NICHOLS, PIERSON, MORGAN, WALTON GRAY, HUBBARD, PACE, MAY, ELLINGTON, RIZZO, MONTECILLO, ATKINS, OXFORD, SCHUPP, HOUGH, FALLERT, CASEY, CARTER, KELLY (24), HOLSMAN, ELLINGER, BLACK, BROWN (50), COLONA, TAYLOR, SWINGER, McMANUS, QUINN, TALBOY AND SIFTON (Co-sponsors).

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            WHEREAS, the children of Missouri are our future and will provide the leadership, creativity, and productivity to strengthen and sustain the quality of life in our state; and

            WHEREAS, the State of Missouri has the responsibility for ensuring that our children have every possible opportunity for school and future success; and

            WHEREAS, each student in Missouri deserves to be challenged academically and prepared for college, meaningful employment in our global economy, and lifelong success; and

            WHEREAS, each student in Missouri deserves to be actively engaged in learning and connected to the school and broader community; and

            WHEREAS, each student in Missouri deserves to be supported by qualified, caring adults and receive access to personalized learning; and

            WHEREAS, each student in Missouri deserves to learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle; and

            WHEREAS, each student in Missouri deserves to learn in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe; and

            WHEREAS, the consequences of not ensuring our young people are challenged, engaged, supported, healthy, and safe are clear; and

            WHEREAS, nearly 20,500 students did not graduate from Missouri's high schools in 2009, with lost lifetime earnings for that class alone totaling more than $5.3 billion according to the Alliance for Excellent Education; and

            WHEREAS, Missouri spends over $53 million each year to provide community college remediation education for recent high school graduates who did not acquire the basic skills necessary to succeed in college or at work; and

            WHEREAS, the percentage of Missouri children living in poverty has increased from approximately 15% in 2005 to nearly 20% in 2009; and

            WHEREAS, Missouri's obesity rates have increased 13.4% over 10 years; and

            WHEREAS, research indicates that more than 20% of students report there is no adult at their school who cares about them or knows them well; and

            WHEREAS, 23% of public schools reported that bullying occurred among students on a daily or weekly basis during the 2009-2010 school year, according to the 2011 Indicators of School Crime and Safety report:

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby:

            (1) Recognize the month of March as "Missouri Whole Child Month" in Missouri; and

            (2) Recognize the value of assuring that each student is challenged, engaged, supported, healthy, and safe; and

            (3) Encourage parents, educators, and community members to support a whole child approach to education for each student; and

            (4) Encourage every Missouri school to celebrate Whole Child Month by identifying at least one of the whole child tenets to promote and encourage throughout the month; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each school district in this state.

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