Hour of Code Kicks off Today - Check it Out!

The Hour of Code is here. We’re supporting this unprecedented movement to help 10 million students (and adults) try computer science during Dec. 9-15, and asking you to join. This is an opportunity to help today’s generation of students not just consume the technologies of tomorrow, but build them. Code.orgwill provide tutorials that work on any browser, tablet, smartphone, or with no computers at all. No prep or experience needed. Check out the tutorials, and get started at hourofcode.com.

While Data Is Not Destiny, Many Girls Are Falling Behind in America

Although girls in the United States have made substantial progress in the classroom and elsewhere, persistent disparities and challenges exist that could keep many girls from achieving their full potential. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina girls are far more likely than their white counterparts to face an array of socioeconomic hurdles that range from growing up in poverty or a low-income household to dropping out of school and struggling with obesity, according to a report released today by the Girl Scout Research Institute.

The State of Girls: Unfinished Business charts the often-vast disparities that cleave the girl experience along racial and ethnic lines. For example, the report finds that poverty rates among black/African American, Hispanic/Latina, and Native American girls ages 5 to 17 are more than twice that of white and Asian American girls. In the United States today, 21 percent of all girls live in poverty, and the rates are higher for black/African American girls (37 percent), Hispanic/Latina girls (33 percent), and American Indian/Alaska Native girls (34 percent), as compared to white girls (12 percent).

“These findings should be a wakeup call for all of us,” said Anna Maria Chávez, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We can’t afford to have separate experiences for girls based on race, ethnicity, and social class. For over one hundred years, Girl Scouts has been there for all girls, and we are now more committed than ever to lifting up any girl that is falling behind. There is a new emerging majority in this country, and Girl Scouts is set to take the lead in ensuring that all girls have equal opportunities.”

Indeed, The State of Girls documents the fact that girls are now more likely than boys to graduate from high school and that the teen birthrate has reached its lowest recorded levels. Yet when researchers looked at the differences among girls in terms of race and ethnicity, it became clear that white girls fare much better than black/African American and Hispanic/Latina girls.

Many girls have low reading and math proficiency, but when race is factored in, disparities in education are overwhelming. Eight out of 10 black/African American and Hispanic/Latina girls are considered “below proficient” in reading by fourth grade, whereas 5 out of 10 white girls are considered “below proficient” in reading by fourth grade.

Obesity rates are high for girls. Nearly half of black/African American (44 percent) and Hispanic/Latina (41 percent) girls ages 5 to 17 are overweight or obese, as compared to 26 percent of white girls. Girls also struggle with emotional health. Thirty-four percent of high school girls had self-reported symptoms of depression during the past year. This percentage is highest for black/African American girls. Six out of 10 black/African American girls report symptoms of depression.

“The key to keep in mind, though, is that data is not destiny,” said Judy Schoenberg, a lead researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute. “As a society we can do something about this. At Girl Scouts of the USA, we are doing something about this, and will continue to develop programs that meet the needs of all today’s girls.”

In addition to the disparities among racial and ethnic groups, the report also documents the changing demographics among American girls. In 2000, 62 percent of all girls ages 5 to 17 were white. By 2010, that proportion had decreased to 54 percent, and it is projected to continue to decrease to 47 percent by 2030. Meanwhile, the Hispanic/Latina girl population has grown steadily. In 2000, 16 percent of the girl population ages 5 to 17 was Hispanic/Latina. In 2010, that proportion had grown to 22 percent and is projected to reach 31 percent in 2030. The current white majority is expected to be less than half of all girls (47 percent) by 2030.

“Girl Scouts offers all girls the opportunity to obtain skills in an environment that is supportive and encouraging," says Chávez. "Our programs in healthy living, financial literacy, STEM, and leadership give girls skills they need to succeed in life."

Written in conjunction with the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., The State of Girls: Unfinished Businessis the first report of its kind to focus exclusively on girls, and it paints a detailed picture of the social and economic lives that the 26 million American girls ages 5 to 17 lead today. The report draws its findings from analyses of large national data sets, including the U.S. Census.

Girls can…

Girls can change the world. Girls are powerful. Girls should have the same opportunities as boys.

We know it’s true. But if you type the words “Girls can” into Google, you might be surprised at what queries top the list of suggested searches.

We thought we’d put our own spin on the recent UN Women campaign highlighting the negative results you get when you type “women shouldn’t,” “women need to,” “women cannot,” and “women should” into the search box and the most popular queries pop up.

Instead of highlighting negative stereotypes about girls and women that often pop up in searches, we’ve created a few graphics that highlight the power of girls and show what we’d like to see.

These are just some of the options. How would you fill in the blanks?

Girl Scouts of the USA Thanksgiving Message 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from Girl Scouts of the USA, with some help from Troop 2702 in Brooklyn, New York.

Watch! U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios Talks 2013 Girl Scouts of the USA Commemorative Coin

Give the Gift of Girls’ History this Holiday Season

Tired of giving meaningless shiny baubles that just get tossed? Here’s a fresh gift idea that inspires and pays tribute to a piece of history—give the Girls Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar. For the first time ever, the Girl Scouts has a commemorative coin, issued this year by the United States Mint, and the first dedicated to a girls’ organization. The commemorative coin is a great gift idea for the 2013 holiday season as it is winning choice for girls, Girl Scout alumnae, coin collectors, and lovers of unique historical collectibles. President Obama signed the legislation authorizing minting of the coin after passage in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

This beautiful coin features three girls of different ages and backgrounds on the heads side, and on the reverse side it shows the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary logo, along with the inscription COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER (from the Girl Scouts mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place”). See more about the coin at www.fchiase.com.

The Girls Scouts of the USA Centennial Silver Dollar is available now while supplies last. Place your order by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) or order online at www.usmint.gov.

Support the future of Girl Scouts while also giving a piece of history. The Girl Scouts of the USA will receive a $10 surcharge (already included) from your purchase for national program development and delivery.

Action is Needed Now

Yesterday, Girl Scouts of the USA joined with more than 200 front-line nonprofit and charitable sector leaders in Washington, D.C., to warn members of Congress of the cascading consequences that could be set off by harmful limitations to the charitable tax deduction. The Charitable Giving Coalition – a group of more than 60 nonprofits, foundations and other charitable organizations – represents a growing chorus of people from throughout America delivering a clear message to lawmakers – “I am the charitable deduction” – and sharing real-life examples about the impact of charities and the ripple effects of the charitable sector at work in communities every day.

To that end, interested people are urged to sign this petition.

The Girl Scouts Advocacy Network provides a tool for you to become a voice for girls and to make a difference in your community and across the nation. Together, we can educate policymakers and community leaders on issues that directly affect girls and the Girl Scouts. By being an advocate, you will have an impact on girl policy issues moving through Congress and state legislatures.