These results come from an analysis of data collected by students as part of a “Teen Road Safety Assessment” initiative (Teen RSA), led by FCCLA and funded by State Farm to empower youth to take an active role in advocating for traffic safety in and around their schools.

More than 1,000 students in 71 schools in 22 states across the country conducted Teen RSAs last school year to examine potential roadway and intersection dangers near their schools and reported their results to FCCLA. The results show that youth feel roadway safety measures need to be taken in communities across the nation now.

Highlights of the report findings include:

• 40% of schools reported that their school pedestrian crosswalks were not painted properly (29 out of 71)
• 47% of schools reported that their crosswalk signals did not allow an adequate amount of time to safely cross the street (34 out of 71)
• Only 9% of schools reported having crossing guards at intersections (7 out of 71)
• Only 19% of areas near schools were properly marked as school zone areas (14 out of 71)

“Engaging with youth about road safety is imperative to ensuring that students feel safe as they prepare for the start of the 2017-2018 school year,” said Sandra Spavone, executive director of FCCLA. “Now that these students have observed first-hand the potential dangers at these intersections, they are asking their communities to protect them by making the intersections safer.”

One such example comes from Union High School in the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. After conducting an RSA, the local FCCLA chapter used the information they collected to advocate for infrastructure change. As a direct result of these student-led efforts, installation of a roundabout near their school was completed last week, just in time for the new school year.

“Conducting the Teen RSA reinforced what we thought to be a safety issue impacting our community,” said Madison Collins (17), high school student and president of the Union High School FCCLA chapter. “We had several traffic challenges that needed to be addressed near our school that resulted in a very dangerous, high-risk area for students, parents, and buses full of children.”

After months of additional research and outreach, students at Union High School felt that they were able to demonstrate that their community met federal guidelines for a new traffic solution near their school. Virginia Department of Transportation representatives, who were helping the students with their project, were able to find funding for, design, and construct an affordable traffic infrastructure solution: a roundabout.

“I’m proud to say that students in Big Stone Gap, VA, are heading back to school this year with new traffic safety infrastructure in place to help keep our community safe,” said Collins. “We have already been working to educate the students and the public about how to safely navigate the new roundabout.”

As part of the Teen RSAs, students worked with their local State Farm agents, law enforcement, and members of their community to observe and track details such as the number of lanes on the roadways near their schools; adherence of the speed limit; crosswalk safety, including lighting and pavement conditions; pedestrian countdown signals; seat belt use of passing motorists and passengers; and hand-held cell phone use and other distractions of drivers.

“We are always seeking ways to ensure the safety of families sharing the roads, especially traveling to school,” said Lisa Joyce, Public Affairs Specialist with State Farm. “The teen road safety assessments have encouraged connections between local youth and State Farm agents at the grassroots level to help make teens and their family members safer drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”

To follow the Teen RSA initiative on social media, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter using the handle @nationalfccla and search for #TeenRSA.

An electronic version of this press release as well as additional information on the Teen RSA program can be found at http://fcclainc.org/programs/teenRSA/.

“I used to take my toys apart. While I did put the pieces back together…it still freaked my parents out,” she said.

Behind this innocent destruction was destiny. With each doll, truck, and train    Dominque disassembled, she built something else…her engineering skills.

“I’m fascinated by this profession,” she said. “At a young age, I decided I wanted to learn about engineering and nothing was going to stop me.”

In high school, Dominique joined the Arizona Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program. The organization, supported by State Farm, gets students involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, while teaching them about careers in these fields.

“STEM is all around us,” said State Farm Senior IT Architect Ines Halloran. “Our mission is to engage with universities and high schools to build a pipeline of future IT talent.”

So, how does peanut butter and jelly fit in?

During a CSO institute, State Farm volunteers used a childhood favorite – the PB&J, to demonstrate the importance of algorithms.

“It’s a step by step process,” said Dominique. “This was an awesome way to explain programming basics. It made us think about a simple process in a thorough, innovative way.”

Students plotted the steps needed to build the perfect PB&J, then shared their algorithms with volunteers – who played the role of a computer. If the algorithm made sense, then the computer (a.k.a., the volunteers), would be able to create this end result:

Students like Clay Hauser and Calvin Rowell say the peanut butter and jelly challenge proves STEM is rooted in everyday life, no matter who you are or where you work.

“It’s not just for scientists with doctorate degrees or highly trained medical professionals,” said Calvin. “Sometimes the most influential workers are those with technical degrees, teaching degrees, musicians, actors. If you want to make something even better, STEM can help.”

From Peanut Butter to Brain Power

The CSO program spans beyond peanut butter and jelly – from classroom to community success. Its unique learning opportunities  inspired CSO students to start after-school STEM clubs, take part in  science festivals, host innovative workshops, and network with State Farm IT employees.

This work has been recognized throughout the country, including the nation’s capital.

By exposing students to new ways of thinking, the CSO program hopes   to develop a diverse talent pool of future STEM leaders.

“I have worked with hundreds, maybe thousands of IT professionals over my 26 year career, and the differentiator is passion and determination to succeed.” said Halloran.

And as for Dominique? The CSO program has inspired her to pursue her passion of becoming a mechanical engineer.

“Right now, it’s a male dominated field, but this program proves gender doesn’t matter when it comes to success,” she said. “If your heart wants to experiment with science, robots or video games – do it. The CSO program taught me anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”

Just like learning to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...it’s a   simple lesson, with a satisfying result.

Fourth grade teacher Kelly Harper knows those six words can evoke these sounds from students: cheers and squeals...and moans and groans. Antonio King used to be part of her groaning section.

"I couldn’t stand to read,” he said. “All those pages and words - it was annoying. I wanted to be outside, scoring soccer goals.” But Ms. Harper had different goals in mind for the nine-year-old. “I told him, you don’t like to read, because you haven’t found the right book. Once you find it, you won’t want to put it down. Read to succeed.”

Birthday Bash & Books

As luck would have it, Antonio learned the value of his teacher’s words during a special celebration held for his fourth grade class. “It was called the Reading Is Fundamental 50^th birthday party - and it was so cool,” he smiled.

Reading Is Fundamental or RIF, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving youth literacy. Founded in 1966, its goal is simple: give books to kids. “When RIF turned 50, the organization selected our class at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School to help celebrate this milestone,” said Ms. Harper. “We had books, cake, and music. The students absolutely loved it.”

State Farm, a proud partner of RIF also took part in the celebration. While there, it awarded the school with a grant to support its literacy efforts. “The party was perfect,” said Antonio. “I began to see that knowing how to read, helps you be successful.”In the days following the party, Antonio approached his teacher and asked:

“May I start a book club?”

Those six words, evoked this response from Ms. Harper: “I almost choked on my coffee! I said, what??? Of course you can!!” The pair immediately got to work - finding a time for students to meet, and picking out books for the club to read.

“Antonio leads the group,” Ms. Harper smiled. “And he found the right books. I know this because he can’t put them down.”

“I like Harry Potter, Robin Hood and Harriet Tubman,” he said.

A New Chapter

Antonio’s book club gathers once a week in Ms. Harper’s classroom – during recess. And doesn’t mind exchanging his soccer time for quiet time.

“It’s okay, because reading takes me on a different adventure,” he said. “When I read, I get to be the character in the book. I get to be like Robin Hood!”

“I helped Antonio create a pacing guide to keep book club members on track and engaged. I’m so proud of him, and the students in my class,” said Ms. Harper. “I’ve always believed you read to succeed. Because of RIF, and the support of State Farm, it’s now a reality for these students.”

And with each story he starts and finishes…Antonio sums up his literacy adventure with the six words a teacher loves to hear: 

“Reading is now my favorite subject.”

Bloomington, Illinois (October 21, 2016) – State Farm is introducing a new coverage endorsement in several states to help fill insurance gaps for its policyholders who use their personal cars to provide rides for a Transportation Network Company (TNC), like Uber and Lyft. The TNC industry is rapidly changing the livery/taxi industry by using the latest mobile technology to facilitate rides for hire. With these new transportation services in the marketplace, drivers are exposed to new risks.

Insurance provided by TNCs may be limited in scope and coverage. Personal auto policies generally do not extend coverage to the use of personal cars as taxis or livery vehicles, including their use in TNC services.

To adapt to changing customer needs, beginning Monday, October 21, 2016, State Farm will offer a Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage endorsement in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia.

The effective date for new and renewal for all states except GA: October 21, 2016. The effective date for new and renewal for GA: November 21, 2016

Ten jurisdictions obtained the endorsement earlier this year: Alabama, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin .

"Adapting and innovating to our customers' changing needs is critical," said Vicki Harper, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. "This new product is an example of our commitment to our customers and provides them coverage, and peace of mind, when they use their personal cars to provide TNC services."

TNCs may provide high liability coverage limits while a paying passenger occupies the driver's vehicle or when the driver has been connected with a passenger and is on the way to pick that person up. But TNCs tend to provide a much lower limit of liability coverage when drivers are just available for hire and may not provide the drivers with any medical payments, comprehensive, or collision coverages at all. The TNCs may not be providing coverage for injuries to the driver or coverage for any damage to the driver's personal car.

The new, optional State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement enables a policyholder to have his/her personal auto policy fill in the coverage gaps left by TNC-provided insurance. This cost-effective endorsement provides the driver with the full liability coverage limits carried on his/her auto policy during the period of time when the driver is available for hire, and provides the driver with all other coverages applicable to his/her auto policy during all periods of TNC driving.

Customers in these states who drive for a TNC should contact their local State Farm agent to learn more about the new State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement.