In recent years, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and educational institutions have shown an interest in the federal government increasing financial support to individuals who pursue training and postsecondary education in non-degree instructional and work-based learning programs. This report provides an overview of existing federal programs…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "The Census Effect." Contents include: (1) The 2020 Census is Here -- Schools…

Official poverty statistics have been criticized, however, for being based on an outdated measure of poverty (Blank, 2008; Citro and Michael, 1995). First put into use in the 1960s, the official poverty measure's (OPM) concept of needs has been updated for inflation but still reflects the living standards, family budgets, and family structures of…

This tool was prepared for the Early Learning Challenge (ELC) States that attended the Peer Learning Exchange, "Financing and Sustaining Quality Programs and Systems," in October 2017. This Peer Learning Exchange was a collaborative effort by Early Learning Challenge Technical Assistance (ELC TA,) Center on Enhancing Early Learning…

To advance the economic and social health of the country, the federal government directs resources to children--the country's future workers, parents, and voters. This helps ensure the well-being of children and helps them develop their potential and future contributions to our common welfare. Federal resources are used to promote the health and…

This volume explores whether the nation's early childhood programs are boosting child development and preparing children for schooling and proposes reforms that would improve the programs. The volume contains contrasting papers on the success of Head Start, Early Head Start, and home-visiting programs and on policies that would improve these three…

This analysis examines the demographics of the special needs population in public and private schools in Oklahoma and estimates the impact on school enrollments providing tax credit funded scholarship grants for special needs students. The author and his colleagues develop a model that shows how the expenditures of Oklahoma's school districts vary…

This report provides basic information about some 140 federal programs and tax provisions affecting children and their families. It contains brief descriptions of each program/tax rule, participation and funding information (to the extent available), and table summaries of selected program characteristics, such as how benefits and services are…

The policy decisions regarding higher education that are now being made will have a profound influence on the future of higher education. The issues boil down to the questions of: who should go to college; who should control colleges; who should pay for colleges; and who should make national policy concerning higher education. What directions…

Research suggests that investing in young children can help build a strong future workforce, improve children's educational success and health, and potentially reduce some of the social ills that drain the nation's resources and will. To have an informed conversation about future investments, it is important to start from an understanding of the…

Because of an increasingly challenging fiscal climate, state lawmakers are faced with making tough financial decisions regarding their early childhood systems. This document describes and examines various funding sources used when making decisions about possible early childhood initiatives combined with policy choices that may be considered in…

Prepared for joint hearings on the impact of the proposed budget cuts on programs affecting children, these background materials describe the main programs which serve children in five general areas. These areas are health services for mothers and children, child nutrition programs, aid to families with dependent children, day care and other child…

The Employment Service (ES) was established by the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933. The act established a nationwide network of state-operated, federally financed employment service offices to match workers to jobs. The following services are performed by the ES: employment counseling, special assistance to target populations, the "work test"…

Utilizing data collected through a national survey of employers, the impact of federal tax credit programs for employers of Work Incentive Program (WIN) participants and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients was assessed. Six major questions were addressed: (1) What differences there were in the use of the WIN and welfare tax…

This guide describes how a person with a disability can work and keep federal benefits, such as Social Security. It is useful for transition planners and disabled youth and their families who need to know how to keep benefits during the transition from school to work. The guide explains work incentives and provides an overview of Social Security…