Many welfare programs give greater benefits to unmarried individuals than to a married couple of otherwise identical income. The resulting marriage penalty discourages marriage and rewards single parenthood. Combined marriage penalties across federal and state welfare programs can reach tens of thousands of dollars per year for a given family. One…

The first eight years of life, beginning before birth and continuing through third grade, are a critical developmental period that sets the stage for future success. Research over the past 15 years has demonstrated the importance of high-quality care and education throughout the prenatal-through-third-grade (P-3) continuum, including prenatal and…

Through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) subsidizes child care for low-income families whose parents work or attend education or training programs. In fiscal year 2009, the CCDF budget was $7 billion. States are responsible for determining program priorities and overseeing funds.…

This study, one in a series of qualitative case studies on state and national practices in deinstitutionalization and community integration of people with disabilities, was conducted in 1991-92 and involved semistructured on-site interviews with administrators in the 12 New Hampshire regions. The focus is on two key milestones in the development…

This report describes key policy decisions that have shaped the New Jersey system of higher education during the past third of a century. The study was part of a larger study that aimed at understanding the linkages between policy decisions and higher education performance through comparative case studies of two states in the United States and two…

This guidebook has been developed to support and coordinate efforts across Pennsylvania to increase the connections between farms and schools. It is written for schools and school districts--and especially for food service directors, teachers, administrators, school nurses, and school health and wellness committees. It is also written for farmers…

Recognizing that a crisis exists in engineering education, several state professional engineering societies have taken the lead in identifying and helping to solve problems related to engineering education on a state level. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), believing that NSPE state societies are ideally structured to assume a…

Youth violence and delinquency are problems that continue to challenge many communities across the U.S. For over a decade, Pennsylvania has been a national leader in confronting youth problem behaviors in a progressive and proactive fashion, investing heavily in supporting local community prevention coalitions and the use of proven-effective…

Drawing on lessons from six case studies, this policy paper highlights the most innovative approaches states and communities are currently using to finance preventive and early intervention services as well as more traditional treatment services for young children's mental health. The case studies are based on interviews with policy and program…

This article describes the programs for medical diagnosis of child abuse and neglect in three states and efforts to establish state-wide programs in two states. Findings indicate state funding was vital for initiation of programs, alliances with other groups were successfully used to garner support, and professional training was crucial. (Contains…

The second of two volumes presents descriptive and statistical data collected in a study to determine the impact of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) on special programs for exceptional children in 10 school districts and program development in five institutions. Case studies of the 10 districts give county code designation, date of…

The public school funding lawsuits that have been filed over the last two decades indicate that many people are not satisfied with the existing levels of school funding. After several years of trying to bring about changes through different avenues, a group called Tennessee Small School Systems filed suit in 1988 to have the system of financing…

Contrasts early childhood education policymakers with researchers to explore ways in which these groups differ and the ways in which the media, private foundations, and advocacy groups can facilitate communication among the two groups and the public. The author reviews her experiences in Florida to show how research can help shape policy for young…

In order to achieve the expectations for children's learning stipulated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, greater attention needs to be given to child care policy and funding. This report details a study examining strategies in seven states that have integrated early education program standards in child care, by directly tying standards to…

This book discusses state child care and early childhood education policies, particularly their relationship to the economy. It provides a framework for policymakers who are deliberating child care and early childhood education policies; outlines the range of recent state legislation; describes initiatives of Massachusetts and Washington; and…