ProGov21 Policy Library

The New Math on School Finance: Adding Up the First-Ever Disclosure of Corporate Tax Abatements’ Cost to Public Education

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town, State, School District

State(s) All States

Source Good Jobs First

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Education

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 77 requires most state and local government bodies, including school districts, to annually disclose the costs of corporate tax abatements. As a result of the new rule, thousands of America’s public school districts are...

The Anchor Dashboard: Aligning Institutional Practice to Meet Low-Income Community Needs

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level County

State(s) All States

Source The Democracy Collaborative

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Education, Health, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Children & Families

Anchor institutions are place-based entities such as universities and hospitals that are tied to their surroundings by mission, invested capital, or relationships to customers, employees, and vendors. These local human and economic relationships link institution well-being to that...

Child Care Teachers Are Essential Workers—Let’s Treat Them That Way

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2020

Level County, State

State(s) All States

Source Center for the Study of Child Care Employment

Policy Areas Children & Families, Economic Justice, Education, Health, Public Safety

During the COVID-19 pandemic, early educators are being asked to serve children of other essential workers without the appropriate pay, health care, and personal protective equipment (PPE) or recognition that should come with risking their lives. This infographic outlines the risks...

The True Cost of Private School Voucher Programs

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level State

State(s) All States

Source Education Law Center

Policy Areas Education

Private school vouchers divert tax dollars away from public schools to subsidize the tuition of private and religious schools, simultaneously removing money from public schools and increasing costs for taxpayers. This fact sheet details how the ever-increasing cost of these programs...

Leaders At Many Levels: Improving Schools Through Collaboration In Ohio

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2009

Level City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Education

Students are better served when educators work together. Through a series of interviews, this report shows that teachers are ready to begin working together, but they cannot without the support of Ohio's government. This report also suggest steps Ohio's policymakers can take to foster...

Reopening Schools Safely and Equitably Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: School Facilities are Frontline Defense in Reducing Risk

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source U.C. Berkeley Center For Cities & Schools

Policy Areas Public Spaces, Health

This report describes how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads and why mitigation measures, such as symptom screening, testing, and contact tracing, are recommended for schools. It argues that it will be more difficult for schools with poor condition facilities to effectively implement SARS-CoV-2...

Mass Shooting Playbook: A Resource for U.S. Mayors and City Managers

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source United on Guns

Policy Areas Children & Families, Health, Public Safety

This playbook can assist Mayors and City Officials as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from public mass shootings.. It provides guidance related to communications, emergency management, victim and family assistance, donation and volunteer management, and more. Suggestions...

Building the Power to Reclaim Our Schools

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2019

Level City or Town, School District

State(s) California

Source LAANE

Policy Areas Community Development, Education

In January 2019, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) held a six-day strike in response to challenges facing The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), resulting from LAUSD’s inability to raise local property taxes and the growing charter school sector that draws funding away...

Building Resiliency: The Role of Anchor Institutions in Sustaining Community Economic Development

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Education, Health, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Children & Families

Chester, Pennsylvania, a small, formerly industrial city located on the Delaware River, not far from Philadelphia, exemplifies the problems and possibilities faced by older manufacturing cities across the United States, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Chester's problems of...

Mayor's Advisory Council on Early Childhood Development and Early Education

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level School District, City or Town, County

State(s) Tennessee

Source Nashville Mayor Karl Dean

Policy Areas Education, Economic Justice, Children & Families

This report outlines Nashville-Davidson County's early childhood policies and identifies the shortcomings of current programming. It recommends that the city support early literacy programs, improve accountability in the school system, invest in management technology and training,...

2008 Berkeley Resolution 08-73 Supporting Equitable School Outcomes for Children and Youth

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2008

Level City or Town, School District

State(s) California

Source Berkeley Unified School District

Policy Areas Education, Children & Families

This resolution states that the Berkeley School Board will work together with the Berkeley City Council, United in Action, and the community to achieve the "2020 Vision for Berkeley's Children and Youth." This vision outlines that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity and income,...

Abating Our Future: How Students Pay for Corporate Tax Breaks

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level State, School District

State(s) Louisiana, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Texas

Source Good Jobs First

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Education

Public school students in the U.S. suffered poorer schools—and local and state taxpayers paid higher taxes—in 2019 due to corporate tax breaks; economic development tax abatements given to corporations cost public school districts at least $2.37 billion in foregone revenue in FY 2019....

Zero Energy Schools Toolkit

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level School District, State

State(s) All States

Source Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships

Policy Areas Education, Energy, Finance & Procurement

A zero energy school is a low-energy, combustion-free building that sources all of its annual energy from renewable energy sources. This toolkit describes the educational, health, and environmental benefits of zero energy schools; outlines the process of building or renovating a zero...

How Community Schools are Transforming Public Education

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town, County

State(s) Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin

Source In the Public Interest

Policy Areas Children & Families, Education

Community schools collaborate with families, students, and neighborhoods to improve student well-being and academic performance. This report identifies how the community schools improve student learning, health, and development. It recommends on-site health and wellness centers, family...

Excellence for all: Supporting English Language Learners in Massachusetts

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) Massachusetts

Source MassBudget

Policy Areas Education

English Language Learners (ELL) are poorly served by the Massachusetts public education system. This report provides evidence-based strategies and recommendations to support ELL students' academic achievement, evaluate current educational policies, and implement reforms. ...

Online and Observed: Student Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level School District

State(s) All States

Source Center for Democracy & Technology

Policy Areas Education, Data & Technology

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts have introduced student activity monitoring software and other digital tools aimed at facilitating remote classroom management and driving student engagement. Though helpful, these tools can also be intrusive. This report examines...

Creating a Healthy Food Zone Around Schools

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2009

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Mayors Innovation Project

Policy Areas Health, Children & Families, Democracy & Governance, Food, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Education, Community Development, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

Many schools are surrounded by fast food restaurants, which provide students with easy access to unhealthy foods and undermine schools' efforts to offer nutritious meals. Prohibiting fast food restaurants from locating near schools is one strategy to help reduce childhood obesity...

Fiscal First Aid for School Districts: Additional Considerations for School Districts

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level School District

State(s) All States

Source Government Finance Officers Association

Policy Areas Health, Children & Families, Education

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are tasked with providing a quality education to their students, along with ensuring their safety and welfare, regardless if classes are being held in-person or virtually. Additionally, schools must adjust to the economic ramifications brought...

Democracy’s Future: Proposals to Expand Access to Registration and Voting for a New Generation

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) All States

Source Fair Elections Center

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance

While turnout among young voters has increased, there is still a gap between the youngest eligible voters and their older counterparts. This report provides best practices, model legislation, and policy examples for advocates and policy makers aiming to increase voter engagement among...

Learning Uninterrupted: Supporting Positive Culture and Behavior in Schools

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2017

Level City or Town

State(s) Massachusetts

Source MassBudget

Policy Areas Education

This report states the negative effects of school suspension and expulsion. It then proposes alternative discipline practices to support a positive and safe culture within schools that encourages students to engage in good behavior....

Ohio’s child care crisis: Parents and providers out of options

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Children & Families, Education

Child care is a necessity for millions of families but educators are underpaid and care options are unaffordable. This report examines Ohio's child care crisis and provides recommendations for supporting providers and improving accessibility and affordability. It recommends expanding...

Joint Use Agreements in Tucson Arizona

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2012

Level City or Town, County

State(s) Arizona

Source Kaboom.org

Policy Areas Children & Families, Community Development, Economic Justice, Health, Public Spaces

To address its deficiency in parks and public green spaces, the city of Tucson established joint use agreements with the unified school district which expanded community access to 12 elementary school yards. This brief outlines the costs and legal processes associated with the agreements...

5 States Addressing Child Hunger and Food Insecurity With Free School Meals for All

Type Article

Year 2023

Level State

State(s) California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico

Source Center for American Progress

Policy Areas Children & Families, Education, Food

California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Mexico are addressing child hunger and food insecurity by implementing no-cost school meal programs for all students. Several challenges, such as administrative burdens, rising meal debt, and stigma, burden low-income students. The benefits...

A New Anchor Mission for a New Century

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2014

Level County

State(s) All States

Source Democracy Collaborative

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Community Development

As the community foundation field reaches the century mark and faces growing pressure on its business model, many communities at the same time are struggling with economic distress. To meet these converging challenges, an innovative group of community foundations are beginning to...

Teacher pay penalty still looms large: Trends in Teacher Wages and Compensation Through 2022

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) All States

Source Economic Policy Institute

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Education

Cities that want to high-quality education systems need to address the immense disparity in compensation between teachers' and other workers with similar educational credentials. This study examines working conditions for educators and finds that teachers in 31 states earn 20 percent...

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