Nora Gordon | Econofact

Governance

Why Does the Census Matter for State and Local Governments? (UPDATED)

August 31, 2020

The Issue:

The 2020 census has faced a series of challenges, controversies and the unprecedented conditions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The accuracy of the census is very important for governance. Not only does the decennial census determine how many representatives each state can elect to the House

Economic Statistics

Why Does the Census Matter for State and Local Governments?

March 22, 2019

The Issue:

The 2020 Census is rapidly approaching. Much attention has focused on whether including a citizenship question will impact the accuracy of the count. But other factors – ranging from technical issues, to funding, to the ability to hire the number of census workers required – also present challenges.

Education Policy

How Proposed Changes in State and Local Tax Deductions Matter for Public Schools

November 9, 2017

The Issue:

Public K-12 education depends almost completely on state and local funding. But, the federal government makes it easier to raise the funds necessary to pay for public education by allowing taxpayers to deduct their state and local taxes from their federal taxable income. Current tax reform plans by both ...
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Education Policy

Education Funding: Tax Credits Cost the Federal Government Money

March 21, 2017

The Issue:

President Trump pledged to devote $20 billion in federal funds to expand "school choice" programs for low-income students during the presidential campaign. The administration's budget proposal included $1.4 billion in spending towards school choice initiatives that would eventually "ramp up" to $20 billion. ...
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Education Policy

Charter Schools: The Michigan Experience and the Limits on the Federal Role

January 31, 2017

The Issue:

Charter schools are designed to improve education performance by giving parents a choice and allowing markets to “work.” Charter schools offer an alternative to traditional public schools, and allow parents to “vote with their feet” by choosing schools that they think are best for their children. ...
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