Policy Research Shop

Support for the Policy Research Shop is provided by the Ford Foundation and by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education.

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Tracking Child Poverty in Vermont

An Evaluation of the Vermont Child Poverty Council Benchmarks

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Background• Policy Research Shop (PRS)

• Task: Assessment of Benchmarks• Database• Report

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Assessment of Benchmarks• Definition of Benchmark

• Adequately Tracked

• Inadequately Tracked

• What made an Effective Benchmark

• Recommendations and Suggestions

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Benchmark Categories1. General Poverty Demographics2. Mending the Safety Net3. Education4. Getting Ahead Through Employment5. Economic Stability6. Strengthening Family and Communities

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Evaluation Criteria• Ease of Access

• Clarity of Benchmark

• Quantifiable/Updatable

= Benchmark meets the criterion

Red Text = Benchmark has many

problems

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1. General Poverty Demographics

Benchmark Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

NAS Model Difficult to Track

No Existing Model

ACS Children in Poverty

JFO Basic Needs Budget Missing Part

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2. Mending the Safety NetBenchmark Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

Homelessness Wording

Housing and Utilities

Reach-Up

3SquaresVT

Uninsured Children

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3. EducationBenchmarks Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

Pre-K Wording

Kindergarten Readiness Missing Part

Aspiration Rate

Seniors Taking the SAT

19 Year Olds in College Difficult to Track

Cohort Graduation Rates

NECAP

NAEP

Post-secondary Education

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4. Getting Ahead Through EmploymentBenchmark Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

Not in School and Not Working

Not in School, No High School Degree

Job Payment

Median Income County Level Difficult to Track

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5. Economic StabilityBenchmark Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

NCCP Benefit Cliffs

Child Care Schedules Wide in Scope Not Quantifiable

Child Care Subsidy

Child Care Assistance

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6. Strengthening Families and Communities

Benchmark Accessibility Clarity Quantifiable

Births to Unmarried Mothers

YRBS Survey Wide in Scope

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Findings• 27 Benchmarks • 3 not accessible• 2 partially-tracked• 22 tracked• 15 tracked by Voices for Vermont’s Children

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Plan of Action• Standardize

• Scrutinize

• Specify

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Questions?