Justin King: All Publications, Events and Press

New America Foundation and America Saves Week

Communications — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:08:00 -0500

Washington, DC -- The New America Foundation along with more than 100 government agencies, non-profit organizations, trade associations, and companies, is participating in America Saves Week, an organized effort to encourage and assist individuals to assess their savings and take action to advance their savings progress.

2009 Legislative Priorities of the Asset Building Program

Asset Building — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:58:00 -0500

The ASPIRE Act - Universal, lifelong savings accounts at birth

The ASPIRE Act promotes lifetime savings, financial literacy, and opportunities for all young adults by establishing a progressively funded savings account for every child born in America.
Each account receives $500 at birth. Households below national median income receive up to an additional $500 at birth and
read more

Today the New America Foundation Announced the Winner of its “Improving the Lives of Children" Essay Contest

Communications — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:50:00 -0400

Washington, D.C. -- Today the New America Foundation announced the winner of its inaugural "Improving the Lives of Children" essay contest during a ceremony at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. Banneker senior Yolanda Long, 18, received a $1,000 award for college. David Gray, director of the Workforce and Family Program at New America, and Victor Reinoso, DC's deputy mayor for education, presented the award.

According to Mr. Gray, "The goal of the 'Improving the Lives of Children' essay contest and the award ceremony is to draw attention to the needs of children and to the next generation of ideas to help kids.

"We had many excellent essays submitted. Yolanda's stood out in the opinion of the judges and she should be congratulated. We hope all students in the district and nation will continue to think of ways to improve the lives of all our citizens," Gray said.

In fall 2007, the New America Foundation's Workforce and Family Program invited all public and private high school seniors in Washington, D.C. to voice their opinions about the needs of children by writing and submitting an essay that answers the question, "You have just been elected the President of the United States. What is the most important thing you will do to improve the lives of America's children?" The contest's judges included DC State Superintendent of Education Deborah Gist, former First Lady of the State of Pennsylvania Ginny Thornburgh, who directs Religion and Disability issues at the National Organization on Disability in Washington, and Youth Venture's Director of Fellowship and the MidAtlantic Region, Marco Davis.

Yolanda Long, a member of the National Language Honors Society, will attend Hampton University in the fall. During her time at Banneker High School, she played soccer, and joined the year book club and pep squad. Outside of school, Ms. Long is a member of Kapital Keystone Club, a youth leadership group for teenagers (at the Richard England Clubhouse, 4103 Benning Road, NE). In June, she’ll begin an internship with the DC Chamber of Commerce. Also, in junior high school, Ms. Long was valedictorian of her class. Yolanda’s winning essay, along with the names of the contest’s ten finalists, appears on New America's website: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/workforce_and_family/essay_contest.

David Gray’s bio: http://www.newamerica.net/people/david_gray.

Victor Reinoso's bio: http://dme.dc.gov/dme/cwp/view,a,3,Q,606847,PM,1.asp.

Attached photo - caption - left to right:
David Gray (director of New America’s Workforce and Family Program), Deon Long (brother of Yolanda, a junior at Dunbar High School in Washington DC), Diane Long (mother of Yolanda), Yolanda Long (contest winner, and a senior at Banneker High School), and Victor Reinoso (Washington DC Deputy Mayor for Education). Photo credit goes to Sam Sherraden, of the New America Foundation.

For further information, contact Erin Drankoski, of the New America Foundation, at 202-997-8727 or Drankoski@newamerica.net.

About the New America Foundation
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has offices in California.

Child Well-Being Index in Washington Post | For Children, a Better Beginning

Communications — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:32:00 -0400

Washington Post | For Children, a Better Beginning

In a wide-ranging look at how children have fared in their first decade of life, a study to be released today offers a promising picture of American childhood: Sixth-graders feel safer at school.* Reading and math scores are up for 9-year-olds. More preschoolers are vaccinated. Fewer are poisoned by lead.

The analysis, which created a composite index of more than 25 key national indicators, reports an almost 10 percent boost in children's well-being from 1994 to 2006. This overall improvement comes in spite of two significant negative trends: increased rates of childhood obesity and low-birth-weight babies.

"There are some really encouraging signs of progress," said Ruby Takanishi, president of the nonprofit Foundation for Child Development, which funded the research. "I think it's important as a country . . . to see that there are things that parents can do, that government can do, that institutions can do, to make measurable differences for children." . . .

*The New America Foundation Workforce and Family Program convened an event for the release of the study by FCD. More information is linked here.

David Gray and Justin King in The Christian Science Monitor

Communications — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:11:00 -0400

We completely agree with the July 10 article, "America becomes a more 'adult-centered' nation." Not only are couples showing less interest in children but so are policymakers. The Urban Institute recently released a report detailing that from 1960 to 2006, federal spending on children's programs declined from 20.1 to 15.4 percent of domestic spending. Federal spending on children's programs is projected to decline from 2.6 to 2.1 percent of gross domestic product in the next 10 years. Family economic well-being and educational outcomes have essentially flat-lined. Child health is in a steep decline because of the epidemic of overweight children. The increased prevalence of single parent households continues to negatively affect children's social relationships. Children also face deep and persistent disparities in their quality of life depending on race and ethnicity. America should become more child-centered. The quality of life of American children should be a top priority for presidential candidates, policymakers, and parents. David Gray and Justin King New America Foundation Washington

Please visit The Christian Science Monitor website for that edition's full Letters to the Editor section.

Why Not More Focus on Children?

Workforce and Family — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:52:00 -0400

The 2008 presidential primary season is shaping up as one unprecedented in American history. Fund-raising reports from the first two quarters of 2007 demonstrate the breakneck pace with which this latest presidential season has begun. Fund-raisers aren’t alone in setting a new pace, as state after state has moved up the date of its Presidential primary in a bid for increased influence.

What has not changed is the focus of the early primary politicking. In the past few weeks, would-be presidential candidates have been forced to answer questions on the employment status of Don Imus, whether they hunt rabbits or squirrels, and the price of a gallon of milk. This focus on “gotcha” politics and commercial minutiae elbows aside room for discussion of more meaningful topics. The tragedy at Virginia Tech underscores the need for our nation to focus on our young people. What about the status of children in the United States?

To continue reading the Issue Brief, please click here.

House Overwhelmingly Approves Student Loan Interest Rate Cut

Education Policy — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:13:00 -0500

Yesterday, Democrats in the House of Representatives made good on their promise to pass a 50% cut in student loan interest rates. As we predicted, the plan passed the House easily. But the margin still was eye-popping --356 to 71.

Part of what helped the Democrats attract so many Republicans to their plan was the limited and phased-in nature of the cut. Democrats limited their… more

Some Buzz and the Basics For Higher Ed Watch

Education Policy — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:19:00 -0500

The polls are closed and we didn't make the cut. Sixteen education-related blogs made Jay Matthew's Top 10 list and we weren't one of them (although, we're still new). While it's tempting to criticize Matthew's fuzzy math, we understand the difficulty of his task, and the right thing to do is to recognize the excellent work done by all the people that contribute to those blogs. Especially, we'd like to say congratulations to our friends Andy… more

The Lender of Venice?

Education Policy — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 11:00:00 -0500

Representative George Miller and House Democrats have made their first formal announcement describing their plan to cut student loan interest rates in half. Here's the kicker: it looks like all those stories about the deficit mess impacting the Democrats' agenda are spot on. How so? The House Democrats are not going to break a campaign promise so soon after an election. They're just going… more

Happy Thanksgiving from Higher Ed Watch!

Education Policy — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:32:00 -0500

In his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, President Bush noted that, "Our citizens are privileged to live in the world's freest country, where the hope of the American dream is within the reach of every person." That's a moving sentiment, and we look forward to the day when it becomes true via an improved education system. President Bush also pardoned two turkeys this morning ("Flyer" and "Fryer" will live to see another… more

Meet the New Senate Education Appropriator

Education Policy — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:11:00 -0500

It’s time for another installment of our ongoing series of profiles of new Capitol Hill Chairmen. Today, we move to United States Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). Since the Senate has changed hands more frequently than the House, Senator Harkin has some experience in the chair he’s about to occupy. We'll get to that. But first, a bit about the good Senator.

Meet the New House Money Man

Education Policy — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 03:28:00 -0500

Next up in our series of profiles of key players in the upcoming Congressional session is the man who as much as any other will determine Pell Grant funding, Representative David Obey (D-WI). Obey will be the new Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee when Congress begins its new session in mid-January. As Chairman, he will be in a special position to affect education funding. We'll explain that special position, but first, a bit about the Congressman.

Teacher Quality in Grades PK-3: Challenges and Options

Education Policy — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:00:00 -0400

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) The PK-3 Workforce is Subject to an Array of Entry Standards. Public school teachers in grades K-3 must meet the quality standards of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Pre-kindergarten (PK) teachers in Title I-funded programs also are regulated by NCLB. But Head Start teachers have their own separate entry standards. In some state PK programs, all teachers must possess a bachelor’s degree and have engaged in additional early childhood or PK-3 training. In others, only a Child Development Associate certificate is required.

2) There are Approximately 1.5 Million Teachers in the PK-3 Workforce. New America estimates that some 80 percent of the overall PK-3 teaching workforce holds a bachelor’s degree. Only 39 percent of PK teachers, however, hold a four year degree in comparison to almost all K-3 teachers. Of note, three out of four state-funded PK program teachers hold a bachelor’s degree. Elementary school teachers are paid more than double their PK counterparts ($47,000 v. $23,000 per year), except those in state-funded PK programs who, in keeping with their comparable credentials, are paid salaries comparable to, but still lower than, their elementary school counterparts. PK-3 teacher turnover rates are inversely related to salary.

3) Pre-Service and In-Service Training Standards for PK-3 Educators Vary Considerably Across States and Programs. The National Association for the Education of Young Children sets standards for early childhood teacher education programs. However, not all colleges of education meet or are required to meet applicable standards. In fact, colleges of education have limited capacity to offer quality PK-3 teacher training programs. Substantial federal funding exists for in-service Head Start and K-3 training, but surveys suggest that states pay little systematic attention to in-service training quality or content in K-3 education. Instead there is an emphasis on participation hours.

Recommended is that NCLB Title V funding be dedicated to early education expansion, conditioned on an assurance that all publicly supported PK-3 lead teachers meet a new “highly qualified early educator” standard. Competency may be evidenced through completion of a four-year early childhood education post-secondary program or by passing a new, national “high, objective, uniform standard of evaluation” that is a performance-based measure of knowledge, skills and disposition.

Recommended is that over a phased-in period of time, Head Start’s minimum teacher quality standards be aligned with a new, NCLB “highly qualified early educator” definition. A portion of Head Start’s increased future appropriations should be dedicated toward improved Head Start educator quality and pay.

Recommended is that Title II of the Higher Education Act (HEA) be targeted to support integrated PK-3 teacher preparation and certification programs. Further recommended is that HEA’s college of education accountability standard be revised to reflect the percentage of students who begin and complete programs, including improved disaggregation of certification data, such as PK-3 certification success.

Recommended is that Title II of NCLB expressly authorize and encourage integration of PK and K-3 in-service training and alternative certification pathways for non-traditional early educators, including for example new college graduates who might participate in a Teach for America Early Childhood Initiative or similar local efforts.

The full text of this report is available below in PDF format.

Closing the Achievement Gap

Communications — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:30:00 -0400

A New America Event
07/25/2006 - 11:00am

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia presented a half-hour speech to over a hundred guests at the New America Foundation on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. Kaine described his views on the importance of early childhood education, which studies show can reduce the number of unprepared students entering kindergarten each year and reduce the number of elementary school children who fail to advance to the next grade at the end of the school year. Kaine noted that, in Virginia, 10,000 children… more

Closing the Achievement Gap

Education Policy — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 09:01:00 -0400

A significant, albeit still insufficient, expansion of access to publicly supported early education programs for children ages 3 to 5 has occurred over the last decade. This trend bodes well for children at risk of academic failure, but is endangered by uneven, halting, and at times inadequate attention to program quality in grades prekindergarten through three.

Expanded access to pre-kindergarten in recent years is primarily the result of individual state legislative, state agency, state executive, and state referendum efforts. States have pursued these efforts at different times, unequal rates, and with no coordinating effort from the federal government. (Much of the existing coordination has come from private foundations, such as The Pew Charitable Trusts, Joyce Foundation, and David and Lucille Packard Foundation and national non-profit organizations, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).) The result of this state-by-state approach to program development is an uneven and inequitable national structure. Programs operate with vastly different quality and access levels, and, within states, can be isolated from system wide standards-based school reform. As a result, expanded access to pre-kindergarten is in danger of not fully realizing its substantial potential to help close academic achievement gaps between at-risk children and their nondisadvantaged peers. In fact, in some circumstances, expanded pre-kindergarten programs that are of suboptimal quality could fail of their own weight.

To expand access to pre-kindergarten, heighten early education program quality, and equalize child opportunities, the New America Foundation recommends a series of changes to existing federal grant programs, including a reformed No Child Left Behind Title V, Part A block grant program that rewards and promotes state early education expanded access and quality efforts. Further recommended is dedicated No Child Left Behind Act Title I program funding and increased spending flexibility. The foundations for expanded access to highquality pre-kindergarten programs may be realized through recommended changes at negligible additional taxpayer cost. However, a high-quality, voluntary access pre-kindergarten system is ultimately an expensive proposition. The impact of recommended changes would be heightened if additional federal resources were made available, including through an expansion of existing programs, such as Head Start.

For the complete report, please see the attached PDF version below.