Susie Cambria, MSW

Public Policy Consultant

Public Policy Reads (11/21/09)

College Enrollment Hits All-Time High, Fueled by Community College Surge: This
report from the Pew Research Center found that the share of 18- to 24-year-olds attending
college in the US hit an all-time high in October 2008. The conclusion is based on a Pew
analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Just under 11.5 million students, or 39.6% of all young adults ages 18 to 24, were
enrolled in either a two- or four-year college in October 2008 (the most recent date
for which comprehensive nationwide data are available). Both figures -- the absolute
number as well as the share -- are at their highest level ever.

Enrollments have been rising over many decades at both two- and four-year
colleges, but the most recent annual spike has taken place entirely at two-year
colleges. With the recession having an especially harsh impact on young adults, the
lower costs of community college may have become more appealing. However,
enrollment in four-year institutions has not dropped off but held steady.

Changes in the labor market and the overall economy are not the only factors that
affect college enrollment levels. Another important factor is the rate at which young
adults complete high school, and there is a record low in the share of young adults
who are high school dropouts. (http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/747/college-
enrollment-hits-all-time-high-fueled-by-community-college-surge)

Building a Strong, Independent DC Community College: This report by JBL Associates

was commissioned by Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed. The
report underscores the need for a strong community college in the District of Columbia and
recommends that the community college be independent from the University of the District
of Columbia (UDC).

The report is online:

http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2009/1120_community_college_rivlin.aspx

YouthBuild intervention report: The US Department of Education’s What Works

Clearinghouse (WWC) (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/) has examined “the research on the
effectiveness of this dropout prevention intervention that offers low-income youth both
education and job training services. No studies of "YouthBuild" that fall within the scope of
the dropout prevention review protocol meet What Works Clearinghouse evidence
standards.” (The What Works Clearinghouse releases a new intervention report on
"YouthBuild", November 3, 2009)

The full report is online: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/dropout/youthbuild/

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Gender Analysis of 2008 American Community Survey: In mid-November, DC

Women’s Agenda issued a report that finds income earnings, education and poverty
continue to be gender-biased in DC. The underlying data driving the analysis is from the
2008 American Community Survey. The major findings include:
• Work is not a barrier to women living in poverty. Approximately 22% of women-
headed households in DC, working full-time or part-time, live in poverty.
• Men’s full-time median income for 2008 was 17% higher than women’s in DC.
Median earnings for women in DC in 2008 were $36,987 whereas the median
earnings for men in DC were $43,391.
• At each level of educational attainment from graduate degrees to high school, men
earn more money than women in DC. For example, the median income for men with
a graduate degree was $96,640 whereas the median income for women with the
same degree was $70,787.
• Single women with children under the age of 18 are eight times more likely to be
living below the poverty line than their married women counterparts in DC.

The report: http://www.wowonline.org/documents/DCWAGenderAnalysisof2008ACS.doc

Housing in the Nation's Capital 2009: This report from Urban

assembles and analyzes the most current data on housing conditions in the District of
Columbia and the surrounding suburbs. This year's report focuses on the impact of
the foreclosure crisis on the region, examining the level and trends of foreclosures,
outlining potential secondary effects for families and neighborhoods, and looking
towards the future of the region’s housing market. It concludes with policy
implications in four areas: foreclosure prevention, neighborhood stabilization,
recovery assistance for displaced households, and services for children in foreclosed
homes.

Read the report: http://www.urban.org/publications/1001340.html

The Qualities of Quality: Understanding Excellence in Arts Education: This June

2009 report from Project Zero at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education finds
that “For many children in the United States, arts education, if offered at all, is uninspired
and infrequent.” Project Zero researches explore what makes arts education “quality.” The
report includes tools that can help in decision-making regarding ensuring quality arts
education for our children.

The report is online:

http://www.wallacefoundation.org/KnowledgeCenter/KnowledgeTopics/CurrentAreasofFocus
/ArtsParticipation/Pages/Qualities-of-Quality-Understanding-Excellence-in-Arts-
Education.aspx

Traumatic childhood takes 20 years off life expectancy: “People who experienced
considerable trauma during their childhood died 20 years prematurely, CDC researchers
have found. And those suffering this substantial childhood trauma have double the risk for
early death compared with adults who had not endured adverse childhood experiences.”
(http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/oct/06/traumatic-childhood-takes-20-years-life-
expectancy/) The questionnaire asked the more than 17,000 Kaiser Permanente members
about 10 types of child trauma.
CDC Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ACE/index.htm