State Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds

Unemployment rates remain high and people are unemployed for longer, exhausting state unemployment trust funds quickly. More states are borrowing from the federal government to cover costs, which could have an impact on future fiscal stability.


Sugar-Free School Offers Food for Thought

Yvonne Butler is a believer. She believes in the power of good nutrition to help students learn. She believes in the power of eating right to cut down on discipline problems. And she believes that getting kids to change their tastes to actually want to eat healthier food in school is a challenge, but worth the effort in the long run. Butler should know: She created the first sugar-free school in the country at Browns Mill Elementary and Magnet School in Georgia, just outside Atlanta.


Condition of U.S. Roads & Bridges

With 45 percent of roads in less than good condition and 12 percent of bridges structurally deficient, the U.S. faces severe infrastructure needs that significantly impact the nation's economy. State governments face huge gaps between how much they need to spend to repair roads in the coming years and how much they expect to have under current funding. While there are some state success stories, the infrastructure in other states is in danger of backsliding. This brief makes the case for encouraging Congress to consider legislation reauthorizing federal transportation programs soon and for taking steps to ensure infrastructure improvements are adequately funded.


State Financing for Prekindergarten Education

Research shows that children who attend pre-K programs are more successful in later grades. However, state funding and policies regarding pre-k programs vary widely.

 


Regulating Minors’ Use of Tanning Beds

More than half of all states have laws on the books restricting minors’ use of tanning beds, although only 6 have outright bans. Parental permission and parental accompaniment requirements vary by state. CDC warns against children’s and teens’ use of tanning beds and sunlamps, which can lead to increased risk of melanoma.