Carol Webster, Greg Weeks - March 1995

This paper discusses the possible impacts of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a cash refund, on low income families in Washington State. Both Washington State's minimum wage and the federal EITC were increased in 1994. These two increases meant that a woman could have a higher potential income from working at the minimum wage than she would have from welfare, or when compared to the federal poverty guideline or the Washington Need Standard.

Carol Webster, Greg Weeks - March 1995

This analysis examines actual monthly income and expenses for families that left and successfully stayed off AFDC for at least three consecutive years, during 1988-1992. It also examines the relationship of marital status to staying off welfare.

Steve Aos, Kate Stirling - March 1995

In 1990 the Washington Legislature responded to the requirements of the federal 1988 Family Policy Act and created a presumptive statewide schedule for child support determination. In 1993, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy was asked by legislative leaders to analyze patterns of actual child support orders, to compare the state's support schedule with other states, and to compare the guidelines to the cost of raising children. To conduct this research, the Institute relied on a sample of child support summary reports, which are completed in county superior courts when child support decisions are made. The time period for the reports in the sample was between June 1993 and May 1994.

Lin Song, Roxanne Lieb - February 1995

In 1990, the legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study the effectiveness of the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA). Legislators wanted to know if this treatment option, which allows judges to order community treatment for eligible sex offenders, compromised public safety. This publication reports on three studies regarding sex offenders that are designed to answer policymakers' questions. Each study addresses a particular aspect of recidivism.

Carol Webster, Greg Weeks - February 1995

The Family Income Study's December 1994 issue brief, Climbing the Wage Ladder, found that women who had worked at least three months in any year during the five-year study period (1988-1992) climbed the wage ladder. This paper updates that analysis and reports the 1994 equivalent wages.

Carol Webster, Greg Weeks - February 1995

This brief looks at who is on welfare in Washington and how this relates to length of stay on AFDC.

Edie Harding, Thomas Sykes - January 1995

The Washington Legislature directed the Legislative Budget Committee and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study the current Washington State special education funding formula and to report on the results of this examination. The current funding formula has been in place since the early 1980s. This study seeks to determine the changes over the last decade in the special education population and program effects of the current formula through an examination of: 1) Washington State trends, 2) local school district practices, 3) federal and state legal requirements, and 4) other states' special education funding formulas.

Thomas Sykes, Edie Harding - January 1995

The Washington Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to determine the feasibility of doing a longitudinal study of educational outcomes for students in special education. A longitudinal study allows the tracking of a population over some period of time in order to document changes in that population. This report summarizes what is already known about student outcomes for special education and suggests possible ways to learn more about special education programs.

WSIPP - January 1995

The Family Income Study's December 1993 issue brief, At What Hourly Wage Are Women Able to Leave and Stay Off Welfare? found a "threshold" wage of $6.50 per hour enabled many women to leave and stay off welfare for at least 36 months during the 1988-1992 Study period.

This paper updates that analysis and reports the 1994 equivalent "threshold" wage using two different methods: 1. Wages earned during the Study period were adjusted for inflation, using the Consumer Price Index. 2. Wages earned during the Study period were increased by the amount that would offset the increase in value, from 1988 to 1994, of the welfare package (Aid for Families With Dependent Children [AFDC] and Food Stamps).

Carol Webster, Greg Weeks - January 1995

This report provides the results from 20 teenage pregnancy prevention program evaluations. The programs are divided into two main categories: (1) Those intended to prevent a first pregnancy, and (2) Those intended to prevent subsequent pregnancies.