POLICY BRIEF
!
November 26, 2013
www.iowafiscal.org
Child’s Play: Creating a Path to the Middle Class
Improving Child Care Assistance Can Facilitate Parent Education
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Child Care and Education
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The Iowa Policy Project
www.iowapolicyproject.org
Child & Family Policy Center
www.cfpciowa.org
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TANF and Higher Education
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* TANF, or “Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families,” is a federal block grant, which in Iowa
includes Family Investment Program (FIP) cash
assistance and other programs.
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** PROMISE JOBS, or “Promoting
+"/$3"//%#$(/$#.'/22$-.$*$"-8"#'$#1&3*(-/.$)'/8'*0$*($
Independence and Self Sufficiency through
Employment, Job Opportunities and Basic
2#*%($&)$(/$DY$0/.("%<$&(-2-O*(-/.$/:$("-%$/)(-/.$"*%$9##.$
Skills,” is an Iowa program for TANF recipients.
2/+$-.$0*.,$%(*(#%5$A.$:-%3*2$,#*'$DEFF<$A/+*$!CQN$
Participants
develop individualized agreements
%&))/'($R:#1#'*2$*.1$%(*(#S$/:$#1&3*(-/.$*.1$('*-.-.8$
that
outline
steps
to leave public assistance.
(/(*2#1$GFIV<FVF<$2#%%$("*.$F$)#'3#.($/:$("#$(/(*2$8/-.8$
(http://www.iowaworkforce.com/region2/promisejobs.htm
(/$*22$+/';4'#2*(#1$#@)#.1-(&'#%$-.$("#$A/+*$!CQN$
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2
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Barriers to Education within Iowa’s TANF Program
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Discretion of Each Individual Promise Jobs Caseworker
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3
Welfare System Rewards Work Over Pathways to Self-Sufficiency
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Time Restrictions, Competing Work Requirements, and Program Limitations Block Education
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Using Child Care Assistance to Pursue Higher Education
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The State’s Return on Child Care Assistance for Education
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)/%(4%#3/.1*',$1#8'##<$*.$-.1-7-1&*2$+-22$"*7#$8'#*(#'$2-:#(-0#$#*'.-.8%<$)*,$0/'#$%(*(#$(*@#%<$*.1$
'#2,$2#%%$/.$%(*(#$-.3/0#$%&))/'(%5$!"#$3"-21'#.$/:$("*($-.1-7-1&*2$-.$(&'.$+-22$9#$2#%%$2-;#2,$(/$9#$
'*-%#1$-.$)/7#'(,<$*.1$*%$*$'#%&2($+-22$"*7#$-0)'/7#1$#*'.-.8%$)/(#.(-*2$*.1$+-22$9#$2#%%$'#2-*.($/.$
)&92-3$*%%-%(*.3#$*%$*.$*1&2(5$`/0#$/:$("#%#$)*,/::%$*'#$#%(-0*(#1$9#2/+5$$
6
Education raises earnings
!"/%#$+-("$0/'#$#1&3*(-/.$%(*'($("#-'$+/';-.8$2-7#%$*($*$"-8"#'$-.3/0#$2#7#25$!*92#$F$%"/+%$+"*($
A/+*.%$#*'.#1$)#'$,#*'$/.$*7#'*8#$*($("#$%(*'($/:$("#-'$+/';-.8$2-7#%<$+"#.$#1&3*(-/.$)'#%&0*92,$
"*%$9##.$3/0)2#(#15$$
$
Table 1. Higher Education Raises Starting Pay
!"/%#$+-("$0/'#$#1&3*(-/.$*2%/$#@)#'-#.3#$
Average
Earnings of Iowans at Age 25-29, in 2011 dollars
8'#*(#'$-.3/0#$8*-.%$("'/&8"$("#$)#*;$#*'.-.8$
,#*'%5$N-8&'#$F$%"/+%$"/+$#*'.-.8%$'-%#$*.1$
Less than high school
17,224
:*22$/7#'$/.#B%$+/';-.8$,#*'%$1#)#.1-.8$/.$
High school diploma
23,519
#1&3*(-/.5$A.$("-%$3"*'(<$*22$#*'.-.8%$*'#$
Associate degree
31,551
'#2*(-7#$(/$("/%#$+-("$2#%%$("*.$*$"-8"$%3"//2$
Bachelor's degree
34,469
#1&3*(-/.$*($*8#$DI4DV5$$`/0#/.#$+-("$*.$
Source: Authors’ analysis of data from the American Community Survey,
*%%/3-*(#$1#8'##$%(*'(%$/&($*($.#*'2,$(+-3#$("#$
2007-2011
#*'.-.8%$/:$/.#$+-("/&($*$"-8"$%3"//2$1-)2/0*<$
*.1$'-%#%$(/$D5Y$(-0#%$1&'-.8$("#$)#*;$#*'.-.8$,#*'%$/:$YE4UU5$N/'$("/%#$+-("$*$9*3"#2/'B%$("#$'-%#$
-.$#*'.-.8%$-%$0&3"$%(##)#'T$("#$8*)$9#(+##.$("#-'$#*'.-.8%$*.1$("/%#$+-("$2#%%$#1&3*(-/.$+-1#.%$
/7#'$(-0#5$$!"#$:*22$-.$#*'.-.8%$*:(#'$*8#$UU$'#:2#3(%$'#1&3#1$"/&'%$/'$'#(-'#0#.($'*("#'$("*.$2/+#'$
"/&'2,$)*,<$%-.3#$("#%#$:-8&'#%$*'#$3*23&2*(#1$:/'$*22$*1&2(%<$./($=&%($("/%#$3&''#.(2,$#0)2/,#15$$
Figure 1. How Earnings Change Over One’s Working Lifetime
Source: Author’s calculations based on data on earnings and education by age cohort in the Current Population Surveys of 1992 through 2011.
!"#$)*((#'.$/:$2-:#(-0#$#*'.-.8%$'#)'#%#.(#1$-.$N-8&'#$F$3*.$9#$*))2-#1$(/$("#$*7#'*8#$#*'.-.8%$/:$
A/+*.%$*%$("#,$%(*'($("#-'$3*'##'%$*%$%"/+.$-.$!*92#$F5$A.$("-%$+*,<$+#$3*.$)'/=#3($*7#'*8#$*..&*2$
#*'.-.8%$:/'$#*3"$("'##4,#*'$)#'-/1$/:$*$)#'%/.B%$+/';-.8$2-:#<$*%%&0-.8$#1&3*(-/.$-%$3/0)2#(#1$9,$
*8#$DU5$!"#$'#%&2(%$*'#$%"/+.$-.$!*92#$D5$
7
Table 2. Projected Annual Earnings of Iowans Age 25-29 in Working Life, by Education Level (2011 dollars)
Source: Table 1 and Authors’ analysis of national data on age, education and earnings from the Current Population Survey, 1991-2011.
C.$#@*0-.*(-/.$/:$/&'$#*'.-.8%$#%(-0*(#%$%"/+%$+#$*'#$*%%&0-.8$("*(<$/.$*7#'*8#$/7#'$*22$*8#%<$
("/%#$+-("$*.$*%%/3-*(#$1#8'##$#*'.$*9/&($Ma$)#'3#.($0/'#$("*.$("/%#$+-("$*$"-8"$%3"//2$1-)2/0*5$
!"/%#$+-("$*$9*3"#2/'B%$1#8'##$#*'.$*9/&($VU$)#'3#.($0/'#$("*.$*$"-8"$%3"//2$8'*1$#*'.%<$*.1$
*9/&($MM$)#'3#.($0/'#$("*.$("/%#$+-("$*.$*%%/3-*(#$1#8'##5$
Greater earnings increase state and local tax payments
e-8"#'$#*'.-.8%$('*.%2*(#$-.(/$"-8"#'$(*@#%<$0/%(2,$9#3*&%#$("#'#$-%$%-0)2,$0/'#$-.3/0#$*.1$
%)#.1-.8$(/$(*@5$A.$!*92#$M$+#$%##$"/+$("#$*..&*2$#*'.-.8%$*($#*3"$*8#$*.1$#1&3*(-/.$2#7#2$%"/+.$
-.$!*92#$D$('*.%2*(#$-.(/$%(*(#$(*@$)*,0#.(%5MI$N/'$#@*0)2#<$9#(+##.$("#$*8#%$/:$MV$*.1$YE<$*$"-8"$
%3"//2$8'*1$/.$*7#'*8#$#*'.%$GDV<DHa$1/22*'%$)#'$,#*'<$*.1$)*,%$I5U$)#'3#.($/:$("*($-.$%*2#%$*.1$
-.3/0#$(*@#%$(/$("#$%(*(#$/:$A/+*<$+"-3"$3/0#%$(/$GF<VMV$)#'$,#*'5$
Table 3. Annual Direct State Taxes Paid in Iowa, by Education and Age (2011 dollars)
Source: Table 2 and Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Who Pays: A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All Fifty States, 2013.
X/'#$#1&3*(-/.$0#*.%$0/'#$%(*(#$(*@#%5$!*92#$Y$%"/+%$"/+$0&3"$0/'#$'#7#.&#$("#$%(*(#$+/&21$
'#3#-7#$:'/0$*.$-.1-7-1&*2$+-("$*.$*%%/3-*(#$/'$9*3"#2/'B%$1#8'##<$3/0)*'#1$(/$("#$'#7#.&#$
'#3#-7#1$:'/0$/.#$+-("$*$"-8"$%3"//2$1-)2/0*5$N'/0$("#$(/(*2$*11-(-/.*2$(*@#%$)*-1$:'/0$*8#$DI$
/.+*'1$R+#$*%%&0#$#1&3*(-/.$-%$3/0)2#(#1$9,$("*($(-0#S$+#$1#1&3($#*'.-.8%$2/%($1&'-.8$("#$(+/$
/'$:/&'$,#*'%$'#P&-'#1$(/$/9(*-.$
Table 4. Total Increase in State Taxes Over 40 Years
("#$1#8'##5$N/'$#@*0)2#<$+#$
of Working Life as a Result of Further Education
*%%&0#$("#$-.1-7-1&*2$#*'.-.8$*.$
*%%/3-*(#$1#8'##$8-7#%$&)$*9/&($
(+/$,#*'%B$+/'("$/:$#*'.-.8%$R*($
("#$'*(#$:/'$/.#$+-("$*$"-8"$%3"//2$
1-)2/0*S$+"-2#$#*'.-.8$("#$1#8'##5$
!"-%$1#1&3(-/.$,-#21%$("#$.#($(*@$
8*-.$(/$("#$%(*(#5$
$
8
Source: Authors' calculations.
L7#'$("#$3/&'%#$/:$*$)#'%/.B%$+/';-.8$2-:#<$*11-(-/.*2$#1&3*(-/.$'#%&2(%$-.$*9/&($GDM<EEE$(/$
GUE<EEE$-.$*11-(-/.*2$%(*(#$(*@#%5$C$)'/8'*0$/:$#."*.3#1$3"-21$3*'#$*%%-%(*.3#$+-22$("&%$'#(&'.$
%&9%(*.(-*2$'#7#.&#%$(/$("#$%(*(#$-.$("#$2/.8$'&.<$(/$("#$#@(#.($("*($("#$)'/8'*0$'#%&2(%$-.$0/'#$
*1&2(%$+-("$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$#1&3*(-/.$+"/$("#.$'#0*-.$-.$A/+*$:/'$*$%&9%(*.(-*2$)/'(-/.$/:$("#-'$
+/';-.8$2-7#%5$$$
Reduced reliance on safety net programs
c1&3*(-/.$'*-%#%$#*'.-.8%<$*.1$("#'#9,$'#1&3#%$'#2-*.3#$/.$:#1#'*2$*.1$%(*(#$#3/./0-3$*%%-%(*.3#$
)'/8'*0%<$-.32&1-.8$("/%#$+-("$*$%-8.-:-3*.($%(*(#$3/%(h$X#1-3*-1$*.1$!CQN5$J#%#*'3"$3/7#'-.8$("#$
)#'-/1$FaVE$(/$FaaD$:/&.1$("*($9#(+##.$Y5F$*.1$U5I$)#'3#.($/:$("/%#$+-("$=&%($*$"-8"$%3"//2$
#1&3*(-/.$'#3#-7#1$)&92-3$*%%-%(*.3#<$+"-2#$=&%($E5D$(/$E5U$)#'3#.($/:$("/%#$+-("$:/&'$/'$0/'#$,#*'%$
/:$3/22#8#$1-1$%/5MH$C./("#'$%(&1,$:/&.1$("*($#7#',$*11-(-/.*2$"-8"$%3"//2$8'*1&*(#$-.$A/+*$%*7#%$
("#$%(*(#$GFF<FVH$-.$X#1-3*-1$3/%(%<$3/0)*'#1$(/$3/%(%$:/'$("#$*7#'*8#$*1&2($+-("$2#%%$("*.$*$"-8"$
%3"//2$#1&3*(-/.<$*.1$%*7#%$*.$*11-(-/.*2$GF<EMV$-.$"#*2("$3*'#$3/%(%$:/'$("#$&.-.%&'#15MV$$$
Reduced poverty rate among children of the direct beneficiaries of the program
!"#$"-8"#'$2-:#(-0#$#*'.-.8%$/:$("/%#$#.*92#1$(/$*((*-.$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$#1&3*(-/.$9#3*&%#$/:$3"-21$
3*'#$*%%-%(*.3#$('*.%2*(#$-.(/$'#1&3#1$)/7#'(,$'*(#%<$3/0)*'#1$(/$("/%#$+"/$.#7#'$*17*.3#$
9#,/.1$*$"-8"$%3"//2$1-)2/0*5$!"-%$-.$(&'.$
Table 5. Poverty Rates Decline with Education
0#*.%$("*($:#+#'$3"-21'#.$-.$A/+*$+-22$8'/+$
U.S. adults age 25 to 64, 2006-2010 average poverty rate
&)$-.$*$)//'$"/&%#"/215$!*92#$U$%"/+%<$:/'$
("#$]5`5<$"/+$)/7#'(,$'*(#%$:*22$+-("$-.3'#*%#1$
#1&3*(-/.5$$
!
A:$A/+*$8'*1&*(#%$/:$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$
#1&3*(-/.$:/22/+$("#$.*(-/.*2$)*((#'.<$("#.$
+#$3*.$#%(-0*(#$"/+$0*.,$3"-21'#.$#%3*)#$
*Reduction in incidence of poverty as a result of attaining post-secondary
)/7#'(,$("'/&8"$("#$)*'#.(B%$#1&3*(-/.*2$
education, compared to having only a high school diploma
*17*.3#0#.(5$N/'$#7#',$F<EEE$"-8"$%3"//2$
Source: Current Population Survey
8'*1&*(#%$+"/$8/$/.$(/$8#($*.$*%%/3-*(#$
1#8'##<$("#'#$+-22$9#$IM$:#+#'$+"/$*'#$)//'$*%$*1&2(%$RII$+-22$9#$)//'$-.%(#*1$/:$FDaS5$A:$+#$
*%%&0#$("*($HU$)#'3#.($/:$("/%#$8'*1%$+-22$'#0*-.$-.$A/+*<$*.1$("*($("#'#$*'#$/.$*7#'*8#$F5E$
3"-21'#.$)#'$*1&2(<$("-%$0#*.%$("*($("#'#$+-22$9#$YH$:#+#'$3"-21'#.$8'/+-.8$&)$)//'$-.$A/+*5Ma$
`-0-2*'2,<$:/'$#7#',$F<EEE$"-8"$%3"//2$8'*1&*(#%$+"/$8/$/.$(/$8#($*$:/&'4,#*'$1#8'##$R/'$0/'#S<$
("#'#$+-22$9#$VI$:#+#'$+"/$*'#$)//'5$A:$+#$*%%&0#$("*($"*2:$/:$("#0$'#0*-.$-.$A/+*<$*.1$*8*-.$*.$
*7#'*8#$.&09#'$/:$3"-21'#.$)#'$*1&2($/:$F5E<$("-%$-0)2-#%$YM$:#+#'$3"-21'#.$8'/+-.8$&)$)//'5$$
!
J#%#*'3"$"*%$%"/+.$("*($#2-0-.*(-.8$)/7#'(,$:/'$*$3"-21$&.1#'$("#$*8#$/:$I$+-22$-.3'#*%#$#*'.-.8%$
*%$*.$*1&2($9,$*9/&($Da$)#'3#.($)#'$,#*'5YE$L("#'$%(&1-#%$"*7#$:/&.1$("*($:#0*2#$3"-21'#.$+"/$
+#'#$'*-%#1$-.$)//'$:*0-2-#%$+"#.$("#,$+#'#$&.1#'$*8#$%-@$/.$*7#'*8#$'#3#-7#1$GF<DEE$)#'$,#*'$
0/'#$-.$!CQN$9#.#:-(%$*%$*.$*1&2($("*.$("#-'$./.4)//'$3/&.(#')*'(%5YF$!"&%$'#1&3-.8$3"-21$
)/7#'(,$+-22$-.$("#$2/.8$'&.$8#.#'*(#$*11-(-/.*2$%(*(#$-.3/0#$*.1$%*2#%$(*@$'#7#.&#$*%$*$'#%&2($/:$
"-8"#'$2-:#(-0#$#*'.-.8%$:/'$("/%#$3"-21'#.$+"/$'#0*-.$-.$A/+*5$C11-(-/.*22,<$A/+*$+-22$%##$
'#1&3#1$%)#.1-.8$/.$N//1$`(*0)%$*.1$!CQN$9#.#:-(%$:/'$("/%#$3"-21'#.$*%$*1&2(%5$$
!
J#%#*'3"$%"/+%$("*($3"-21'#.$/:$0/'#$#1&3*(#1$)*'#.(%$#@"-9-($*$"-8"#'$2#7#2$/:$*3*1#0-3$%3"//2$
'#*1-.#%%$*.1$*$2/+#'$2#7#2$/:$*3*1#0-3$)'/92#0%5$YD$!"#,$+-22$*2%/$#*'.$0/'#$*%$*1&2(%<$9#$2#%%$
2-;#2,$(/$9#$-.3*'3#'*(#1<$*.1$+-22$9#$0/'#$2-;#2,$(/$#*'.$3/22#8#$1#8'##%$("#0%#27#%5YM$!"-%$+-22$
9
'#1&3#$("#$%(*(#$)&92-3$*%%-%(*.3#$)*,0#.(%$#7#.$:&'("#'<$*.1$+-22$%*7#$0/.#,$:/'$("#$%(*(#$-.$
%)#3-*2$#1&3*(-/.$#@)#.%#%$*.1$3/''#3(-/.*2$3/%(%5$
Policy Options for Iowa
K"*($3*.$("#$%(*(#$1/$(/$-.3'#*%#$("#$%"*'#$/:$!CQN$'#3-)-#.(%$*.1$/("#'$2/+4-.3/0#$A/+*.%$+"/$
)&'%&#$:&'("#'$#1&3*(-/.$*.1$*((*-.$*$(+/4$/'$:/&'4,#*'$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$1#8'##l$e#'#$+#$)'#%#.($
("'##$)/2-3,$/)(-/.%$*-0#1$*($-.3'#*%-.8$("#$.&09#'$+"/$#.(#'$*$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$#1&3*(-/.$
)'/8'*0$*.1$*($-.3'#*%-.8$("#$%"*'#$/:$("/%#$-.$%&3"$*$)'/8'*0$+"/$3/0)2#(#$-($+-("$*$1#8'##5$$
Option I: Cancel the 24-month limit
K#$%&88#%($3*.3#2-.8$("#$DY40/.("$2-0-(5$C$%(&1#.($+-("$/.#$3"-21$&%-.8$??C$-.$DEFM$3/%(%$("#$
%(*(#$GD<YEE$(/$GD<HEE5YY$C11-.8$(+/$,#*'%$(/$("#$DY40/.("$2-0-(<$%/$%(&1#.(%$3/&21$'#*2-%(-3*22,$
3/0)2#(#$*$6C<$+/&21$1/&92#$("#$3/%($[$$GY<VEE$(/$GU<YEE5$6&($-:$=&%($F$-.$a$'#3-)-#.(%$/:$("#$
#@(#.1#1$%&9%-1,$3/0)2#(#1$("#$6C$)'/8'*0$*.1$'#0*-.#1$-.$A/+*$("'/&8"$*8#$IU<$("#$%(*(#$
+/&21$'#3/&)$*22$("#$3/%(%<$9#3*&%#$("*($/.#$-.1-7-1&*2$3/&21$9#$#@)#3(#1$(/$)*,$GUE<HVH$-.$
*11-(-/.*2$%(*(#$(*@#%$/7#'$("#$3/&'%#$/:$*$+/';-.8$2-:#<$%&::-3-#.($(/$3/7#'$("#$#@('*$(+/$,#*'%$/:$
%&9%-1-O#1$3"-21$3*'#$:/'$("*($:*0-2,$*%$+#22$*%$:/'$#-8"($/("#'%$+"/$1'/))#1$/&($/'$2#:($("#$%(*(#5$A.$
:*3(<$3#.%&%$0-8'*(-/.$1*(*$%&88#%($("*($/7#'$"*2:$/:$3/22#8#$8'*1&*(#%$*'#$%(-22$'#%-1-.8$-.$A/+*$-.$
("#-'$ME%$*.1$YE%5YU$
Option II: Increase payment rate
L.#$/:$("#$)'/92#0%$:*3-.8$)/(#.(-*2$&%#'%$/:$??C$3*.$9#$("#$1-::-3&2(,$-.$:-.1-.8$*$3"-21$3*'#$
)'/7-1#'$-.$("#$7-3-.-(,$+"/$-%$+-22-.8$(/$*33#)($("#$2/+$'#-09&'%#0#.($'*(#$*22/+#1$9,$("#$%(*(#5$
!"#$%(*(#$0*@-0&0$'#-09&'%#0#.($'*(#%$#::#3(-7#$W&2,$F<$DEFM<$("/&8"$"-8"#'$("*.$-.$)'#7-/&%$
,#*'%<$*'#$./($/.2,$9#2/+$("#$HU("$)#'3#.(-2#$/:$3/%(%$9&($%(-22$9#2/+$("#$%(*(#+-1#$*7#'*8#$3/%(5YI$
K#$%&88#%($-.3'#*%-.8$("#$%(*(#B%$??C$0*@-0&0$)*,0#.($'*(#$(/$("#$:#1#'*22,$'#3/00#.1#1$HU("$
)#'3#.(-2#$/:$3&''#.($3/%(%<$+"-3"$%"/&21$0*;#$0/%($/:$("#$2/3*2$3"-21$3*'#$)'/7-1#'%$+-22-.8$(/$
*33#)($("#$3"-21$R%)*3#$)#'0-((-.8S5$A.$DEFD4FM<$DM$)#'3#.($/:$("#$3"-21$3*'#$)'/8'*0%$*3'/%%$("#$
%(*(#$1-1$./($*33#)($de`$?"-21$?*'#$C%%-%(*.3#$:&.1#1$3"-21'#.5YH$e/+$0&3"$("-%$+/&21$3/%($("#$
%(*(#$1#)#.1%$/.$"/+$0*.,$*11-(-/.*2$)#'%/.%$(*;#$*17*.(*8#$/:$??C$(/$*((#.1$%3"//2$9#3*&%#$
("#,$3*.$./+$:-.1$*$)'/7-1#'$+"#.$)'#7-/&%2,$("#,$3/&21$./(<$*.1$"/+$0*.,$3&''#.($&%#'%$/:$??C$
&%#$*$0/'#$#@)#.%-7#$)'/7-1#'$("*.$("#,$+/&21$"*7#$/("#'+-%#5$A($-%$./($)/%%-92#$(/$#%(-0*(#$
#-("#'$#::#3(<$("/&8"$32#*'2,$%(*(#$3/%(%$+/&21$-.3'#*%#$9#3*&%#$("#$"-8"#'$)*,0#.($'*(#%$*::#3($*22$
&%#'%$/:$??C<$./($=&%($("/%#$*((#.1-.8$%3"//25$$$
Option III: Expand hours allowed
C((*-.0#.($/:$)/%(4%#3/.1*',$#1&3*(-/.$+/&21$9#$:*3-2-(*(#1$9,$*22/+-.8$%(&1#.(%$*11-(-/.*2$3"-21$
3*'#$92/3;%$/:$(-0#$(/$*33/&.($:/'$('*.%)/'(*(-/.$:'/0$"/0#$(/$("#$3"-21$3*'#$)'/7-1#'$(/$%3"//2$
*.1$9*3;<$*.1$(/$*22/+$:/'$/::43*0)&%$%(&1,$(-0#5$!"-%$3/&21$*))'/*3"$*22/+-.8$:&224(-0#$??C$(/$
:&224(-0#$%(&1#.(%5$N&224(-0#$3*'#$RFE$"/&'%g1*,<$:-7#$1*,%g+##;S$+/&21$9#$*9/&($(+-3#$("#$
*7#'*8#$3/%($/:$("#$2#7#2$/:$3"-21$3*'#$*%%-%(*.3#$3&''#.(2,$)'/7-1#15$!"-%$+/&21$-.3'#*%#$("#$3/%($
/:$??C$(/$("#$%(*(#<$9&($+/&21$*2%/$*22/+$0/'#$-.1-7-1&*2%$(/$)&'%&#$#1&3*(-/.$*.1$+/&21$-.3'#*%#$
("#$2-;#2-"//1$/:$%&33#%%$*.1$8'*1&*(-/.$:/'$("/%#$+"/$*'#$+/';-.8$(/+*'1$*$1#8'##5$C%$+-("$
L)(-/.$A<$#7#',$*11-(-/.*2$)#'%/.$*92#$(/$3/0)2#(#$*$:/&'4,#*'$1#8'##$9#3*&%#$/:$("#$-0)'/7#0#.($
-.$3"-21$3*'#$*%%-%(*.3#$+-22$'#(&'.$:&(&'#$(*@$'#7#.&#$(/$("#$%(*(#$("*($+-22$/::%#($*($2#*%($)*'($/:$
("#$%(*(#B%$-.7#%(0#.($-.$("*($)#'%/.B%$#1&3*(-/.5$$
10
Option IV: Combine School and Work Hours
`/0#/.#$+"/$"*%$%;-22%$*))'/)'-*(#$/.2,$:/'$2/+4+*8#$=/9%$9&($+"/$+*.(%$(/$)&'%&#$)/%(4
%#3/.1*',$#1&3*(-/.$+-22$(,)-3*22,$.##1$(/$+/';$)*'($(-0#$*.1$*((#.1$%3"//2$)*'($(-0#5$6&($%&3"$*$
)#'%/.<$-:$./($-.$("#$NAZ$)'/8'*0<$+/&21$9#$'#P&-'#1$(/$+/';$DV$"/&'%$)#'$+##;$-.$*11-(-/.$(/$
32*%%$*.1$/&(4/:432*%%$%3"//2-.8$"/&'%5$K#$'#3/00#.1$("*($("#$32*%%'//0$"/&'%$9#$*22/+#1$(/$
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11
Child care costs from: Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral, Statewide Report, July 2012.
http://www.iowaccrr.org/resources/files/State%20Data%20Sheet/FY12%20Iowa%20Summary%20Report.pdf . Resident tuition for academic year 2012-13
at the University of Iowa was $6,678, at ISU and UNI, $6,648; this does not include mandatory fees.
2 Kevin Miller, Barbara Gault and Abby Thorman. Improving Child Care Access to Promote Postsecondary Success Among Low-Income Parents. Institute
for Women’s Policy Research, 2011.
3 The State of Working Iowa 2012. http://stateofworkingiowa.org/the-bigger-picture/
4 The State of Working Iowa 2011.
5 Adair, V. C. (2001). Poverty and the (broken) promise of higher education. Harvard Educational Review, 71(2), 217-239
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/projects/labor/documents/AdairHarvardEducationalReviewArticle.pdf
6 Authors’ calculations based on the American Community Survey, 2006-2010, and the Current Population Survey, various years.
7 Lily French, Peter Fisher and Noga O’Connor, The Cost of Living in Iowa, 2011 Edition. Iowa Policy Project, May 2012.
8 Anthony P. Carnevale, Nicole Smith and Jeff Strohl. Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018. Georgetown
University Center on Education and the Workforce, June, 2010.
9 See, for example, Adair, V. C. (2001). “Poverty and the (broken) promise of higher education.” Harvard Educational Review, 71(2), 217-239
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/projects/labor/documents/AdairHarvardEducationalReviewArticle.pdf
Thompson, J. (1993). “Women, welfare and college: The impact of higher education on economic well-being.” Affilia, 8(4), 425-441.
10 http://www.mdrc.org/publications/260/full.pdf
11 See, for example, http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/FTHEUnderTANF.pdf
12 To qualify as meeting the work requirement, a minimum number of hours per week must be devoted to “core activities” such as employment or on-thejob training (20 hours for a single parent, 30 hours combined for two-parent households), plus additional hours that can be core activities, or “non-core
activities” such as basic education or GED classes, or vocational education, under certain circumstances (bringing total hours to 30 for a single parent with
no child under 6, or 35 combined for a two-parent household). Only the first 12 months of post-secondary education count as a core activity; after that it is
non-core.
13 http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/Reports/PeriodicReports/Supplemental_TANF/Supplemental_TANF__2011/Countable%20Activities.html
14 Table “E.4.d.: Expenditures on Non-Assistance Sub Categories using TANF in Separate State Programs in FY 2011”, from spreadsheet 2011_TANFdata_with_states.xls from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
15 State of Iowa, Promise Jobs program, Component Activity Reports for the months of July 2011 through May 2012, at
http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/Reports/PeriodicReports/PromiseJobs/PJ2012.html
16 http://www.mdrc.org/publications/260/full.pdf
17 http://www.mejp.org/PaSeduworks.htm
18 http://www.faccc.org/research/Careers.pdf
19 http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/docs/DRAFT%20State%20Plan.pdf
20 Based on IPP interviews with Iowa Workforce Development Promise Job caseworkers, August 2011.
21 Iowa College Student Aid Commission, Federal and State Work-Study and Status. Iowa College Student Aid Commission, January 2008.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/LSA/SC_MaterialsDist/2008/SDMDF031.PDF
22 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0406.pdf
23 You are ineligible if you have previously defaulted student loans, unpaid government fees or taxes, felony drug charges, past criminal events, etc. .
24 Lily French and Peter S. Fisher, Education Pays in Iowa: The State’s Return on Investment in Workforce Education. Iowa Policy Project, May 2009.
25 http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell
26 http://www.fseog.com/
27 http://www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?p=27878
28Sandy Baum, Jennifer Ma and Kathleen Payea, Education Pays 2010: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. College Board
Advocacy and Policy Center, 2010.
http://trends.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/education-pays-2010-full-report.pdf
29 See Iowa Department of Human Services, Child Care Assistance,
http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/uploads/Improve_Iowans_Employment_and_Economic_Security.pdf
30 Personal correspondence with Jennifer Davis Harbison, Iowa DHS. 9.2.2011.
31 Tammi Christ, DHS, ACFS/Child Care Bureau.
32 Lily French, Peter S. Fisher, and Noga O’Connor, The Cost of Living in Iowa: 2011 Edition. Iowa Policy Project, May 2012.
http://www.iowapolicyproject.org/2012docs/120531-COL.pdf
33 Interviews with Melissa Carstens and Mialisa Wright, Kirkwood Community College KPACE Navigators, October 2012.
34 http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/dhs/dhs_homepage/docs/DRAFT%20State%20Plan.pdf
35 http://www.nwlc.org/resource/state-child-care-assistance-policies-2010-iowa
36
Computation based on effective tax rates from Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Who Pays: A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All
Fifty States, Fourth edition, 2013.
37 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Indicator of the Month: “Welfare Recipiency, by Educational Attainment.” July,
1995.
38 Alliance for Education, Healthier and Wealthier: Decreasing Health Care Costs by Increasing Educational Attainment. Issue Brief, November 2006.
Washington, D.C.
39 On average, U.S. families have about 1 child per adult, according to data from the Current Population Survey. This is an average across single-parent
and two-parent families.
40 Greg Duncan, Ariel Kalil, and Kathleen Ziol-Guest, Economic Costs of Early Childhood Poverty. Washington, D.C.: Partnership for America’s Economic
Success, February, 2008.
41 Ibid.
1
12
42 Magnuson, K.A. and McGroder, S.M. (2002). The effect of increasing welfare mothers’ education on their young children’s academic problems and
school readiness. Joint Center for Poverty Research.
http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/jcpr/workingpapers/wpfiles/magnuson_mcgroder.pdf
43 Paul Attewell and David E. Lavin, Passing the Torch: Does Higher Education for the Disadvantaged Pay Off Across the Generations? New York: Russel
Sage Foundation, 2007.
44 This calculation assumes 40 weeks of half-time child care (two 16-week semesters and an 8-week summer session) for a child age 3 to 5 at a
registered child development home or a licensed child care center. Costs are based on the statewide average rates in 2012-13 as reported by Iowa Child
Care Resource and Referral or the July 1, 2013 maximum state reimbursement rate, whichever is less. In all cases, the state maximum is less than the
actual average cost. If the child were an infant or toddler, costs are higher but the state cost would still fall in this range if the child were cared for in a
registered home rather than a child care center.
45 See pages 15-16 in Lily French and Peter S. Fisher, Education Pays in Iowa: The State’s Return on Investment In Workforce Education, The Iowa
Policy Project, May 2009.
46 Maximum rates ranged from 86 percent to 97 percent of the state average cost of care, depending on the age of the child and the type of child care
provider. The state average figures are based on data from the Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral web site.
47 Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral, State of Iowa data sheet, July, 2013, at http://www.iowaccrr.org/data_publications/.
Lily French is Senior Policy Consultant for the Iowa Policy Project. She is Director of Field Education and a Clinical Assistant
Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa.
Peter S. Fisher is Research Director of the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project. He is Professor Emeritus of Urban and Regional
Planning at the University of Iowa.
Iowa Fiscal Partnership
The Iowa Fiscal Partnership is a joint initiative of the Iowa Policy Project and the Child & Family Policy
Center, two nonprofit, nonpartisan Iowa-based organizations that cooperate in analysis of tax policy and
budget issues facing Iowans. IFP reports are available at http://www.iowafiscal.org.
The Iowa Fiscal Partnership is part of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative, a network of state-level
organizations and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to promote sound fiscal policy analysis.
IFP work is supported by the Stoneman Family Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
13