Education
The problem with education policy is that it ignores everything outside the classroom. Better schools, better teachers, and equitable funding are necessary, and we advocate strongly for these improvements. But for children living with hunger or illness, or for children who are homeless or live in fear of violence, they are not sufficient. First Focus challenges policymakers to accept what research confirms: that lowering the obstacles children face outside the classroom is essential for their success inside the classroom.
Resources
Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass Additional Relief for Struggling Children and Families
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Claire Williams, Conor Sasner, Michelle Dallafior, Olivia Gomez, First Focus Campaign for Children | August 10, 2020 |
Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads, an economic crisis that continues to deepen, and an upcoming school year faced with daunting challenges, it is …
Comment on the continuation of the Household Pulse Survey
Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Christopher Towner, Olivia Gomez | July 31, 2020 |
First Focus on Children submitted the following comment to the Office of Management and Budget. Excerpt: The coronavirus pandemic has hit the United States …
Back to school, but not back to normal — what lawmakers must do
Conor Sasner | July 28, 2020 |
Every September, kids go back to school. This year, learning will happen in new and scarcely tested conditions. The coronavirus pandemic means that kids …
Fact Sheet: Aid to Children and Families in the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800)
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Christopher Towner, Drew Aherne (Former Staff), Michelle Dallafior | May 22, 2020 |
As part of ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting economic crisis, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic …
Comment: Proposed change to National School Lunch & Breakfast Program would weaken school nutrition standards
Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari | April 22, 2020 |
First Focus on Children submitted the following comments in strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring Requirements …
Building a Better America and World for Our Children
Bruce Lesley | April 21, 2020 |
We are living in a life-changing moment where it is clear that the future will look quite different than we had imagined. We are …
The COVID-19 Crisis Is Catastrophic for Children Too
Bruce Lesley | April 4, 2020 |
This is likely a once-in-a-generation disaster, and it will affect every domain of human life. It will be traumatic. And trauma always falls hardest …
Fact Sheet: Aid to Children During Coronavirus Outbreak
Averi Pakulis, Bruce Lesley, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald, Drew Aherne (Former Staff), Michelle Dallafior | April 2, 2020 |
As the spread of the coronavirus has grown, the vulnerabilities within our system have become clear. Children and families living in poverty already lack …
Fact Sheet: Impact of the President’s 2021 Budget on Education
Drew Aherne (Former Staff) | February 25, 2020 |
Similar to past years, the Trump administration has released a budget proposal that seeks deep cuts to federal spending on children. One area that …
What does the President’s budget say about how we value children?
Tim Smith | February 11, 2020 |
Yesterday, President Trump released a $4.8 trillion budget proposal that would impose massive cuts to critical programs that children and families rely on every …