In the first months after the federal government began issuing monthly payments of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), West Virginia saw a significant decrease in food insufficiency. West Virginians largely spent their CTC payments on household essentials, with food being at the top of the list, followed by utilities, clothing, and paying down debt.…
Education
Charleston Gazette-Mail, Huntington Herald-Dispatch, Williamson Daily News - West Virginia's senior senator has suggested restricting a program currently sending families $250-$300 per month, per child -- a move that could hamper education outcomes and reduce the number of children in the state receiving the benefit by more than half. Read the full article. According to…
Public News Service - Degrading mental health among the nation's K-12 students over the past year and a half has alarmed health professionals. Experts say West Virginia could use federal funding to help address students' needs, at a time when the novel coronavirus crisis shows no signs of letting up. Read the full article. Tamicah Owens…
This issue brief was written by the WVCBP's summer research associate, Tamicah Owens. Introduction The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides states with assistance and broad economic relief as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act also includes $123 billion in new, flexible funding known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief…
For Immediate Release: August 3, 2021Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges, an important takeaway that was highlighted during COVID-19 was that there are also longstanding, structural challenges to the…
Emerging Stronger from the Pandemic: A Blueprint for an Equitable Economic Recovery in West Virginia
Foreword West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges that have been addressed by prompt local, state, and government action, an important takeaway that was highlighted during the pandemic was that there are also…
Federal student loan debt has more than tripled since 2007, jumping from $516 billion in 2007 to nearly $1.6 trillion in March 2021. West Virginia borrowers hold $6.5 billion of that debt. The freeze on student loan payments and the temporary zero percent interest rate have been a relief to borrowers since implemented in March…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - The American Rescue Plan Act is providing $739 million to West Virginia county school systems, including $82 million to Kanawha County. Read the full article. Through 4 p.m. Friday, the Kanawha school system is inviting public comment on its plan to spend that money. Comments may be emailed to comment@mail.kana.k12 .wv.us The plan addresses a litany…
This blog post was written by the WVCBP's summer research associate, Tamicah Owens. The closing of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, while necessary, created a myriad of issues for learners and parents. Teachers and schools in some areas were able to quickly transition to virtual schooling for students. However, some student populations suffered higher levels of academic losses…
West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia’s senators are assessing the price tag and policies of the “American Families Plan” introduced by President Joe Biden last week. Read the full article. Biden introduced the $1.8 trillion education and social safety net plan in a joint address to Congress last week by saying, “we also need to make a…