Chapter 13

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 Define the meaning of public policy.  Understand the issue of federal mandates.  Identify and discuss the major social welfare and health care policies of the state.  Understand the redistributive nature of those programs.  Be introduced to the major issues of public education for the state.  Understand a number of issues facing higher education in state institutions. 3

 Things government does, chooses not to do, about issues facing the public  Starts with problem identification  Elected officials, public, interest groups, mandates 4

 Over time, state responsibilities have grown  Public expectations  Technologies  Discussion: How does our political culture influence policy? 5

 Conservative agenda dominates Texas politics  Redistributive public policy designed to help poor  Changes in national policies, funding have led to changes in welfare system 6

 Poverty threshold: ~ $18,500, family of 3  Texas rankings  1st in % of population not covered by health insurance  71% Medicaid recipients children  17% of all children receive Medicaid 7

 3 rd in % of population living in poverty  24% of all children  48% of population in poverty or low income  23 rd in per capita median income  ~ 80,000 homeless each day 8

 Health and Human Services Commission created in 2003  Departments of  State Health Services  Aging and Disability Services  Family and Protective Services  Assistive and Rehabilitative Services 9

 Commission also oversees  Accreditation  Welfare (TANF)  Medicaid / CHIP  Nutrition 10

 Medicaid  2/3 funding from federal government  CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)  TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)  Food stamps 11

 Day care, foster care  Child protective services  Energy assistance  Job training, workers’ compensation  Discussion: Why is it that Texas does not do a good job helping its poor? 12

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 Welfare reform passed, 1990s  States took welfare lead  Time limits  Emphasis on work  Discussion: What are the unintended consequences of reform? 15

 Boom / bust economy affects funding levels  2003 legislature cut back  2005, 2007: some program restoration  2011: CHIP not expanded  1+ million kids without health care  6 months left unfunded 16

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 Not spending all allotted funds (~69%)  Many recipients difficult to place in jobs  Discussion: Why will social services be a perennial issue in Texas? 18

 More than “reading, writing, arithmetic”  State and local responsibilities  Recent federal involvement  Discussion: What have been the unintended consequences of NCLB? 19

 Nearly 5 million students today  Continued growth expected  Increased diversity, Latino growth  Texas last in educational attainment 20

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 A Nation At Risk  “No Pass No Play”  TAKS  Discussion: What are the criticisms and unintended consequences of TAKS? 22

 School vouchers  Discussion: Should Texas institute school vouchers?  Charter Schools  Home Schooling 23

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 Role of TEA, SBOE  Social studies standards, 2011  Discussion: Should political ideology play a role in curriculum and textbook selection? 25

 1+ million students  Funding  Discussion: Should PUF funds be more fairly distributed?  Cost  Causes of increase  Minority Access 26

 Challenges  Dropout rates, funding levels, SAT scores  Discussion: What should be done given the interrelatedness of education, crime, health, and the economy? 27