U.S. Social Welfare, Education Policy, and Texas Government

Income Inequality Since 1970s

The gap between rich and poor has increased, while the middle class has shrunk and received a smaller share of national income.

Overall Poverty Rate in the United States

Approximately 12-15% of Americans live in poverty.

Child Poverty Rate

Approximately 20% of American children live in poverty.

Sector with Most Job Growth Since the 1970s

Service sector jobs such as healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, and finance.

Federal Income Tax System

Progressive tax system in which higher-income earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.

Social Insurance Programs

Welfare programs in which eligibility is based on contributions through payroll taxes rather than financial need.

Examples of Social Insurance

Social Security, Medicare, and Unemployment Insurance.

Public Assistance Programs

Welfare programs based on financial need and funded by general tax revenues.

Examples of Public Assistance

Medicaid, SNAP (Food Stamps), and TANF.

Means Test

A requirement that applicants prove financial need through income, assets, or household information.

Why Social Insurance Has More Public Support

People view benefits as something they earned by paying payroll taxes.

Funding Source for Social Security

Payroll taxes paid by current workers.

Pay-As-You-Go System

Current workers' payroll taxes fund current retirees' benefits.

Entitlement Program

A program that must provide benefits to anyone who legally qualifies.

Cash Benefits

Benefits given directly as money that recipients may spend as they choose.

In-Kind Benefits

Benefits that must be used for a specific purpose rather than spent freely.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, created in 1996 to replace AFDC.

EITC

Earned Income Tax Credit designed to help low-income working individuals and families.

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food purchasing assistance.

Medicare

Social insurance program primarily for people age 65 and older.

Medicaid

Public assistance program providing healthcare for low-income individuals.

Largest Anti-Poverty Effort

Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty.

First Social Security Recipient

Ida May Fuller.

Social Security Solvency Concern Year

Around 2035.

Progressive Tax

Tax rates increase as income increases.

Regressive Tax

Lower-income people pay a larger percentage of their income.

Strongest Predictor of School Performance

Socioeconomic status, especially family income.

Federal Share of K-12 Funding

About 10%.

State Share of K-12 Funding

About 45%.

Local Share of K-12 Funding

About 45%.

GI Bill

Provides college tuition assistance, educational benefits, and housing support for veterans.

National Defense Education Act

Passed after Sputnik to improve American educational competitiveness.

First Step in Policy-Making Cycle

Agenda Setting.

Second Step in Policy-Making Cycle

Policy Formulation.

Third Step in Policy-Making Cycle

Policy Adoption.

Fourth Step in Policy-Making Cycle

Policy Implementation.

Fifth Step in Policy-Making Cycle

Policy Evaluation.

Texas DREAM Act

Allows qualifying undocumented students to receive in-state tuition.

Largest Source of Local Texas School Funding

Property taxes.

TEA

Texas Education Agency; oversees public education in Texas.

STAAR

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

STAAR Introduction Year

2012.

San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez

Found no violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Edgewood ISD v. Kirby

Found Texas school funding system violated the Texas Constitution.

Permanent University Fund (PUF)

Supports the University of Texas and Texas A&M Systems.

Higher Education Assistance Fund (HEAF)

Supports public universities not funded by the PUF.

Top Ten Percent Rule

Increases college access and diversity through automatic admission.

Hopwood v. Texas

Ended affirmative action at UT Law School.

Equality of Opportunity

Everyone has the same chance to succeed.

Equality of Outcome

Government attempts to produce more equal results.