Articles and analysis on today's issues

Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could cause some DC-area families to lose an average of $187 in monthly benefits.
Access to High-Quality School Facilities Varies Across and Within Districts. Advocates and Policymakers Can Help Close Gaps. Case studies in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee, show how school facility funding policies shape students’ access to new and well-maintained schools.Can AI Reliably Identify K–12 Students at Risk of Dropping Out? Other States Can Learn from Nevada’s Experience. Nevada recently used artificial intelligence to identify students at risk of dropping out of high school, but the model undercounted by more than 200,000 students, compared with what the state was used to.How Many People in Your State Have the Resources to Thrive? More than half the people in the US don’t have the resources they need to pay for everyday expenses and save for the future, but the share of people struggling varies across states.Why Do Closing Costs Differ between States? Different regulations and state rules regarding closing costs can help states generate tax income but can create higher barriers to homebuying for residents with low incomes.What Components Make Up Closing Costs? For prospective homebuyers with low incomes, closing costs can often pose a high relative burden and create another obstacle to homeownership.Reinstating Limitations on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Mortgage Lending Would Hamper Access to Credit The previous Trump administration introduced limitations on federal mortgage lending to “high-risk” loans, but current housing market conditions mean these restrictions would be counterproductive if reinstated.