2021 VLDS Research Forum
On September 28-30, 2021, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and VLDS partner agencies hosted the 2021 VLDS Research Forum: Connecting to an Equitable Future with the Virginia Longitudinal Data System. The forum, supported by a federal grant VDOE received in 2019, spotlights VLDS research efforts that inform policy and advance equity in Virginia. This virtual event brought together nearly 130 talented and passionate professionals from state agencies, universities, and industry experts to share insights and expertise around leveraging data systems to advance research, policy, and statewide decision-making centered on equity. Virginia Senator Ghazala Hashmi, former Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, and SCHEV Director Mr. Peter Blake spoke about the role of data and research in policy-making and the importance of public trust in data. Ms. Tawana Petty urged researchers to see data and research through the lens of humanity and to be curious about the impact of unobservable data collection on individuals. The forum also hosted senior executive level leaders from nationally recognized philanthropic agencies, who shared their thoughts on the importance of advanced data analytics in the social sector and their role in funding solution-oriented research. The next research forum will be held in Fall 2022.
Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply by Colin Gray, Adam Leive, Elena Prager, Kelsey Pukelis, Mary Zaki
Many safety net programs require that adults who are capable of working to do so to receive benefits. In SNAP, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) younger than 50 are eligible for 3 months of time-limited benefits within a 36-month period unless they work, train, or volunteer. This study analyzed the effect of the ABAWD “work requirements” on SNAP participation, employment, and earnings. The study linked records from the Virginia Department of Social Services with the Virginia Employment Commission through the VLDS. To estimate the causal effect of the policy, the study compared outcomes for ABAWDs just below age 50, who faced the work requirements, to similar SNAP recipients just above age 50, who were no longer subject to the policy. Work requirements reduced overall program participation among ABAWDs by 53 percent. By contrast, the study found no meaningful effects on employment or earnings, on average. To read the full article, click here.