The Racist History of Work Requirements   

To accommodate tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, the incoming administration and the 119th Congress are considering many ways to slash federal programs. One strategy they may use is requiring people to report on their work activities to obtain and re-qualify for public benefit programs. The insidious history of these so-called “work requirements” includes using them to prevent communities of color from accessing vital support. CLASP recently released a timeline detailing the racist roots of these requirements and explaining how they can create unnecessary barriers to people receiving the help they deserve.

Deportation’s Effects on Families—and Schools  

As the nation awaits the timing and severity of the next administration’s plans for mass deportation, journalists are reporting on how these actions will affect families and schools, which are often left to pick up the pieces in communities. A story originally published in ChalkBeat—a national service that feeds education stories to media nationwide—was republished in scores of outlets recently, from Northern NH and Marietta, GA to Yakima, WA and Cheyenne, WY. The story cites research CLASP did in immigrant communities during the first Trump Administration. 

Federal Shutdown Averted but Continuing Resolution Removes Important Protections

On December 21, 2024, President Biden signed a continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government until mid-March. Our statement on the short-term budget praised the inclusion of disaster relief funds, including support for child care access in areas recently devastated by natural disasters, while also recognizing the impact that a government shutdown would have had on core public services. In addition, we also expressed concern that the final version of the CR excluded earlier protections for SNAP recipients and kept open the possibility of tax cuts for billionaires.

CLASP Launches Search for Permanent ED, Welcomes New Interim Executive Director 

CLASP’s Board of Trustees has officially begun a search for our permanent executive director. In addition, the Board announced Cemeré James as CLASP’s second Interim Executive Director. A CLASP alum with a wealth of experience in the nonprofit, consulting, and advocacy worlds, Cemeré will begin the week of January 20th.

President Carter also nearly doubled Head Start’s budget during his term and increased funding for both Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Pell Grants.