Improving Access to Education and Training for TANF Participants


 

Publication Date: May 2007

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Elizabeth Lower-Basch

Research Area: Education

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant is one of the major sources of funding for services designed to help low-income parents succeed in the workplace. The TANF law limits the degree to which states can count TANF families engaged in education and training activities toward federal work participation rate requirements—an unfortunate limitation, given the strong link between educational attainment and earnings. In this two-pager, CLASP recommends that Congress remove these arbitrary limits on education and training.