Month: February 2024

Recovering from Pandemic Learning Loss

Posted on by Scot Wilson

On January 31, Harvard and Stanford Universities released the Education Recovery Scorecard, an assessment of student achievement following the COVID-19 pandemic learning loss.1 The report detailed the gains third- through eighth-grade students in 8,000 school districts across the country have made in their math and reading scores.2 The Education Recovery Scorecard results show that there has been significant recovery in these two subjects, though more needs to be done to help students reach basic levels of proficiency.

Students struggled when schools closed and pivoted to remote learning. These disruptions had real effects on students’ ability to learn foundational skills in the classroom. Last summer, I wrote about the National Report Card decline in history and civics scores in the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Reading scores were also down three points, mirroring scores from 30 years prior.3 Math scores dropped five to eight points, their largest decline since the test began in 1990.4 During the pandemic years, students lost an average of half a year of learning; since then, they have recovered only between a quarter and a third of that time.5 This can have a compounding effect; once you’re behind, it’s easy to fall even further behind unless there’s serious intervention.

Signs of Student Improvement 

The 2023 data gives reason to be optimistic about the post-pandemic learning loss recovery. While the 2022 NAEP scores were historically bad, the Education Recovery Scorecard shows that, rather than continue to decline, math and reading scores have actually started to increase. Even with these gains, many states’ scores still fall well below the national average and students still struggle to reach the proficiency levels for their grades. Only one state, Alabama, has surpassed its pre-pandemic math levels, while only Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi have reached their pre-pandemic reading levels.6 Those pre-pandemic scores were often not great to begin with, so despite the improvements, students are still generally underperforming in both subjects.

The pandemic worsened existing inequalities, widening the achievement gaps between richer and poorer students. Students from richer school districts scored higher and made stronger improvements than students from poorer ones.7 Even within the same school district, this was true for richer families and poorer families.8 During the pandemic, students who were behind in math and reading fell even further behind. Low scores sunk even lower. As scores recovered this past year, students with lower scores faced an even deeper hole to climb out from—one that they are still stuck in today.

Reasons for the Pandemic Learning Loss Recovery

It was feared that the pandemic would permanently leave students behind—that once they lost learning time, they would never be able to fully make it up. However, the return to in-person instruction and innovative methods by teachers, administration, and school districts have succeeded in starting to get students back on track.

Schools have cut down on truancy, expanded tutoring opportunities, implemented after-school and summer school programs, and even increased the length of the school day.9 “This did not happen by accident,” said Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, whose students scored among the highest in math and reading according to the Education Recovery Scorecard. “Many, many people were involved at all levels across the district.”10

Though most education decisions are made at the local and state levels, the federal government sets goals and provides some funding to support schools. The actions schools have already taken, with much success, align with three major educational goals set last month by President Joe Biden’s administration: increasing school attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and increasing summer learning and after-school learning time.11

Schools across the country have also made use of federal funds—more than $122 billion—to aid in their recovery, though these funds will run out in the fall.12 There’s always a need for more money, more time, and more resources, especially now as many public schools find themselves underfunded and struggling to support their students.13

Continuing the Trend

What a student learns and achieves today affects their quality of life in the long run. Low scores can correlate to lower wages, fewer opportunities, and a higher likelihood of unemployment or incarceration later in life.14 That’s on top of the challenges students currently face in the wake of the pandemic: increased levels of stress, anxiety, and loneliness.15

Educational achievement impacts the U.S. economy and our ability to advance and compete as a nation. On a global level, math scores for 15-year-olds ranked 28th out of 37 among similarly industrialized countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.16 There will always be a need for skilled workers and a well-educated population that can think critically, analyze information, and problem-solve to improve their own lives and their communities. Without these foundational skills, individual people—and the country—fall behind.

The results of the Education Recovery Scorecard show that learning loss recovery is possible when multiple groups of decision-makers prioritize childhood education as the urgent issue it is. The improvements we’ve seen are good, but third- through eighth-grade students are generally still lagging behind. “We’re slowly recovering,” said former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, “but not fast enough.”17 Students still have a long way to go to reach basic levels of understanding in math and reading. This is just the first step in helping students make up what they lost so they can ultimately meet and exceed the proficiency standards for their grade levels. Schools must maintain this momentum with sustained support to accelerate this upward trend.

Discussion Questions

  1. Does your school offer any additional resources to help support students who may be struggling in math or reading?
  2. Check out the New York Times resource below. Is your school district’s data included? What does it look like compared to the average scores of your state?
  3. The Biden administration set three goals to improve student achievement: increasing school attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and increasing summer learning and after-school learning time. Can you think of additional ways to support student learning, both inside and outside the classroom?
  4. Should Congress provide more federal funds to help students recover from the learning loss? If so, what programs, trainings, or resources should those funds go toward?

Other Resources

Related Post

 

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

Close Up is proud to be the nation’s leading nonprofit civic education organization, working with schools and districts across the country since 1971. If you would like to partner with us or learn more about our experiential learning programs, professional development, or curriculum design and consulting, contact us today! 

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune
[1] Harvard University: https://educationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ERS-National-Press-Release-2024013001.pdf
[2] Ibid.
[3] National Assessment of Educational Progress: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/highlights/reading/2022/
[4] National Assessment of Educational Progress: https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/
[5] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.html
[6] Harvard University: https://educationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ERS-Report-Final-1.31.pdf
[7] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.html
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] The Tennessean: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2024/02/13/nashville-schools-rank-top-nation-math-reading-recovery-after-pandemic/72584619007/
[11] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/17/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-improving-student-achievement-agenda-in-2024/
[12] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.html
[13] Economic Policy Institute: https://www.epi.org/publication/public-education-funding-in-the-us-needs-an-overhaul/
[14] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.html
[15] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/07/health/anxiety-kids-medication-therapy-wellness/index.html
[16] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/math-scores-pandemic-pisa.html
[17] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/01/31/us/pandemic-learning-loss-recovery.html

 

Revisiting the Child Tax Credit

Posted on by Scot Wilson

What is the Child Tax Credit Proposal?

There is an ongoing bipartisan effort in Congress to pass legislation that would provide financial support for families with young children. The bill would allow parents and guardians to receive a larger tax credit of up to $2,000 with the entire credit being refundable. This would provide some families with an additional $700-$1,400 dollars each year.1

The House of Representatives has already passed the bill. The Senate is now considering it.

WATCH: “What’s in the Bill to Expand the Child Tax Credit?” from PBS

What Would the Child Tax Credit Bill Do?

According the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), this bill would benefit roughly 16 million children and would bring approximately 500,000 children out of poverty. In the first year:

  • Overall, more than one in five children under 17 would benefit from the expansion.
  • More than one in three of all Black and Latino children under 17 would benefit.
  • Three in ten of all American Indian and Alaska Native children under 17 would benefit.
  • One in seven of all white and Asian children under 17 would benefit.2

The Child Tax Credit bill would impact different families in unique ways according to income, the number of children they have, and whether or not they are single-parent families. According to the CBPP, these are some examples of the ways in which families could benefit:

  • A single parent with two children who earns $13,000 working part time as a home health aide would see their credit double (a $1,575 gain) in the first year.
  • A single parent with two children who earns $22,000 as a child care worker would gain $675 in the first year.
  • A married couple—with one parent earning $32,000 as a nursing assistant and the other parent staying home to take care of their three young children—would gain $975 in the first year.3

READ: “Child Tax Credit Proposal: Impacts by the Numbers” from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

What Are Legislators Saying About the Bill?

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a lead author of the bill, said, “Fifteen million kids from low-income families will be better off as a result of this plan, and given today’s miserable political climate, it’s a big deal to have this opportunity to pass pro-family policy that helps so many kids get ahead.”4

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, said that the overall bill does not yet have his support but he is working with committee members to make changes. “We have not resolved everything yet,” he said. “I hope we are able to get a bill, and I’ve been working on this bill for three years.”5

Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) expressed frustration that the bill doesn’t do more. “You know I’ve been told that a half a loaf is better than none,” he said. “This isn’t even half a loaf, but I’m going to vote for it because our families and businesses need help.”6

“The tax bill we are considering today contains several wins for families and our economy, but one piece falls short. The child tax credit expansion would still leave behind millions of kids in families that need it the most,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.). “I will still continue leading the effort to fully expand the child tax credit.”7

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) also expressed anger at the bill not going far enough. “This bill provides billions of dollars in tax relief for the wealthy, pennies for the poor,” she said. “Big corporations are richer than ever. There is no even split.”8

Some lawmakers have argued that the bill goes too far. For example, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said, “What is a refundable tax credit? It’s welfare by a different name. We’re going to give cash payments, checks, to people who don’t even pay taxes.”9

What Are Others Saying About the Bill?

Steven Hamilton, a professor of economics at The George Washington University, said, “We know that the child tax credit is an incredibly effective, well-targeted mechanism for delivering relief to families with children.”10

Responding to criticism that the bill is too small, Nikhita Airi of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center said, “Even a small boost of income can pay really big dividends.”11

The American Enterprise Institute, a policy think tank, argues that the Child Tax Credit bill would lead to people leaving the workforce because of the tax credit. They argue that because the bill does not have a work requirement, some families may earn more from the tax credit than from work, which will lead people already in poverty to give up on jobs that might eventually help them increase their earnings.12

What Comes Next?

The bill now goes to the Senate, and it may be sent back to the House if significant changes are made. As the arguments outlined above show, there is still work to be done to develop a bill that can pass the Senate. This is a good time for the public to make their voices heard and express support for or opposition to the bill by reaching out to their members of Congress.

CONTACT: Reach out to your elected officials about this or any other issue!

Discussion Questions

  1. Is poverty an issue in the community where you live? What evidence do you see of poverty, especially child poverty, in your area?
  2. Which arguments about this bill do you find most persuasive? Do you think it is a good bill? Does it go too far? Not far enough?
  3. What do you think should be the role of the federal government in trying to reduce or eliminate poverty?
  4. If you were talking to a member of Congress about this issue, what would you say to them? What would you want them to do?

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

Close Up is proud to be the nation’s leading nonprofit civic education organization, working with schools and districts across the country since 1971. If you would like to partner with us or learn more about our experiential learning programs, professional development, or curriculum design and consulting, contact us today! 

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Erin Woodiel/Missouri Independent
[1] ABC 7 Chicago: https://abc7chicago.com/child-tax-credit-bipartisan-proposal-ron-wyden-jason-smith/14375687/
[2] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/child-tax-credit-proposal-impacts-by-the-numbers
[3] Ibid.
[4] Roll Call: https://rollcall.com/2024/01/16/tax-panel-leaders-clinch-deal-on-child-credit-business-breaks/
[5] Ibid.
[6] ABC 7 Chicago: https://abc7chicago.com/child-tax-credit-bipartisan-proposal-ron-wyden-jason-smith/14375687/
[7] American Enterprise Institute: https://www.aei.org/articles/ctc-expansion-rooted-in-desire-to-roll-back-work-based-welfare/
[8] Ibid.
[9] Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/child-tax-credit-house-republicans-speaker-johnson-4da25a4188ad27693e9d8755e7481b76#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The%20House,gives%20lawmakers%20on%20both%20sides
[10] CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/01/child-tax-credit-expansion-could-benefit-millions-of-families.html
[11] Ibid.
[12] American Enterprise Institute: https://www.aei.org/articles/ctc-expansion-rooted-in-desire-to-roll-back-work-based-welfare/

 

The Congressional Border Deal

Posted on by Scot Wilson

On Sunday, February 4, a bipartisan group of senators unveiled a compromise bill intended to address border security concerns and to provide further funding for Ukraine’s military defense against Russia.1 In this post, we will examine the immigration-related contents of the compromise legislation and explore different perspectives about the border security bill.

What Is in the Border Security Agreement?

The border security bill includes $20 billion in investments to:

  • hire new Border Patrol officials;
  • hire employees to process asylum requests;
  • provide funding for shelters and services in cities struggling to meet the needs of new immigrants;
  • expand detention facilities to hold those who cross the border illegally; and,
  • increase screenings for fentanyl and other illicit drugs.2

Additionally, the border security bill would increase the scrutiny of those seeking asylum to screen some applicants out of the process more quickly to preserve resources.3 The goal of many of the provisions connected to the asylum process would be to reduce the wait time from 5-7 years to six months. Over the next five years, the agreement would allow an additional 50,000 immigrant visas each year and would establish faster pathways to permanent status for people from Afghanistan who resettled in the United States.4

FURTHER READING: White House List of Provisions in the Bill

In addition to these provisions, the bill would give the president the authority to close the border if the number of migrant encounters exceeds 4,000 per day over the course of a week, and would automatically close the border if the number of encounters exceeds a daily average of 5,000 during a week or exceeds 8,500 on any single day.5

WATCH: The Associated Press Outlines the Senate Bill

What Are Supporters of the Bill Saying About the Immigration Provisions?

Although this border security bill was developed in a bipartisan manner in the Senate, there is no guarantee that the bill will pass. Advocating for the bill, President Joe Biden said, “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation.”6

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who was a lead negotiator on the bill, argued that fellow Republicans who are skeptical about the bill should appreciate that the legislation “clears up a lot of the long-term issues and loopholes that have existed in the asylum law and it gives us an emergency authority that stops the chaos right now on the border.”7

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I–Ariz.) was also a lead negotiator on the border security bill. “America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” she said. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”8

What Are Opponents of the Bill Saying About the Immigration Provisions?

This bill faces scrutiny both from progressive activists and from conservatives and supporters of former President Donald Trump. For example, Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, a progressive organization, said they oppose “bringing back failed Trump-era immigration policies, and we oppose handing a future Republican president new powers to inflict their cruel agenda on migrants and asylum seekers.”9

“I am still reviewing the text of this proposal, which was constructed under Republican hostage-taking and refusal to fund aid for Ukraine without cruelty toward immigrants,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a progressive member of the House of Representatives.10

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who is a leader of the Republican Party in the Senate, said, “Joe Biden will never enforce any new law and refuses to use the tools he already has today to end this crisis. I cannot vote for this bill. Americans will turn to the upcoming election to end the border crisis.”11

Former President Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, also opposes the bill and urged congressional Republicans to not pass the bill. “This is a gift to Democrats, and this, sort of, is a shifting of the worst border in history onto the shoulders of Republicans. That’s really what they want. They want this for the presidential election, so they can now blame the Republicans for the worst border in history.”12

What’s Next?

The bipartisan border security bill already appears to have stalled, as many Republican legislators have said they oppose the bill. “Any consideration of this Senate bill in its current form is a waste of time,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a joint statement with Republican leaders on Monday. “It is dead on arrival in the House. We encourage the U.S. Senate to reject it.”13

President Biden is continuing to push for the border security bill and will likely campaign on the issue. “Now, all indications are this bill won’t even move forward to the Senate floor,” said President Biden. “Why? A simple reason: Donald Trump. Because Donald Trump thinks it’s bad for him politically, even though it helps the country. He’d rather weaponize the issue than actually solve it.”14

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think immigration is a high priority issue for the government to address? Why or why not?
  2. Which of the provisions in the border security legislation do you support, if any? Which do you oppose?
  3. Members of Congress have attempted to create compromise bills to solve immigration issues many times since the presidency of George W. Bush. Each effort at major reforms has stalled. Why do you think that immigration is such a challenging issue for legislators to solve?
  4. What would be your priorities if you were proposing changes to immigration policy?

Related Posts

 

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

Close Up is proud to be the nation’s leading nonprofit civic education organization, working with schools and districts across the country since 1971. If you would like to partner with us or learn more about our experiential learning programs, professional development, or curriculum design and consulting, contact us today! 

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Eric Gay/AP
[1] Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-unveils-118-billion-bipartisan-bill-tighten-border-security-aid-2024-02-04/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20Feb%204%20(Reuters),from%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives.
[2] Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-releases-long-awaited-border-legislation
[3] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/04/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-calls-on-congress-to-immediately-pass-the-bipartisan-national-security-agreement/
[4] Ibid.
[5] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/us/politics/senate-border-ukraine-deal.html
[6] The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/04/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-calls-on-congress-to-immediately-pass-the-bipartisan-national-security-agreement/
[7] Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-15e2e3fac2b29b5b4bbe1eae8eb1c924
[8] Ibid.
[9] The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4449866-the-memo-gops-border-bill-outrage-underscores-a-political-shift/
[10] Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pramila-jayapal-says-biden-caved-extremist-views-bipartisan-border-deal
[11] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/border-republicans-ukraine-bill.html
[12] The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4449600-trump-border-bill-very-bad-lankfords-career/
[13] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/04/us/politics/senate-border-deal-immigration-ukraine.html
[14] ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-blames-trump-border-deal-now-teetering-collapse/story?id=106990958

 

The Debate About Urban (Re)Design in the United States

Posted on by Scot Wilson

Amidst the mosaic of national debates surrounding climate change, economic justice, and public health, there is a growing focus on the intersection of these issues and the design of our communities. The overwhelming majority of U.S. households own at least one vehicle, and the number of vehicles registered in the United States has continued to rise in recent years.1 Some argue that car dependency is a symptom of the design of American cities, others argue that it’s the cause.

Climate scientists have made the case that continued suburban sprawl and car dependency are detrimental to fighting climate change, and that urban life leads to a smaller carbon footprint.2 With Americans moving to the suburbs and out of urban and rural areas in greater numbers, many urban theorists and planners have been working to find ways to make cities more desirable places to live. Some communities around the country have already implemented radical programs with some measures of success.3

Highway History and Reckoning

The design of many U.S. cities is due to political battles in the early 20th century, when cities expanded rapidly. Typically, these cities expanded outwards rather than upwards. Many urban planners chose to build large highways to facilitate the movement of cars into and out of city centers each day.

In 2022, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced a $1 billion program, Reconnecting Cities, to help rectify the harm caused by 20th-century highway projects, particularly to lower-income areas and communities of color.4 This initiative, part of a larger investment in infrastructure by President Joe Biden’s administration, offers federal aid to cities and states that wish to add public transit, bike lanes, and/or highway crossings, or even partially remove highways.

The association of highways with racial justice drew some attention in the press, echoing a history of citizen action against highway construction in the 1950s.When the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads originally published the blueprint of the Interstate Highway System (all 41,000 miles of it), some Americans in larger cities pushed back on the urban redesign out of fear that the highways would disrupt or destroy certain communities. Citizens protested, blocked construction, and filed lawsuits. These efforts became known as the “highway revolts,” and they took place in cities around the United States, most notably in Washington, San Francisco, and New York City.5

A before and after of a small section of the Inner Loop removal project. Google Maps/City of Rochester

In recent years, some have pushed for the outright removal or urban redesign of the freeways that cut through the center of cities. One city that paved the way for urban freeway removal was Rochester, New York.6 The I-490 Inner Loop, a freeway that closely encircled downtown Rochester, was built in the 1950s and functionally divided the center of the city with a massive trench to bring commuters in and out of downtown. Starting in 2014, the city closed the eastern portion of the loop and began to fill it in with dirt, then paved a wide avenue with bike lanes, storefronts, and new housing in the form of apartments. The goal was to make downtown Rochester a more livable place. The popularity among residents was mixed, but the city considers the project a success and says it plans to remove further sections of the loop. Rochester transportation specialist Erik Frisch called the project “a bit of a proof of concept.”6

READ MORE: “Can Removing Highways Fix America’s Cities?” from the New York Times

Fifteen Minutes or Less?

Another concept that’s been gaining traction is the “15-minute city” design. Rather than requiring a personal vehicle to commute to work or school, go to the gym, visit friends, or buy groceries, residents of a 15-minute city design could reach all of these essential amenities within approximately 15 minutes by foot, bicycle, or public transportation. Internationally, Paris has led the charge on redesigning cities to dramatically reduce the need for personal vehicles. Mayor Anne Hidalgo championed the concept as a means to reduce emissions and fight climate change, and it was a major part of her reelection campaign. Streets were closed to vehicular traffic, old buildings were converted to housing or retail and office space, and new parks were built.8

TThe 15-minute city design concept was conceived by Carlos Moreno, a professor at Sorbonne University of Paris. Moreno advised Hidalgo for the Parisian effort, and now his ideas have spread to North America. Cities such as Cleveland, Portland, and San Jose have all expressed plans to redesign with this concept in mind.7 Fifteen-minute city proponents argue that denser neighborhoods can help urban planners make better use of land and allow people to live closer to work, school, and other amenities, so many are starting the effort by removing zoning ordinances that only allow for the building of single-family housing.

READ MORE: “’15-Minute City’ Planning is on the Rise, Experts Say. Here’s What to Know,” from the Washington Post

Highway removal and 15-minute city redesign have drawn detractors as well, both in the public sphere and in government. Critics argue that implementing the 15-minute city concept in the United States is considerably more difficult than it is in other countries, as our cities were largely designed during the automobile era. The transition would be very complex and resource-intensive, challenging social and economic habits and needs in American culture such as dependency on cars and perceptions of urban and public spaces. Highway removal projects also face opposition in some areas where they’ve been proposed. Rochester’s highway removal took two decades to get started, and it faced less opposition than it would have in other places (the portion of the highway removed carried very little traffic).

Still, urban redesign projects are often popular among Americans, especially younger generations, and may drastically change our cities in the coming decades.

Discussion Questions

  1. Should urban planners encourage these projects as a way to reduce car dependency and climate change?
  2. Would you prefer to live in a “15-minute city”? Why or why not?
  3. Does the urban design of the United States and its history being intertwined with racial injustice and segregation need a cultural reckoning?
  4. Can you think of any large- or small-scale projects that you’d like to see urban planners implement in your community?

How to Get Involved

Local city planning meetings are often open to the public and allow citizens to voice their opinions on new proposals. Check to see if there are any meetings in your community!

Related posts

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion with your comments or questions below.

Close Up is proud to be the nation’s leading nonprofit civic education organization, working with schools and districts across the country since 1971. If you would like to partner with us or learn more about our experiential learning programs, professional development, or curriculum design and consulting, contact us today! 

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Wikimedia; public domain
[1] Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/car-ownership-statistics/
[2] Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2021/12/16/americans-are-less-likely-than-before-covid-19-to-want-to-live-in-cities-more-likely-to-prefer-suburbs/
[3] Berkeley News: https://news.berkeley.edu/2014/01/06/suburban-sprawl-cancels-carbon-footprint-savings-of-dense-urban-cores
[4] Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-transportation-pete-buttigieg-48e09f253781c89359d875f19fc70f9d
[5] Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-23/the-unfinished-history-of-u-s-freeway-revolts
[6] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/27/climate/us-cities-highway-removal.html
[7] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/world/europe/15-minute-city-conspiracy.html
[8] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/03/03/15-minute-cities-faq/