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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Do State Policies Constrain Local Actors? The Impact Of English Only Laws On Language Instruction In Public Schools, Melissa Marschall, Elizabeth Rigby, Jasmine Jenkins Dec 2010

Do State Policies Constrain Local Actors? The Impact Of English Only Laws On Language Instruction In Public Schools, Melissa Marschall, Elizabeth Rigby, Jasmine Jenkins

Elizabeth Rigby

This study examines how instrumental and symbolic messages embedded in state law shape the practices of ‘street-level’ bureaucrats. Specifically, we investigate whether passage of state-level English Only laws influences the way English language learners are instructed in local public schools. Using data on state English Only laws from 1987-2004 and school-level data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, we find that instrumental aspects of English Only laws serve to constrain, but not eliminate, schools’ use of bilingual instruction, while those sending only symbolic messages are less constraining. Further, when state laws are vague in scope, adherence to the English …


Federal Food Assistance Programs: Part Of The Early Childhood Obesity Solution Or Part Of The Problem?, Elizabeth Rigby, Rachel Kimbro Feb 2010

Federal Food Assistance Programs: Part Of The Early Childhood Obesity Solution Or Part Of The Problem?, Elizabeth Rigby, Rachel Kimbro

Elizabeth Rigby

Amid growing concern about childhood obesity, the United States spends billions of dollars on food assistance: providing meals and subsidizing food purchases. We examine the relationship between food assistance and body mass index (BMI) for young, low-income children, who are a primary target population for federal food programs and for efforts to prevent childhood obesity. Our findings indicate that food assistance may unintentionally contribute tot he childhood obesity problem in cities with high food prices. We also find that subsidized meals at school or day care are beneficial for children's weight status, and we argue that expanding access to subsidized …


Public Values, Health Inequality, And Alternative Notions Of A “Fair” Response, Elizabeth Rigby, Erika Blacksher, Claire Espey Dec 2009

Public Values, Health Inequality, And Alternative Notions Of A “Fair” Response, Elizabeth Rigby, Erika Blacksher, Claire Espey

Elizabeth Rigby

The fact that disadvantaged people generally die younger and suffer more disease than those with more resources is gaining ground as a major policy concern in the United States. Yet, we know little about how public values inform public opinion regarding policy interventions to address these disparities. This paper presents findings from an exploratory study of the public’s values and priorities as they relate to social inequalities in health. Forty-three subjects were presented with a scenario depicting health inequalities by social class and were given the opportunity to alter the distribution of health outcomes. Participants’ responses fell into one of …


Child Care Quality In Different State Policy Contexts, Elizabeth Rigby, Rebecca M. Ryan, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn Dec 2006

Child Care Quality In Different State Policy Contexts, Elizabeth Rigby, Rebecca M. Ryan, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn

Elizabeth Rigby

No abstract provided.


Alternative Policy Designs And The Socio-Political Construction Of Child Care, Elizabeth Rigby, Kate Tarrant, Michelle Neuman Dec 2006

Alternative Policy Designs And The Socio-Political Construction Of Child Care, Elizabeth Rigby, Kate Tarrant, Michelle Neuman

Elizabeth Rigby

No abstract provided.


Policy Counts: Improving The Readiness Of Children For School, Recommendations For State Policy, Sharon Lynn Kagan, Elizabeth Rigby Dec 2002

Policy Counts: Improving The Readiness Of Children For School, Recommendations For State Policy, Sharon Lynn Kagan, Elizabeth Rigby

Elizabeth Rigby

No abstract provided.