Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i85HSGR22476; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 13:28:16 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 13:28:16 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <11388342.1094405164662.JavaMail.root@bert.psp.pas.earthlink.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Mary Ann Corley <macorley1@earthlink.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:1415] Urban Institute Update for September 1, 2004 X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: Earthlink Zoo Mail 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Status: O Content-Length: 3275 Lines: 35 URBAN INSTITUTE UPDATE Wednesday, September 1, 2004 To read the full text of the following articles, visit www.urban.org ========================= NEW REPORT ON DELAYING RETIREMENT "Trends in Job Demands among Older Workers, 1992-2002," by Richard Johnson Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan observed last week that U.S. "policies promoting longer working life could ameliorate some of the potential demographic stresses" caused by the doubling of the over-65 population by 2035. This study documents reductions in the physical demands of jobs that, combined with the improved health of middle age and older workers, allow more people to delay retirement and work more years than in the past. The findings support Chairman Greenspan's recommendation that older workers stay on the job longer to help keep Medicare and Social Security solvent. However, the report also finds older workers reporting that their nonphysical job demands are increasingly difficult and stressful. Also, workers in physically demanding jobs are disproportionately people of color and low-educated adults, often with chronic health problems. The author recommends that policymakers encouraging older adults to delay retirement and remain at work should provide an adequate safety net for those adults whose demanding jobs and health problems force them to retire early. --------------- COMMENTARY ON TEACHER QUALITY "We certainly don't have all the answers about what works in education, but we know teachers make a difference. Indeed, teacher quality is arguably the most important in-school influence on student achievement. And, perhaps not surprisingly, teacher quality makes the most difference for students from disadvantaged families. Educational professionals and researchers alike also know that teachers vary greatly in their effectiveness. So isn't it surprising--and unacceptable--that teachers in schools serving the most disadvantaged students are typically the least experienced and least qualified?" >From "Best Teachers Need More Than Apples," by Jane Hannaway, published in the Cincinnati Enquirer. --------------- COMMENTARY ON OUTCOME MANAGEMENT "Unfortunately, throughout the United States, outcome measurement has been used primarily to assess agency accountability--indeed, a legitimate and important use of outcome information. However, to make measurement efforts really worthwhile, public and private agencies also need to analyze and use the information to help them improve services. This transforms 'outcome measurement' into 'outcome management.'" >From "Public and Private Agencies Need to Manage for Results, Not Just Measure Them," by Harry Hatry --------------- DATA AT A GLANCE: HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS Although more than half of working-age singles and nearly a third of families spent less than the Health Savings Accounts' deductibles in 2004 (a minimum of $1000 for singles and $2000 for families), these households accounted for only a tiny fraction of medical spending. More than 95 percent of medical expenditures by insured working-age households were made by those who spent more than the HSA deductibles. >From "Most Households' Medical Expenses Exceed HSA Deductibles," by Linda Blumberg and Leonard Burman, published in Tax Notes.
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