Browsing by Department "The Sanford School of Public Policy"

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Open Access
$100 Million Dollars Later: Are School Resource Officers Making North Carolina Schools Safer?
(2023-04-20) LeFebvre, Joanna
Since 2016, North Carolina has spent over $100 million on School Resource Officer (SRO) salaries and training. Research consistently finds SROs have little to no effect on school safety and can contribute to over-disciplining students. A difference-in-differences study on the effect of a 170% increase in SRO funding for North Carolina elementary and middle schools in 2018 suggests SROs have no effect on criminal acts or short-term suspensions but may increase the number of school-related arrests. Estimates suggest SROs caused an increase of about 0.035 arrests (p<0.1) per 1,000 elementary and middle school students. This translates to an additional 35 school-related arrests resulting from SRO presence. Arrests of students with disabilities increased by 0.243 (p<0.1) per 1,000 students, arrests of male students increased by 0.058 (p<0.1) per 1,000 students, and arrests of economically disadvantaged students increased by 0.068 (p<0.1) per 1,000 students. Findings for these subgroups align with previous research suggesting these students are particularly vulnerable to excessive disciplining. Lawmakers should consider these results when deciding the best ways to increase student safety and well-being in elementary and middle schools. Additionally, the state should require school districts to collect SRO data at the school level to evaluate the effects of SROs across time and decide if this investment of taxpayer dollars produces the desired results.
Open Access
A Background and Case Study on Septic Tank Failure as it Relates to Climate Impacts, Recent Climate Policy, and Community Needs
(2023-04-28) Oglesby, Cameron
In the two years since President Joe Biden took office there has been an unprecedented national focus on environmental justice and climate justice in the distribution of federal funds and resources. There has also been an influx of federal funds made available to address a pervasive history of infrastructure disinvestment across the country, particularly water and wastewater infrastructure. This report attempts to converge the issues surrounding waste management infrastructure in the U.S., specifically regarding septic system failure, and the opportunity areas for improvement in federal dollars, outlining the policy history, modern context, and recommendations for taking advantage of this current moment of public salience. This report outlines a thorough national policy history for septic system infrastructure as well as recent policy opportunities and community concerns regarding federal funds. This report also attempts to outline the greatest indicators or identifiers for septic failure as well as breakdown potential policy solutions or priority areas for federal and state-level actors and advocates based on septic and sewer infrastructure investments taking placed in Miami-Dade County in Florida and the Middle Peninsula/Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. The background and case study analysis consists of a literature review of national and regional septic failure, utilizing what little academic literature exists on the topic and more recent journalistic coverage of this issue across the U.S. The national background as well as individual case studies are further fleshed out through a series of interviews with academic and community experts in water protection and wastewater management. The final product is a comprehensive overview of septic system policy history, modern funding opportunities, and solutions/recommendations based on expert testimony.
Open Access
A Case Study of Transit Demand Modeling and Transportation Planning at North Carolina State University
(2012-04-20) Bream, Baird
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Policy Questions: How should a large urban university make short-term trade-offs in its provision of transit service to a new, multi-use library that is expected to shift demand towards new transit policies? How should the goals of transportation and campus planning fit into a larger decision-making process for university development? Recommendations: Based on the emerging preference among the NCSU community for rapid, direct bus services between major trip generators and in particular between Main Campus and Centennial Campus, these recommendations focus on short-term route adjustments and long-term changes in service delivery. The short-term route changes to the Wolfline system can meet demand at the Hunt Library without incurring substantial changes in existing service patterns or increases in transit resources. The long-term route changes impact the larger issues of campus planning and community engagement that NC State Transportation must address as Centennial Campus becomes a larger and more multi-use part of the campus. Short-term transit demand analysis at Hunt Library: 2012—2013 • Re-route 3A Centennial Express and 8 Southeast Loop to stop at Hunt Library via Main Campus Drive and Partners Way • Do not change frequencies on 8 Southeast Loop • Move one bus from 3 Engineering to 3A Centennial Express to improve frequencies • Increase daily end of 3A Centennial Express service from 6:30 PM to 9:54 PM Long-term campus development planning and transit planning: 2015—2022 • Wolfline service o Shift focus on Wolfline service from circulating loops to prioritize rapid, high-frequency service between campus precincts via major transit hubs and trip generators with limited stops o Develop express bus service between Hunt Library and D.H. Hill Library with limited stops along North and Central Campus precincts o Shift express bus service to corridor between Hunt Library and Talley Student Center following completion of renovations • Development of parking decks for parking supply o Ensure that each campus precinct has sufficient parking for people traveling to precinct o Maintain sufficient surface parking around campus buildings to permit access for facilities vehicles and emergency service vehicles • Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure o Implement reductions in automobile access on Dan Allen Drive to improve pedestrian safety o Increase bike and pedestrian safety at Avent Ferry and Western intersection • NCSU community outreach o Communicate clear service standards for Wolfline operations to NCSU community to set expectations about public transportation services  Stress the use of the TransLoc app to make wait times more predictable o Communicate the Wolfline system upgrades and benefits that students, faculty, staff and corporate partners receive from their student fee and parking fee contributions o Communicate all restrictions in automobile access as early and as directly as possible to give opportunities for community feedback and travel behavior adjustment o Update Office of University Architect and Centennial Campus Development Office on transit technologies and infrastructures at all levels: NCSU; City of Raleigh; North Carolina Context for Case Study: This project uses North Carolina State University as a case study for transit planning at large urban university campuses and focuses on a new capital project, a large, multi-use library called the James B. Hunt Jr. Library located on the Centennial Campus of NCSU, a newer satellite campus precinct that is currently undergoing expansion. The NCSU Transportation Department will be responsible for providing public transit service (the Wolfline) for students, faculty and staff who want to travel to and from the Hunt Library, which is scheduled to open in the winter of 2013. Many departments attached to the Hunt Library and Centennial Campus view the Library as a flagship building that will raise the profile of NCSU and will transform the Centennial Campus from “an office park environment” to a “campus environment,” with greater student and pedestrian activity. Since the building will likely have a significant impact on a rapidly developing campus precinct, NC State Transportation must evaluate the potential demand for traveling to and from the Hunt Library that students, faculty and staff demonstrate to determine the impact that the Library will have on the Wolfline system. This expansion of transit service is one of several changes in transit operations that NC State Transportation is evaluating in its Campus Mobility Plan. The goal of the Campus Mobility Plan is to outline the changes in funding, service provision and streetscape infrastructure that are necessary to create an “enhanced multimodal campus transportation system” over the next ten years. Because the Campus Mobility Plan has far-reaching impact on the physical design of the campus, NC State Transportation will be communicating with and working with numerous departments across the NCSU Administration. Representatives from these departments serve as Advisory Stakeholders to the CMP and have the opportunity to share their visions for the Hunt Library and NCSU transportation in general with the Department at planning meetings. Methodology: This report bases its analysis on three evaluations. The first evaluation is an estimation of ridership and transit demand at the Hunt Library based on trip generation rates at the Library as a function of the Library’s net assignable square footage. This report compares these estimates to trip generation rates at the D.H. Hill Library and distributes the number of daily trips that each building generates into trips in to the library and trips out of the library and into low-demand morning hours and high-demand afternoon and evening hours. This analysis takes this system of trip generation and distribution from the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Trip Generation Report and applies the system to both libraries. The second and third evaluations are both qualitative. The second evaluation extrapolates trends in stated preferences from two surveys that NC State Transportation conducted in the Fall of 2011: a Customer Satisfaction Survey that the Department distributed to a sample of students, faculty and staff; and an Engineering Student Survey that the Department distributed to a sample of first-years, sophomores and juniors who have a major in the College of Engineering. Both surveys evaluate student preferences for Wolfline services and ask students to predict their interest in using the Hunt Library and their travel behaviors to and from the Library. The third evaluation is a series of interviews with members of the NCSU community who are serving as Advisory Stakeholders for the Campus Mobility Plan. The author interviews each stakeholder to obtain the stakeholder’s perspective on the current services that NC State Transportation offers to the larger community and those that the Department plans on providing. Specifically, these interviews focus on Wolfline services, parking services, the design and planning of campus transportation infrastructure, and the Hunt Library. Findings: 1. Assuming a seven-percent mode share for Wolfline services, estimated levels of demand for Wolfline services at the Hunt Library are within the system’s current capacity and NC State Transportation can meet this demand with small changes to existing services. 2. The Customer Satisfaction Survey and the Engineering Student Survey reflect that the Wolfline service plays an important role in students’ mobility on a daily basis and that students show a high level of familiarity with the information technologies that NC State Transportation uses to promote its services and notify riders about changes and updates. 3. Students’ priorities for service improvements focus on greater frequency, longer evening service hours, and more connections between Main Campus and Centennial Campus. 4. The Customer Satisfaction Survey and the Engineering Student Survey show high levels of interest in the Hunt Library and high levels of demand for travel between Main Campus and Centennial Campus. 5. The results of the stakeholder analysis show substantial support for an increase in public transportation services and for greater connectivity between Main Campus and Centennial Campus. Many stakeholders express significant concern for reducing automobile access on Main Campus and promoting the development of parking decks over surface parking. Stakeholders also express opposition for increasing parking fees or transportation fees to fund an increase in Wolfline services. Support for greater pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is present, but opinions are more muted. 6. Many stakeholders state a preference for direct, limited-stop services between major trip generators with low travel times and high frequencies and believe that the growth of Centennial Campus will create greater demand for these services. They assert that NC State Transportation should prioritize these services in its future route planning. 7. Many stakeholders stress that the Department should engage with the NCSU community more directly and openly about the opportunities and limitations of a public transit system and its ability to enhance mobility and connectivity across the campus. 8. Several stakeholders believe that NC State Transportation should increase its investments in transportation infrastructure and develop high-speed, high-frequency transit services that are more capital-intensive than the current Wolfline system, including light rail transit and bus-only corridors.
Open Access
A comparative analysis of newspaper and blog coverage of natural gas extraction policies in North Carolina
(2013-04-18) O'Doherty, Lauren Forbes
North Carolina is home to natural gas deposits, both onshore and offshore. The state has debated whether or not to allow extraction of these resources on many occasions. This study analyzes the newspaper and blog content published during two major policy debates: offshore drilling from 1987 through 1989, and hydraulic fracturing from 2010 through 2012. A newspaper was selected from each region of the state, and articles were analyzed for stakeholder coverage and the use of thematic and episodic frames. The results of the analysis show that coverage did vary across the state, with evidence of spatially driven demand for coverage of both debates. Less apparent were time driven trends across the two debates. The political landscape of NC, as well as the large changes in news media markets, made it hard to identify the effects of time on coverage of natural gas policies.
Open Access
A Hard Bargain? A cost-benefit analysis of an improved cookstove program in India
(2016-08-01) Pinto, Alisha
In developing countries, access to modern energy for cooking and heating still remains a challenge to raising households out of poverty. About 2.5 billion people depend on solid fuels such as biomass, wood, charcoal and animal dung. The use of solid fuels has negative outcomes for health, the environment and economic development (Universal Energy Access, UNDP). In low income countries, 1.3 million deaths occur due to indoor smoke or air pollution from burning solid fuels in small, confined and unventilated kitchens or homes. In addition, pollutants such as black carbon, methane and ozone, emitted when burning inefficient fuels, are responsible for a fraction of the climate change and air pollution. There are international efforts to promote the use of clean cookstoves in developing countries but limited evidence on the economic benefits of such distribution programs. This study undertook a systematic economic evaluation of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves to rural households in India. The evaluation examined the effect of different levels of subsidies on the net benefits to the household and to society. This paper answers the question, “Ex post, what are the economic benefits to various stakeholders of a program that distributed subsidized improved cookstoves?” In addressing this question, the evaluation used empirical data from India applied to a cost-benefit model to examine how subsidies affect the costs and the benefits of the biomass improved cookstove and the electric improved cookstove to different stakeholders.
Open Access
A Hole in the Middle? The challenge of downscaling Doughnut Economics as a local development framework
(2024) Moore, Dylan
The extraordinary growth of the world economy has dramatically transformed the context within which all humans live. It also introduces several interrelated challenges: providing for the basic development needs of people, reducing global inequality, and avoiding further degradation of the biosphere. Numerous frameworks have been developed in recent years to address these challenges, including Doughnut Economics, a sustainable development framework that combines several development indicators of human wellbeing with the planetary boundaries to define a “safe and just space” as the goal for global development. In this study, I present a concrete quantitative approach to operationalize Doughnut Economics for use at the local level and within a high-income context, the United States, to address the question: How are U.S. cities and counties performing on the social and ecological indicators of the Doughnut? I collected social and ecological data across 27 U.S. localities and find widespread variation in levels of social shortfall and greenhouse gas emissions between them. My findings suggest that previous Doughnut Economics research at the national level obscures patterns of intra-country social shortfall and inequality, underscoring the need for ongoing local data collection and analysis. I integrate my findings with a comparative case study of Amsterdam’s local application of Doughnut Economics to identify key challenges of applying a global development framework at the local level. My discussion of the shortcomings of these different methodological approaches to downscaling Doughnut Economics underscore how methodological diversity and triangulation are needed to effectively formulate and evaluate local policies based on Doughnut Economics.
Open Access
A Multistate Best Practices Analysis of Farm to School Programs in the Southeast
(2013-04-18) Williams, Mim
Open Access
A New Approach to Housing Choice Voucher Implementation in Durham, North Carolina
(2020-04-08)
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the largest federal rental housing program in the United States, providing housing subsidies for over 2.2 million low-income households at an annual cost of approximately $18.4 billion. However, even with substantial funding and bipartisan support, the HCV program does not do an optimal job at meeting its potential to give low-income households the opportunity to move into high-opportunity neighborhoods. While there is some existing evidence around creative approaches to improve HCV implementation in larger cities across the country, there is little research around implementation in midsized, southern cities like Durham, North Carolina. The following case study evaluates strategies implemented by housing authorities in Durham, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. It also looks at two HCV implementation strategies that are growing in popularity across the country: source-of- income laws and Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR). Altogether, the case study evaluation highlights demand-side and supply-side innovations and evaluates them against a set of criteria to determine whether the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) should consider implementation. This analysis gives way to a set of near-term and long-term recommendations. In the near-term, I recommend that the DHA... • Apply for Moving to Work (MTW) designation. This has been critical in enabling Charlotte’s housing authority, INLIVIAN, to test out new approaches to HCV implementation, many of which have been successful. In Durham, it is likely to have a similar impact. • Extend the time frame to find rental units. DHA should extend the time to find a unit to at least 120 days, a time frame that would make it more feasible for HCV recipients to find adequate units. This time frame is comparable to what is in practice in both Charlotte and Richmond. • Seek opportunities for local partnerships. Funding will be a significant barrier to implementing creative approaches to HCV administration. As such, DHA should seek out nonprofit partners who can support landlord recruitment efforts, serve as a conduit between landlords and tenants, and provide clear and consistent communication to both landlords and tenants. • Streamline landlord processes. DHA should seek out ways in which it can ease bureaucratic burdens for landlords and develop actionable solutions to implement these changes. This will reduce disincentives in the HCV program for landlord participation and will help increase the supply of landlords willing to rent to HCV recipients. In the long-term, I recommend that the DHA... • Adopt Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). SAFMRs are growing in popularity across the country. As Durham continues to grow and housing prices continue to rise, SAFMRs have the potential to provide all voucher families with access to high- opportunity, low-poverty neighborhoods. In order to be intentional about program roll- out, DHA should consult with other PHAs which have rolled out SAFMRs to understand lessons learned from program implementation.
Open Access
A Realist Synthesis of Community Consent in Mining: The Enabling Environment for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in Latin America
(2020-05-03) Comer, Katherine
Policy Question The policy problem this analysis seeks to understand is the context (otherwise known as the enabling environment) of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples impacted by mining in Latin America. The specific policy question of interest to the client, Equitable Origin, is: How should Equitable Origin evaluate the impact of its FPIC monitoring and verification framework which seeks to promote equity and community inclusion of Indigenous communities in energy and natural resources development? By studying the enabling environment, this research parses out what aspects of FPIC are most important to evaluate, enabling EO and others to better understand how to evaluate it. Methods This research investigates the enabling factors for FPIC and similar theories of community consent, e.g., corporate social responsibility, social license to operate, and community participatory practices in the context of mining. The geographic focus of this analysis is Latin America because the client’s work is based predominantly in Latin America and the mining industry faces significant challenges with community consent there. This study uses the realist synthesis (RS) methodology to analyze case studies. RS is similar to a systematic review but balances quantitative and qualitative methods, focusing on the underlying theories. The main objective of RS is to understand the key contextual factors that affect the outcomes of the initiatives studied, what works for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects, and how (Pawson 2005). The case studies were sorted by the most relevant program theory and further analyzed for prominent contextual factors of their successes and limitations. The policy recommendations are based on 24 studies, analyzed by the contextual factors and program theories for community participation. Findings The case studies of community consent fell into three program theory categories used to enable mining projects in Latin America: 1. FPIC/rights-based approaches, 2. corporate social responsibility, and 3. community participation. Throughout the three different program theories, several key contextual factors stood out: governance, corporate culture toward FPIC, power and information asymmetries, transparency, benefit-sharing, and environmental concerns. Many of the studies, regardless of program theory, advocate for clarity and legitimation of the processes for community consent. FPIC/rights-based approaches, in particular, emphasize the need for the legitimation of IP and international human rights. CSR and community participation demonstrate the lack of clear requirements for all parties working in IP territories. Without clear rules, regulations, processes, and arbitrators, FPIC is undermined, and conflict arises. Corporate culture was also found to be an essential enabling factor. Companies with intentional, inclusive development processes led successful projects when they were flexible and attentive to the effect of specific social policies on company-community relations. Concerns over benefit-sharing were found to impede project implementation in all three theories. Problems of benefit-sharing are derived from various contextual factors, but creative, iv appropriate, and culturally sound responses to benefit-sharing concerns often lead to mutuallybeneficial company-community agreements. Finally, lack of information was a recurring, limiting feature and is related to trust. The concerns about information relate to both what information is available to whom and whether information collected by third parties can be trusted. The following contextual factors matter for effectiveness of community participation: 1. All actors benefit from governments taking an active role in the FPIC process because: a. Clear, concise indigenous and human rights laws as well as mining laws enable both communities and companies to manage and fulfill expectations and eventually reach agreements b. When governments are a neutral third party, they can, in principle, level power and information asymmetries as well as promote social cohesion. Frequently, however, they are perceived to be industry allies, and therefore not trusted c. Clear, enforceable environmental regulations and requirements will aid companies and communities in fulfilling environmental obligations 2. FPIC should be incorporated into every stage of mining development. Company culture toward FPIC and stakeholder theory must be normative ("why") from the start for projects to succeed. If not, FPIC and SLO are very hard to achieve 3. Trust is the essential prerequisite. It is embedded in every aspect of community consent. a. Information asymmetries can be corrected through straightforward, transparent, culturally appropriate, and equitable information sharing b. Diverse stakeholder representation can mitigate benefit and cost-sharing concerns as well as poor interpersonal relations Thus, the policy recommendation is for governments to adopt and create clear, enforceable FPIC requirements for mining projects. FPIC requirements should be compulsory at multiple stages of project development and facilitate diverse stakeholder input. Ultimately, FPIC is about Indigenous self-determination, so any enabling environment that fails to recognize that will undermine the process. Attuned to the context, stakeholders, companies, and governments can anticipate issues and solutions before mining conflicts arise. Additional analysis of FPIC Monitoring and Evaluation methods can be found in Appendix 5. The solutions vary from case to case but depend on the prior consultation and non-coerced consent of communities. In the absence of community consent, mining projects in Latin America are likely to garner community opposition and ultimately fail.
Open Access
A Review of Conservation Finance Mechanisms in the North American West
(2013-04-09) Peterson, Emily
Background As part of a multi-pronged strategy to improve ecological integrity on 300 million high priority acres in the West by 2035, the Hewlett Foundation seeks to target and increase public funding for private land conservation. The Hewlett Foundation has funded the Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy for several years to raise public funding for conservation through ballot and legislative initiatives. This study examines the extent to which private lands protected through public funding have improved ecological integrity in the West. It also considers which combinations of funding mechanisms and government levels have yielded the highest returns for ecological integrity, in terms of acres protected. The purpose of this evaluation is to provide a set of lessons learned about past conservation finance activities to inform the Hewlett Foundation’s new five-year strategic plan for its Western Conservation Program in 2014-2018. Methodology and Principal Findings Private lands protected using public funding were examined using GIS and the Conservation Almanac dataset to determine the degree to which protected lands overlap with the Hewlett Foundation’s internal priority areas. The results of ballot measures were also analyzed using the LandVote Database for the 12 Western states to examine how public conservation funding has changed by year and across states during 1988-2012. This study found that 2,521,311 acres of land were protected for ecological integrity in the West during 1998-2011. Of all funding mechanisms and jurisdiction combinations, federal appropriations protected the highest number of aggregate acres for ecological integrity. Among lands located in overlapping priority areas, appropriations and donations contributed the highest acreage for protecting ecologically important lands, whereas lottery funding tended to be used for protecting land of lower ecological value. Bonds at the state level have generated roughly 40 percent of all new conservation funding in the West since 1988. Recommendations 1. Prioritize the re-authorization of funding with a near-term expiration date to maximize the generation of public funding for private land conservation. 2. Continue to use feasibility studies to ascertain the optimal funding mechanism type for ballot initiatives, with knowledge that bonds have been the most successful mechanism to date. 3. Collaborate with The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Lands Program to jointly identify mutual targets for ecosystem-level conservation in the West. 4. Continue to fund data collection and standardization initiatives, such as the LandVote and Conservation Almanac databases maintained by the Trust for Public Land. 5. Use a model on a finer scale than the current Focal Areas layer to assess ecological and political threats to lands in the West. 6. Expand the messaging platform of conservation finance to target forest restoration as a means of preventing catastrophic wildfire and protecting public drinking water supplies.
Open Access
A State-Based Marketplace in North Carolina
(2014-05-02) Sekhar, Sonia
On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the most significant U.S. health policy legislation since Medicare and Medicaid, became law. The law’s main objective is to reduce the number of uninsured U.S. residents. Among its most important provisions, is the creation of new health insurance marketplaces, where consumers can choose from a range of health plan options and potentially receive tax credits to pay for coverage. Nationwide, new marketplaces are estimated to reduce the number of uninsured U.S. residents by more than 20 million over ten years. States have the option of implementing their own marketplace—a state-based marketplace (SBM)—or to defer responsibility to the federal government. North Carolina chose to defer to a Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM). FFM states have the option to engage in plan management, which includes premium rating standards, transparency, accreditation, geographic service areas, and premium rating areas. States who currently do not choose to or do not have the capacity to implement their own marketplace have the option to transition to a State-Federal Partnership or SBM, or conduct plan management, in the future. Given its high rate of uninsurance, increasing health insurance costs, and an apparent demand for health insurance, North Carolina policymakers should consider whether a FFM or SBM would better serve its residents. However, the state also needs to consider what additional responsibilities it would need to take on, and whether the benefits of a SBM exceed its costs from the perspective of North Carolina residents. In particular, North Carolina needs to consider what additional investments it needs to make in outreach and enrollment; how it will setup a viable IT system; impact of regulatory flexibility; and if it can garner the necessary political support to make marketplace implementation successful. The early experiences of SBM states are also instructive in the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing a SBM. This paper highlights how SBM implementation played out in two states that have gotten a lot of attention, Massachusetts and Kentucky, and key takeaways that will help North Carolina decide its future role in marketplace implementation. With more than 8 million enrollees in marketplaces across the country, including nearly 360,000 in North Carolina, the state has an important decision to make. Should North Carolina take an active role in shaping its health insurance market, or maintain the status quo? There are arguments to be made on both sides of this issue, but under the assumption that ACA repeal is unlikely, it is important for policymakers in North Carolina to ask themselves whether they want the federal government to continue to manage their health insurance market for the foreseeable future. Recommendations I recommend North Carolina take on a more active role in the implementation of the ACA by taking the following steps: 1. Issue an executive order establishing a commission to evaluate the costs and benefits of establishing a SBM and issue a recommendation on whether or not North Carolina should implement an SBM. 2. Pass legislation enabling the North Carolina Department of Insurance to conduct plan management for health plans available on North Carolina’s marketplace. The above recommendations represent a balanced approach the state could take that acknowledge the political contentiousness around the ACA, and the fact that nearly 360,000 North Carolinians have already enrolled in coverage. Indeed, now that approximately 8 million individuals have enrolled in coverage through marketplaces, it would be very difficult for Congress to repeal the ACA. In addition, depending on the draft language of the executive order, the commission North Carolina establishes could still have access to federal funding in 2014 to complete its work. Politics may continue to drive the direction of ACA implementation in North Carolina, however, by taking a more active role in plan management and establishing a commission to evaluate the costs and benefits of establishing a SBM, North Carolina would avoid the potential political fallout that may result if it immediately implemented a SBM. In addition, it would not be increasing costs to the state, and it would be taking steps to improve the quality of health plans available to residents.
Open Access
A Strategy for Addressing Climate Change in the North Carolina Legislature
(2012-04-26) Conlin, BethAnn
The North Carolina Conservation Network (ConNet) is seeking a successful legislative strategy to achieve the passage of policy in North Carolina General Assembly addressing climate change. This is a particular challenge in the light of the 2010 election, which ushered in a Republican majority in both Houses, which are generally either indifferent or hostile to climate policy and ConNet. Further, ConNet’s previous legislative strategy frequently depended on strong ties to the then Democratic legislative leadership which helped to move their legislative priorities forward, legislators who no longer hold that power. This is not the only challenge facing ConNet’s strategy. Even when there was a Democratic legislative majority, achievements were generally in the related field of energy policy and few climate policies made it through the many informal planning processes to actually make it to the Assembly floor. Finally, ConNet is a coalition of diverse environmental organizations which has split in the past over legislative issues. Therefore, ConNet needs a strategy that is amenable to all of its coalition members, or have a strategy for handling disagreement without severely weakening their coalition. This paper examines both policy and political strategy options available to ConNet in the next legislative session. Policy options include greenhouse gas mitigation policy, energy generation and efficiency policy, climate adaptation policy and fuels policy. The analysis will narrow these options by evaluating their policy effectiveness, political feasibility, and their alignment with the short and long-term interests of ConNet and its coalition. The paper will also suggest some political strategy options that can be effective in moving these policy options forward in the short and long term. They are titled in this paper: “Divide and Conquer”, “Fight the Power”, “New Coalitions”, “Proactive Agenda”, “Reactive Agenda” and “Venue Change”. Each uses the resources available to the ConNet coalition and its members to attempt to move climate policy forward, or at least limit reversals of policy implemented thus far.
Open Access
A Strategy to Increase Energy Efficiency Investment in Public Housing
(2013-04) Kochanowsky, Amy
This document proposes a strategy for Environmental Defense Fund to increase energy efficiency investment in public housing. Improving the energy efficiency of public housing buildings represents a tremendous opportunity to decrease energy consumption nationwide. In 2010, PHA-paid energy expenditures totaled more than $1 billion, a similar magnitude to the $3.6 billion the U.S. Department of Defense spends on energy consumption in its facilities. Reduced energy use results in cost savings for public housing authorities (PHAs) and the federal government, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides utility subsidies to PHAs and oversees their work. Working with HUD, many housing authorities have used energy performance contracts to perform energy efficiency retrofits. These contracts will continue to be an important tool to enable housing authorities to invest in energy efficiency. As a leading environmental nonprofit, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has a significant role to play in helping PHAs across the country to invest in energy efficiency.Some housing authorities have already performed energy efficiency retrofits; many others have not yet become involved in programs to reduce energy use. EDF can work with housing authorities of varying levels of experience to help increase investment in energy efficiency nationwide. If EDF is successful in its strategy, it should expect to see housing authorities of all sizes using locally- or context-appropriate funding models to invest in energy efficiency. Working with public housing authorities, HUD, and partner organizations, EDF has the ability to help decrease our nation’s energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use. These efforts can increase national awareness of the importance of making the country’s affordable housing stock more energy efficient. Implementing the strategy outlined here will help EDF improve the climate, preserve affordable housing for those who need it most, and demonstrate the significance of public housing.
Open Access
Access and Absence: A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Effect of North Carolina School Health Centers on Student Absenteeism
(2014-04-25) Smith, Ryan
The first school-based health center (SBHC) was introduced in North Carolina in Greene County in 1983. Over the last thirty years, School Health Centers (SHCs), which include school-based, school-linked, mobile units and telemedicine units, have been introduced in over 80, primarily rural, public schools in 28 counties. These centers provide a wide range of health care services, with many providing comprehensive primary and mental health care services, to populations with historically limited access to health care. Some of these centers have closed in recent years due to budget cuts and competing priorities for limited funding. Given the scant amount of research on the effectiveness of SHCs in North Carolina, the difficulty in generalizing findings from other studies to this state, and the increased pressure on wraparound services to demonstrate their ability to improve student academic performance, this paper serves as a first step toward providing policy makers with a greater understanding of the effect SHCs in North Carolina have on reducing rates of student absenteeism. It is widely accepted that student absenteeism inhibits student learning and that children in poor health are more likely to miss school. Research shows that as the number of school days a student misses increases, academic achievement tends to decline. Studies on the relationship between SHCs and student absenteeism have been both limited in number and varied in their findings. Non-random assignment of SHCs in schools with high concentrations of students from low-income households, who are at increased risk for poor academic outcomes, makes assessing the effect of school health services on academic indicators difficult to accurately measure due to selection bias. To address evaluation challenges created by selection bias, as well as by a lack of reliable attendance data pre-2006 (long after many SHCs were introduced in North Carolina), I take advantage of student transitions between schools to examine the effect of entering or leaving a school with more robust health services. I follow four cohorts of students from 2006 to 2012 as they transition between schools in counties where SHCs are located. Using the timing of student entry and exit from schools combined with changes in health services available from year to year as a result of these school transitions, I estimate how enrollment in schools with primary care health services affects student absenteeism. Results from Poisson regression models indicate that SHCs are associated with moderate reductions in rates of student absenteeism. Students who transition from a school without a SHC to a school with a SHC miss, on average, 8.2 percent fewer days of school in the year of transition. By contrast, students who move to schools with less robust health services miss 13.2 percent more days of school in the year of transition. Students eligible for free and reduced price lunch and students with a history of chronic absenteeism benefit even more than the general student population from enrollment in schools with SHCs, especially if the model of care is a school-based health center. When these subgroups traditionally considered at higher risk for poor academic outcomes transition from schools without SHBCs to schools with SBHCs they miss, on average, 13.4 and 18.1 percent fewer days, respectively. These findings have important implications for public health and education policies aimed at improving the health and academic outcomes of North Carolina’s most at-risk children.
Open Access
Access to Medicine Index: Can a global scorecard framework promote a system of public accountability across the pharmaceutical sector to support increased access to essential medicines in developing countries?
(2013-06-28) Attard, Jamie
This report reviews the Access to Medicine Index (AMTi) in positively changing the pharmaceutical industry. This report notes a number of opportunities for the ATMi to improve its engagement with stakeholders. The current level of engagement between the ATMf and stakeholders, at least on a public level, is not strong. Consistent with the values the ATMi desires to encourage across the pharmaceutical sector, it must also espouse greater levels of objectivity, accountability, transparency and collaboration in order to further contribute to addressing the challenge of access to essential medicines.
Open Access
Addressing Teacher Vacancies in North Carolina
(2020-04-17) Bartlebaugh, Hannah
When it comes to student learning, high-quality teachers are the most important in-school factor. Having a highly effective teacher in every classroom is a crucial component of creating a strong and equitable public education system. As such, teacher shortages have significant negative consequences for school systems and students. Contemporary teacher shortages often refer not to a lack in the number of teachers, but rather to a lack of teachers certified to teach subject areas. Research indicates that the factors believed to be driving the current national teacher shortage include a decline in teacher preparation program enrollment, lowered student-teacher ratios, increases in student enrollment, and high teacher attrition rates. Within North Carolina, decreased teacher preparation program enrollment and teacher attrition rates appear to be the most important factors driving teacher vacancies. This project analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data to gain a deeper understanding of teacher vacancy issues within the state. Quantitative data regarding LEA teacher vacancy, mobility, and attrition rates were combined with LEA demographic data and analyzed to better understand trends over time as well as the characteristics of LEAs most affected by teacher vacancy issues. In addition, 13 interviews were conducted with superintendents, central office administrators, principals, and teachers in two North Carolina LEAs to gain a deeper understanding of how educators are responded to teacher vacancy and turnover issues within LEAs.
Open Access
Adoption and Short-term Impacts of Improved Cookstoves in Rural India
(2017-06-20) Samaddar, Sushmita
Half of the world’s population (2.7 billion people), of which 95 percent is in ‘poor’ countries, rely on solid fuels including biomass fuels like wood, dung, agricultural residue and coal, to meet most of their energy needs. Cooking and heating with simple biomass fuels lead to more early deaths (4.3 million) in the world than AIDS, TB, and malaria combined, with women and children being disproportionately affected. Improved cookstoves (ICS) technologies are seen as one of the ways to enable transitions to cleaner cooking behaviour. This study reports on the results of an intervention conducted in Rajasthan, India, in which 600 households were randomly assigned to participate in a program promoting and distributing improved cookstoves and 300 more households were matched on village level characteristics and the historical presence of the implementing NGO in the village. We find that 46% of households in the treatment group adopted the improved cookstove. The results for short term impacts of adopting an improved cookstove are mixed on time savings while cooking and preparing fuel. Interestingly however, we find that households that adopted the ICS spend more fuel while cooking and reported a higher cost of treating illnesses than households in the non-treatment groups. Despite the mixed results on the short term impact of adopting an ICS, we find that households with an ICS had a higher perception of the impact of an ICS on the welfare of their household members. 90% of the households that adopted the ICS repoted to be satisfied with their purchase.
Open Access
Advancing Peacebuilding Through Promoting Human Rights and Inclusive Governance. North and East Syria as a Case Study
(2024-05-01) Alhajj, Imad
Human rights violations, corruption, and weak rule of law are major conflict-driven factors threatening peace and the possibility of democratic governance in the North and East Syria (NES) region, mainly caused by the combined effects of weak political, legal, and technical institutions capacity and accountability mechanisms of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in NES region, and exacerbated by instability and insecurity, economic woes, and a climate-conflict nexus impact. A big part of the problem is the knowledge gap between theory and practice. As a result, the international community is missing the opportunity to advance peace and democratic governance. This study seeks to address these problems in the post-conflict and fragile environment. The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in NES region as a case study. Particularly, this study asks what programming, lessons learned, and best practices are suggested by the experiences of local Syrian non-governmental organizations (LNGOs) and civil society to protect human rights and promote inclusive governance in the NES region. How can donors and major international NGOs better connect with and empower the work of the local Syrian NGOs and civil society efforts to advance peacebuilding in the NES region's fragile environment? The introduction provides a concise overview of the link between inclusive governance, human rights, and peacebuilding, as well as the research question and the client. The Problem section provides an overview of Autonomous Administration in the NES region, which faces multifaceted governance and human rights challenges due to political, legal, technical, environmental, and social problems that cause a fragile environment and relapse into violent conflict in the NES region. The methodology section is based on utilizing mixed methodology, literature review, and survey of local Syrian NGOs and civil society in the NES region, as well as conducting qualitative and quantitative methods analysis of primary data with heavy reliance on qualitative analysis. In the Search for Solution section, the study argues that human rights and inclusive governance are fundamental for peacebuilding, and international-led peacebuilding faces cultural and structural challenges and provides ‘alternative approaches’ to address the lack of ‘Political Will’ in peacebuilding and combating corruption. The survey results and discussion section provide a platform for the local Syrian voices on issues of human rights and inclusive governance priorities and strategies to address partnership challenges, lack of long-term perspective, and undemocratic practices of the International NGOs and donors that are problematic to advancing inclusive, context-sensitive approach to support peacebuilding in the NES region. The conclusion and recommendations section suggests an inclusive, holistic strategy that would bring all actors together to establish a clear path toward achieving an overarching strategic vision of preventing relapse of conflict, democratic governance, and building sustainable peace.
Open Access
Advertising on Triangle Transit: A Revenue Forecast & Policy Analysis
(2013-04-17) Bartelli, Jeff
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY POLICY ISSUE (PG 1) Triangle Transit is interested in how much revenue could be generated by the placement of interior and exterior advertisements on the buses and para-transit vehicles that it manages and operates. It would also like to know the impacts of advertisements on Triangle Transit’s brand. In order to answer this question, several major concerns must be addressed: 1. What impacts will an advertisement program have on the agency's brand? 2. What is the most cost-effective way to manage advertisement sales: in-house or under contract? 3. What advertising policy should be issued to avoid future legal challenges to advertisements placed on buses? 4. How much revenue could be generated by allowing interior and exterior advertisements to be placed on Triangle Transit and DATA buses? 5. How much more revenue could be generated if the five transit agencies in the Research Triangle advertise together versus Triangle Transit alone? The answers to these questions will inform the policy positions that Triangle Transit could adopt if the agency pursues on-bus advertising. This report reviews the existing literature and presents original research, including interviews with transit and advertising officials, revenue forecasts, and policy recommendations. A complete review of the research methodology for this report can be found in Appendix C. REVENUE SIMULATION SCENARIOS (PG 44) Four revenue scenarios are considered in chapter 8 and provide high and low estimates of average annual revenues from advertisement sales. The scenarios include 1) Triangle Transit alone, 2) DATA alone, 3) Triangle Transit and DATA together, and 4) the Triangle Region. These scenarios were constructed using the included Microsoft Excel file found under the Attachments tab. The revenue simulations constructed for this study produced the following findings: Triangle Transit alone could earn revenues ranging between $55,953 – $129,859 if it manages advertisement sales in-house, or it could earn revenues ranging between $94,102 – $153,226 if it contracts for advertisement sales management. DATA alone could earn revenues between $23,060 – $77,397 from in-house advertisement sales and between $67,787 – $111,257 from contracted sales. Triangle Transit and DATA together could earn $117,753 – $231,462 from in-house advertisement sales management, and between $161,889 – $264,483 under contract. Finally, the Triangle Region could earn cumulative revenues between $394,872 – $792,275 under in-house advertisement sales, and between $610,678 – $977,511 under contract. All figures are based on a mature advertisement sales program. Based on the results of the revenue forecast models, Triangle Transit should pursue contracted advertisement sales versus an in-house program. Triangle Transit should also pursue individual advertisement contracts for itself and DATA to maximize total revenues. Separate contracts are recommended due to the differences in markets served between the two carriers. ADVERTISEMENT IMPACTS ON TRANSIT BRAND (PG 5) Brand image has become a growing concern for transit agencies, encompassing not only the appearance, but also the reliability of the transit system. Maintaining a strong image for a transit agency helps reinforce ongoing relationships with riders and with the public. Some research presented in Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) publications finds no negative relationship between advertisements and the transit agencies that carry them. However, many transit representatives interviewed for this report believe that there can be negative impacts from carrying advertisements. Several strategies are used to mitigate these potential impacts:  Draft and enforce a well-defined advertising policy  Maintain or enhance the elements of brand that pertain to public perception, such as: reliability, frequent service, safety and cleanliness, service hours, and cost and savings.  Prohibit the sale of interior advertisements to bolster the experience of transit commuters. The appearance of the buses and transit facilities is an important aspect of brand management as well. Many transit agencies promote their visual brand by doing the following:  Limit the number of buses that can be fully wrapped, usually at 10% of the fleet.  Limit the number of buses in the fleet that can carry advertisements. Raleigh and Chapel Hill limit advertisement placement to 50% of their fleets; this number is a good target for Triangle Transit.  Create specific design standards for full bus wraps to avoid negative impacts on transit brand. These standards may limit the prominent placement of human faces or questionable and offensive images or text.  Consider the inclusion of advertisements in any future rebranding or redesign efforts. This will ensure that color scheme and logo appearance are optimized.  Require the placement of the agency logo on all exterior advertisements. MANAGING ADVERTISEMENT SALES (PG 18) The management of transit advertisement sales can either be managed in-house or contracted with a third-party agency. Transit agencies must decide which option will best fit their needs and desires. If Triangle Transit choses to allow advertisement sales, it should pursue an advertising contract. Advertising contractors have a comparative advantage when it comes to advertisement sales. They will manage all aspects of the advertisement process, from sales and collections, to application, maintenance, and removal of the ads. Not to mention insurance and sales staff expenses. Triangle Transit can expect to receive a minimum guaranteed annual payment with a revenue share of 50% to 60% if revenues exceed the minimum. Most advertising contracts last for three to five years. Triangle Transit and DATA should pursue individual advertising contracts. Each agency can maximize potential revenues by focusing on the specific market it serves. REGIONAL ADVERTISEMENT SALES (PG 26; 51) Triangle Transit has expressed interest in a regional advertisement sales plan, which would place advertisement sales for the five local public transportation agencies under a single authority. Many local transit administrators are interested in this idea but would like to see discussions on this plan begin far in advance of its realization. A great deal of planning and coordination would be required before a regional option would be viable. The transit agencies would need to unify their advertising policies but most local administrators are content with their current policies and are hesitant to make changes. Administrators voiced concerns about revenue sharing, authority over a sales force or a contractor, indemnification, and Title VI issues. Plus, if regional sales were managed in-house, management, staffing, and funding for the office would need to be arranged. Though a regional plan is not feasible at this time, Triangle Transit should create a working group among the transit agencies to identify the challenges, costs, and benefits associated with regional sales. This group could issue a request for information to transit advertisers to understand the issues identified by contractors. In order to facilitate regional advertisement sales in the future, Triangle Transit should consider the inclusion and placement of advertisements in efforts to create a regional brand for buses and transit property. ADVERTISING POLICY (PG 29) If Triangle Transit chooses to allow advertising on its buses and property, it will need to implement an advertising policy. Triangle Transit should ensure that its advertising policy includes a Statement of Purpose, a list of restrictions and prohibited content, and a clear review and appeal process for advertisements. The Statement of Purpose should convey the following information:  Triangle Transit property and vehicles are a nonpublic forum open to commercial speech, government speech, and nonprofits engaged in truly commercial activities.  Nonprofits offering noncommercial services to the public can advertise so long as their advertisements do not contain prohibited content.  Political candidate advertising that does not state any candidate positions or party affiliation is acceptable so long as it does not contain any prohibited content. The advertising policy needs to establish a clear body of guidelines in keeping with the definition of commercial speech. These guidelines should address:  Illegal, indecent, libelous, and obscene materials  Ads that ridicule individuals or groups  Advocacy or opposition to any religion, denomination, gender, race, sexuality, ideology, or nationality  Violence and crime  Adult, sexual, or pornographic materials. Finally, the review and appeal process should clearly state who approves advertisements, who audits approvals, and what staff or supervisors will review advertisements that violate the restrictions. A board of officials should be defined to consider all appeals. This section should also grant the agency the power to approve, reject, or remove nonconforming advertisements at the advertiser’s expense. Triangle Transit should establish a regular, periodic review of its advertising policy to consider future legal or legislative changes. The periodic review could allow for incremental changes to the policy to bring it in line with the policies of local transit agencies. REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) & ADVERTISING CONTRACTS (PG 36; 42) If Triangle Transit pursues an advertising contract, it should issue a request for proposals (RFP) or a more preliminary request for information (RFI). These documents should be in keeping with Triangle Transit and DATA’s procurement procedures. This report presents several key findings to improve the effectiveness of the RFP and subsequent advertising contract.  Deliver the RFP (or RFI) to multiple advertising contractors to increase competition for the contract.  Allow for multiple contracts to be signed based on one RFP. For example, a separate contract may be signed for physical advertisements and another contract for audio advertisements.  Ensure that the advertising contracts provide a desirable payment package. This may translate into a minimum payment with additional revenues for sales in excess of a certain threshold.  Allocate all responsibility and cost for vehicle maintenance and repair associated with advertisement installation, upkeep, and removal to the contractor.  Set specific response times for the contractor to repair or replace damaged advertisements.  Ensure that all Federal third-party contractor provisions are covered in the advertising contract.  Establish a mechanism for auditing the sales and promotional activities of the contractor.
Open Access
Ambush on Black Veterans: Foreign Disinformation Swayed the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election by Targeting Black Voters
(2023-04-19) Jackson, Chandlee A. IV
A Russian-orchestrated influence campaign spread disinformation using social media during the 2016 United States (U.S.) presidential election. Digital evidence shows that Russian operatives developed presumptions about differing identity groups and tailored their interactions to sow strife between groups. The inferred intent was to influence and negatively impact African Americans’ voting practices during the 2016 election campaign. Russian influence agents targeted the Black community more heavily than any other identity group. Influence operations also targeted veterans and veteran-adjacent communities; therefore, African American veterans (Black Vets) received twice the indoctrination because of their dual identity. The online impersonations of Black people and veterans on social media platforms was problematic for a myriad of reasons, but the Russian leadership’s facilitation of disinformation represents adversarial exploitation of protection gaps uncovered in the Digital Age. Currently the First Amendment inhibits the U.S. government and social media platforms from performing the desired protective measures to maintain a healthy online environment that nurtures an informed citizenry. For Black Vets in particular, foreign entities suppressed the voting power of their ethnic group and sought to instigate members of their profession to join domestic violent extremist groups. The following project will propose that the U.S. government ought to change its approach in teaching digital media literacy competencies so that vulnerable populations receive the care and skills necessary to reduce their potential of becoming radicalized. Russian disinformation on social media and how the U.S. will embrace an identity-centric approach to educating digital media literacy is a matter of U.S. national security.

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