Policy Research Shop Testimony: May 22, 2012

PRS Students Testify Before Officials from Vermont’s Division of Children and Families and Department of Education

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, three Dartmouth students, Daniel Freeman ’13, Rachel Ng ’14, and Lorelei Yang ’15, from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center Policy Research Shop, traveled to the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont, to testify before officials from Vermont’s Division of Children and Families and Department of Education, as well as the non-profit Hunger Free Vermont and the United States Department of Agriculture. The team presented their research on the problems of under-participation and under-enrollment in the National School Lunch Program in Vermont, which was recently named the ninth-hungriest state in the USA.

The team detailed unique policies adopted in select Vermont school systems, as well as from around the country, to deal with these problems, and discussed the costs and benefits of each. In particular, the team highlighted the need for additional research into the extent and correlates of both under-participation and under-enrollment in Vermont, demonstrated by the lack of reliable data both nationally and specific to Vermont; the team suggested conducting a student-level survey among several or all school systems in the state. After the presentation the students answered questions and engaged in dialogue with attending officials.

PRS Students Testify Before the NH State Advisory Council on Sport-Related Concussion

Also on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, two Dartmouth students, Amrita Sankar ’12 and Emily Clegg ’14, from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center Policy Research Shop, made a presentation in Concord, NH before the NH State Advisory Council on Sport-Related Concussion. The team presented findings from their report “Concussion Education, Management, and Prevention Policy: Current Options and Implications for the State of New Hampshire.” The report investigates the public policy trends in concussion education, management, and prevention across the country and provides a summary of legislative and private sector options, including education and return-to-play requirements. Following the presentation, the students responded to questions and comments from Advisory Council members. They also participated in a discussion of the implications for providers, coaches, and other administrators of the current legislation that is pending in the NH State Legislature.