Using TANF Sanctions to Increase High School Graduation

Authors

Ronald Harris, Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Loring Jones, San Diego State University
Daniel Finnegan, San Diego State University

Abstract

The School Attendance Demonstration Project (SADP) was aimed at encouraging AFDC teens to attend school and finish high school. The project used a combined approach of the financial incentive in the form of a penalty for non-attendance, and the provision of social services. SADP tracked the school attendance and graduation status of eligible teens (n=997) in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). The study utilized a control group with random assignment. Data indicated that SADP did not effect graduations. The findings seem to indicate that atrisk teens from families receiving public assistance have on-going problems with securing an education that are difficult to correct with SADP services and sanctions.

Recommended Citation

Harris, Ronald; Jones, Loring; and Finnegan, Daniel (2001) "Using TANF Sanctions to Increase High School Graduation," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 28: Iss. 3, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2750
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol28/iss3/12