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Project Description

In September 1995, Ohio implemented the Learnfare demonstration in Shelby and Allen counties where it operated until June 1998. The goal of the program is to improve school term attendance and to increase graduation rates and decrease welfare dependency. Each county requires that children in Learnfare attend school or risk having their assistance group (AG) lose cash benefits from Ohio Works First. If a child receiving benefits incurs more than two days of unexcused absence per month, the next month's cash assistance would be reduced by the amount the child would have normally received.

The evaluation consists of three components:
1. Process study- described the ways the counties implemented Learnfare, how the program worked, and lessons learned.
2. Impact study - assessed the effectiveness of Learnfare in reducing excessive unexcused absences.
3. Cost study - examined the costs in relation to program benefits and outcomes

Project duration: Sep 1996 - Jun 1999

Sites studied include Shelby and Allen counties, OH.

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

Random assignment of:

Allen county:
n=2,140 Assistance groups, representing 3,466 students.
(1,376 treatment group students and 695 control group students)

Shelby county:
n=571 Assistance groups, representing 895 students.
(246 treatment group students and 162 control group students)

These groups received assistance some time between Sept 95 and May 98.

Recent Findings in Brief

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