1200 18th Street NW, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
202 785-5100
iwpr@iwpr.org
Washington, DC 20036
202 785-5100
iwpr@iwpr.org
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After graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Rhiana Gunn-Wright joined IWPR as the Mariam K. Chamberlain Fellow in September 2011. Her undergraduate research interests in intersectionality and public policy culminated in her senior thesis “Breaking the Brood Mare: Representation, Welfare Policy and Teen Pregnancy in New Haven,” an examination of the interplay between popular images of poor black women and state efforts to reform welfare and manage teen pregnancy. Rhiana is excited to continue building her knowledge of education policy and public supports—particularly as they relate to women of color—through her work on the Student Parent Success Initiative here at IWPR. Next spring, she will join the 2012 corps of Teach for America. |
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Denver Paid Sick Days Would Promote Children’s School Success Paid sick days for working parents can enhance children’s school success. Parents face a difficult choice if their children get sick when they lack paid sick days: staying home with the child and missing pay (and possibly facing discipline at work); sending the child to school sick, which compromises their school performance and spreads illness to others; leaving the child at home alone, putting the child at risk; leaving the child with an older sibling who in turn must stay home from school; or trusting the child to a temporary caregiver. Each of these scenarios has potential costs for schools or for child well-being. The negative effects of inadequate sick days coverage disproportionately affect people of color and low-income adults in Denver, because they are less likely than other Denver residents to be able to earn paid sick days. This paper by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) addresses how children's school success can be improved when working parents have access to paid sick days by reviewing published research, Denver Public Schools data, and information provided in interviews and surveys of Denver Public Schools personnel.1
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#B300, Briefing Paper, 12 pages
$5.00
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