Research and Publications - Education Policy Center
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Item Broadband in Alabama’s Black Belt in 2025(2025) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Vlacovsky, Henry N.; Till, Garrett A.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Keeney, Noel E.; Blakley, Daniel J.; Ogunniran, Moses O.; Peterson,. Joscelyn K. J.; Bardwell, KamerynBroadband in Alabama’s Black Belt in 2025 describes the tremendous progress made to date and the persistent gaps that still exist. In partnership with the University of Alabama’ Center for Business and Economic Research, the Education Policy Center, UA’s oldest center or institute, has published 7 reports on Education & Workforce Development, 6 on Economic Development, Poverty, & Employment, 3 on Healthcare, and 4 on Infrastructure & Community Capacity. We draw from this extensive research, building on our 2020 brief, “Internet Access Disparities in Alabama & the Black Belt” and our 2022 brief, “Infrastructure in Alabama's Black Belt,” to answer three questions: 1. What is the total public investment of federal and state governments to achieve broadband connectivity since 2018, when the landmark Alabama Broadband Accessibility Act was passed? 2. What did these funds buy, especially in the Black Belt? 3. Given the moving target of changing high-speed benchmarks, what access gaps exist today that must be addressed to secure universal connectivity?Item Healthcare in Alabama’s Black Belt: Impacts of Potential Medicaid Cuts(2025) Till, Garrett A.; Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Vlacovsky, Henry N.; Keeney, Noel E.; Ogunniran, Moses O.; Peterson, Joscelyn K. J.The evidence from expansion states demonstrates that Medicaid expansion is not only beneficial for public health but also economically advantageous. For the Black Belt, where healthcare disparities are most acute, expansion could be transformative, increasing access to care, creating jobs, preventing hospital closures, and injecting much-needed resources into struggling rural economies. As Alabama continues to navigate healthcare policy decisions, the impact on its most vulnerable communities must be a primary consideration. The health of the Black Belt reflects the health of Alabama as a whole, and investments in equitable healthcare access today will yield dividends in improved health outcomes, economic vitality, and quality of life for generations to come.Item Empowering Futures: Expanding Educational Opportunities in Alabama's Black Belt(2025) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Till, Garrett A.; Fincher, Mark; Keeney, Noel E.; Lohrmeyer, Trinity P.; Vlacovsky, Henry N.Item Halfway Home and a Long Way To Go: Bridging Persistent Poverty Gap in Alabama’s Black Belt(2025) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Till, Garrett A.; Peterson, Joscelyn; Keeney, Noel E.; Kelly, Patrick J.; Bray, Nathaniel J.Item K-12 STEM Education in Alabama’s Black BeltO'Brien, Sean; Corley, Emily Grace; Till, Garrett; Courchesne, Eric; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem COVID-19 and Alabama’s Black BeltCorley, Emily Grace; Till, Garrett; O'Brien, Sean; Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Poverty, Housing, & GDP in Alabama’s Black BeltKatsinas, Stephen G.; Till, Garrett; Corley, Emily Grace; O'Brien, Sean; Courchesne, Eric; Bray, Nathaniel; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Educational Attainment, Community College, and Transfer in the Black BeltTill, Garrett; Corley, Emily Grace; O'Brien, Sean; Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Infrastructure in Alabama’s Black BeltKatsinas, Stephen G.; Corley, Emily Grace; Till, Garrett; O'Brien, Sean; Bray, Nathaniel J.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Profiles of Community Leaders in the Black BeltCorley, Emily Grace; Till, Garrett; Shettles, Sally Grace; O'Brien, Sean; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Katsinas, Stephen G.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Black Belt Manufacturing and Economic ProspectsKatsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Bowen, Jonathan; Corley, Emily Grace; Keeney, Noel E.; Whann, Hunter; Jacobs, Emily; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Internet Access Disparities in Alabama & the Black BeltKatsinas, Stephen G.; Keeney, Noel E.; Jacobs, Emily; Corley, Emily Grace; Whann, Hunter; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Access to Early Childhood Interventions and First Class Pre-K in Alabama & the Black Belt RegionWhann, Hunter; Keeney, Noel E.; Jacobs, Emily; Katsinas, Stephen G.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Healthcare: A Key Challenge in Alabama’s Black BeltJacobs, Emily; Whann, Hunter; Corley, Emily Grace; Bowen, Jonathan; Keeney, Noel; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Defining Alabama’s Black Belt RegionKatsinas, Stephen G.; Keeney, Noel E.; Jacobs, Emily; Whann, Hunter; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem The Black Belt’s Labor Force Participation Lags Behind the Rest of Alabama & the NationKatsinas, Stephen G.; Keeney, Noel E.; Jacobs, Emily; Whann, Hunter; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem Persistent Unemployment in the Black BeltWhann, Hunter D.; Keeney, Noel E.; Katsinas, Stephen G.; Jacobs, Emily; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem School Enrollment in Alabama’s Black Belt Continues to Decline(Education Policy Center) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Keeney, Noel E.; Jacobs, Emily; Whann, Hunter; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem The Growing Impact of New Pell Grant Funding: A Statewide Profile of Iowa's Community CollegesHagedorn, Linda Serra; Mensel, R. Frank; Friedel, Janice N.; Lui, Joyce; Smith, Dustin; Tarrant, Melissa; Kilgo, Rhonda; Clark, Chad; Katsinas, Stephen G.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaItem The Economic & Social Impacts of Alabama Public Higher EducationKatsinas, Stephen G.; Koh, Jonathan P.; Murphy, David S.; Lacey, Vincent A.; Fincher, Mark E.; DeMonBrun, R. Matthew; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Breaux, Arleene P.; Malley, Michael S. Jr.; Adair, J. Lucas; Shedd, Louis E.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama has completed an objective analysis to determine whether there is a quantifiable relationship between the funding of Alabama’s universities and the per capita income of Alabama’s citizens. The study revealed a statistically signifcant relationship. Alabama’s state-wide per capita income rises in direct proportion to Alabama’s funding of its public higher education institutions. Alabama gains a quantifiable return on its investment in higher education. Simply put, the more Alabama spends on universities, the better off Alabamians will be.