New Jersey Policy Lab

NJSPL – Can Telemedicine Bridge the Health Equity Gap in the Latinx Population?

March 15, 2023

The Latinx population saw a 295% increase in telehealth visits since pre-pandemic rates. Research indicates numerous potential benefits of telehealth, but several challenges must be addressed to facilitate the adoption and expand the utilization of this tool for underserved communities.

NJSPL – Why Does the High School Science Course Sequence Matter?

March 9, 2023

One primary concern of this research project will be exploring different outcomes associated with students starting high school in low-level science courses versus those who start in standard and high-level science courses, and understanding the implications of how this may or may not influence later success in post-high school education.

NJSPL – Cannabis Use in New Jersey: Residents Share Their Opinions

March 3, 2023

During the summer of 2022, the New Jersey State Policy Lab commissioned a survey with the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling to assess the opinions of New Jersey residents on a variety of pivotal issues, including cannabis use. Read the new survey brief.

NJSPL – Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Spark a Bicycling Boom?

February 27, 2023

During the early stages of the pandemic, there were reports of a surge in bicycling activity across the country, as well as in New Jersey, leading to a marked increase in bicycle purchases. But was this surge temporary or an indication of a longer term shift in travel behavior?

NJSPL – Ensuring Access to Nature and Outdoor Recreation: Advancing Health Equity for People with Disabilities

February 24, 2023

Department of Human Services Division of Disability Services (DDS) launched the Inclusive Health Communities (IHC) grant program, which was designed to advance policies, systems, and environmental conditions (PSE) related to the social determinants of health with the goal of ensuring that people with disabilities equally benefit from healthy communities, programs, and spaces.

NJSPL – 2018 Revision of New Jersey’s School Aid Formula Impacts

February 21, 2023

The School Reform Act of 2008 (SRFA) was designed to create a new school funding formula with the intention of ending a long cycle of failed legislative attempts to reduce school spending inequalities in New Jersey. But how has eliminating this adjustment aid affected school districts?

NJSPL – Report Release: Garden State Open Data Index

February 17, 2023

This report, authored by Jim Samuel, Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, Marc Pfeiffer, Clinton Andrews, and Matthew Hale, identifies concepts, strategies, principles, and policies aimed to enhance the “availability, accessibility, usability, and governance of open data,” and is intended to support research, decision making, planning, and reporting efforts for anyone seeking information regarding New Jersey.

NJSPL – Addressing Energy Inequity in New Jersey: Recommendations for Effective Policy Implementation

February 14, 2023

This is a continuation of an earlier blog which discussed how low-income and minority populations are disproportionately affected by energy inequity, and examines what can be done in New Jersey to bridge this gap.

NJSPL – Perkins Act: A Key Component to Bringing Everyone into the Digital Age

February 10, 2023

The Perkins Act is facing the end of its run in 2024, unless Congress decides to reauthorize it. This law is essential to continue supporting as it promotes digital equity by making education more accessible for students of different backgrounds.

NJSPL – Removing Technology Barriers to Address Health Equity Among Older Adults

February 7, 2023

With funding and support from the NJSPL and community partners, the Rutgers-Newark Office of University-Community Partnerships (OUCP) and the Advocates for Healthy Living Initiative (AHLI) surveyed older adults about their experiences and needs related to digital communications as part of the Senior Health Connect Digital Divide initiative.