assets

State Republicans announce education agenda for 2008 session; New report questions definition of ???rigor??? in high school reforms; House slated to vote today on overriding Bush???s SCHIP veto; The ???cliff effect???: When getting a raise puts you farther behind; National studies show work supports are critical for low-wage earners; Weeden, Maushart are Bell???s new 2007-08 fellows.

New education commissioner aims for alignment; Colorado Department of Education launches Forward Thinking report; Federal investments in kids projected to drop in the future; P-20 Council tackles education issues, but leaves adult ed discussion until 2008; Expanding health insurance helps, but won???t solve health disparities; Strategies multiply to help low-income families develop assets; Colorado Springs non-profit offers alternative to payday loans

Earning a decent living and building wealth is our next important gateway to opportunity. A job with benefits that pays at least enough for a family to be self-sufficient and to build assets is the surest path into the Cycle of Opportunity.

I n our free market economy, the ultimate gateway to opportunity is a good income that allows a family to accumulate assets and save for the future. And unlike health or education, wealth can be stored, shared with one???s family, and passed on from generation to generation.

Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are matched savings accounts that help low-income workers save for a specific goal. This report explains how IDAs work and how Colorado can offer this highyielding tool to more low-income residents.