Nearly half of U.S. workers are in low-paying jobs. Systemic issues in education, employment, and workforce development prevent millions of people from advancing economically and threaten our 10-year goal of 75 million people working in quality jobs.
The Policy & Advocacy team at Jobs for the Future leads the national conversation on economic advancement, influences state and national discussions, and designs practice-informed solutions. Our work is bold and field-tested, and we work on both sides of the aisle.
The federal policy landscape is rapidly changing, impacting learning, work, and economic advancement opportunities. Join us for our Legislative Summit at Horizons 2026 to gain critical insights and direct access to influence change.
We champion practice-informed, nonpartisan policy approaches for changes in the education system and workforce systems. We provide expert guidance to federal and state policymakers and other stakeholders through forums and institutes, subject-matter expertise, and design and implementation assistance.
We explore innovative ideas for financing education to increase affordability, quality, and employer engagement.
Starting July 1, 2026, eligible students enrolled in programs newly approved by the state and the U.S. Department of Education will be able to receive a Workforce Pell Grant, potentially broadening pathways to quality jobs…
As Workforce Pell implementation nears on July 1, 2026, states, institutions, and partners face mounting pressure to prepare systems. JFF’s latest policy brief highlights opportunities and challenges shaping successful implementation. Opportunities on the horizon At…
New DOL guidance expands WIOA waivers, creating more flexibility for states to modernize workforce systems. JFF highlights five strategies for using waivers to better meet today’s economic needs. 5. Modernize Service Delivery Models to Better…
This JFF brief analyzes the regulatory framework agreed upon in the U.S. Department of Education’s recent “negotiated rulemaking” session about how the Workforce Pell Grant program will be implemented. On New Year’s Day, implementation of…
In this brief, JFF highlights three case studies of innovative programs that illustrate how dual enrollment can support workforce goals and the critical role policy plays in enabling these models. Dual enrollment is a proven…
AI is advancing faster than our systems. Our new blog outlines five actions policymakers can take to put workers, learners, and businesses on stronger footing. Expand RESEA to Provide Transition Assistance for Displaced Workers and…
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduced sweeping reforms that will undoubtedly trigger a substantial shift in student borrowing to the private lending market, with significant consequences for students, families, and institutions. [1] Most…
New research suggests that Purdue University’s controversial income share agreement (ISA) program succeeded in providing students with an affordable, accessible, and nondiscriminatory alternative to Parent PLUS loans, but more research on the program is needed. …
The federal budget reconciliation bill will profoundly alter economic opportunities for U.S. workers and learners In this blog, JFF outlines five ways the tax and spending reform bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025, will…
The July 2025 budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress expands Pell Grant eligibility for learners and workers. JFF’s analysis identifies what to expect next. The budget reconciliation bill that Congress passed on July 3, 2025,…
This report highlights the need for states to build more effective career navigation systems to better meet the needs of all young people and analyzes the extent to which each state has enacted the policies…
This report recommends a comprehensive set of federal policies to modernize and scale apprenticeships, meeting the needs of today’s workers and the demands of today’s economy. The U.S. labor market is at a crossroads. Unemployment…
JFF’s Congressional Staff and Executive Branch Networks on Economic Advancement connect federal policymakers with practitioners from across the country to learn about evidence-based, replicable, and innovative practices that meet the nation’s most complex education and workforce challenges.
JFF established the Policy Leadership Trust to marshal evidence, expertise, and insights of postsecondary practitioners to influence the direction of state and federal policy. Community college leaders and state system officials serving on the trust identify how policy can help more learners and workers attain credentials and skills and succeed in the labor market.
Karishma Merchant is associate vice president of Policy & Advocacy at JFF. She leads nonpartisan engagement with federal and state policymakers to craft education and workforce policies that drive economic advancement for all. Before joining…
Taylor Maag is a director of workforce policy in Policy & Advocacy at JFF. She leads JFF’s federal and state workforce policy efforts, conducting research, developing solutions, writing policy recommendations, and convening necessary partners to…
Ethan Pollack is a senior director in the Policy & Advocacy practice at JFF. He leads the Financing the Future initiative, which explores new approaches to financing postsecondary education. He tracks the evolution and performance…
Jennifer Stiddard is a senior director in the Policy & Advocacy unit at JFF. She helps advance JFF’s policy agenda by driving legislative and executive engagement, developing policy proposals, and strengthening JFF’s relationships with federal…
David Altstadt is a director in the Policy & Advocacy practice at JFF. He develops nonpartisan policy solutions and cultivates partnerships with policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to influence the direction of national and state policies…
Erica Cuevas is a director in the Policy & Advocacy practice at JFF. She leads policy analysis, research, advocacy, and communications efforts to strengthen federal and state policy to spur innovation and improve pathways across…
Noah Bein is a director in Policy & Advocacy at JFF. He works closely with the Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to steer JFF’s strategic efforts at the state and federal levels to remove…
