JR Starrett
(Formerly) Senior Director of National Advocacy
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From digital citizenship to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Kids Action is committed to working for kids and families in state capitols throughout the country.
"For Kids" and "Against Kids" Ratings in Your State
From digital citizenship to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Kids Action is committed to working for kids and families in state capitols throughout the country.
Topics:
Learning
EdTech
Online Privacy and Safety
Poverty, Economic Opportunity, and Social Mobility
State Legislation
Teaching with Technology
Technology in the Classroom
Common Sense Kids Action has worked with policymakers to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to thrive in today's world. Our policy work operates at the nexus of tech and social policy in an effort to ensure that every child who makes up America's next generation is being provided with opportunities to succeed, inside and outside the classroom.
In three years, our parent and educator advocates have worked with policymakers from states around the country to pass meaningful legislation that protects students' privacy, ensures family access to progressive fiscal policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and provides a foundational education that includes digital citizenship and media-literacy training.
We will continue our work to ensure that these policies are represented in state capitols throughout the country and that policymakers are focused on our most important resource: our children. Below is a list of the state policies we have given our "For Kids" or "Against Kids" rating.
Interested in learning more about our legislative ratings in your state? Click here!
Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy
Common Sense Kids Action recognizes that media and technology have become commonplace in all areas of our lives. In our classrooms, students must learn how to safely, ethically, responsibly, and effectively use media and technology resources. Kids have never had as much access to the internet, media, and mobile technologies at home and school as they do today. Schools can play a critical role by educating, empowering, and engaging children with best practices around technology use.
Our organization believes in a comprehensive approach to digital citizenship and media-literacy legislation that engages thought leaders, educators, parents, and policymakers in an effort to develop the protections necessary for our children to capitalize on the greater opportunities provided by the advancement of technology in the classroom. In 2017, we will work with policymakers throughout the country to expand student and parent access to digital citizenship and media-literacy resources.
State Campaigns: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington
Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is often described as one of the most effective anti-poverty tools available, because it's a refundable tax credit that flows directly to working lower-income citizens. It rewards work, increases economic mobility, reduces inequality, and improves children's health. Common Sense Kids Action supports the state-based EITC policy, because it offers a cash-back tax credit available to qualifying lower- and moderate-income working individuals and families. Evidence from the federal EITC shows that it helps recipients improve their economic stability and that kids from recipient families perform better in school.
State Campaigns: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia
Broadband Expansion
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and in today's world that means making sure all kids have equal access to advanced technology for learning, no matter a school or library's ZIP code. Policymakers in state capitols and in Washington, D.C., are facing the fact that critical funding is necessary to support the continued adoption of technology in classrooms throughout the country. With the use of advances in technology for learning and administration, we must do everything we can now to finish the job of connecting every classroom and library. Common Sense Kids Action will work with state policymakers to identify budget solutions that would allow for federal matching grants with the purpose of expanding broadband access to rural and underserved communities.
Student Data Privacy
Common Sense Kids Action pioneered legislative efforts that have shaped how third-party vendors contracting with schools can share and disseminate student information collected in a classroom setting. In 2013, working with party leadership in the California Senate, we drafted the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA) that has now been adopted by 18 states. In 2017, we will continue to advocate for this standard of student data privacy because we believe that a student's personal information collected at school should be used solely for educational purposes -- that a student's personal information or online activity should not be used to target advertising to students or families.
State Campaigns: Massachusetts
We look forward to working with you to ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive in today's world. Join our efforts -- become a Kids Action Advocate today!
Common Sense Kids Action has worked with policymakers to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to thrive in today's world. Our policy work operates at the nexus of tech and social policy in an effort to ensure that every child who makes up America's next generation is being provided with opportunities to succeed, inside and outside the classroom.
In three years, our parent and educator advocates have worked with policymakers from states around the country to pass meaningful legislation that protects students' privacy, ensures family access to progressive fiscal policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and provides a foundational education that includes digital citizenship and media-literacy training.
We will continue our work to ensure that these policies are represented in state capitols throughout the country and that policymakers are focused on our most important resource: our children. Below is a list of the state policies we have given our "For Kids" or "Against Kids" rating.
Interested in learning more about our legislative ratings in your state? Click here!
Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy
Common Sense Kids Action recognizes that media and technology have become commonplace in all areas of our lives. In our classrooms, students must learn how to safely, ethically, responsibly, and effectively use media and technology resources. Kids have never had as much access to the internet, media, and mobile technologies at home and school as they do today. Schools can play a critical role by educating, empowering, and engaging children with best practices around technology use.
Our organization believes in a comprehensive approach to digital citizenship and media-literacy legislation that engages thought leaders, educators, parents, and policymakers in an effort to develop the protections necessary for our children to capitalize on the greater opportunities provided by the advancement of technology in the classroom. In 2017, we will work with policymakers throughout the country to expand student and parent access to digital citizenship and media-literacy resources.
State Campaigns: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington
Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is often described as one of the most effective anti-poverty tools available, because it's a refundable tax credit that flows directly to working lower-income citizens. It rewards work, increases economic mobility, reduces inequality, and improves children's health. Common Sense Kids Action supports the state-based EITC policy, because it offers a cash-back tax credit available to qualifying lower- and moderate-income working individuals and families. Evidence from the federal EITC shows that it helps recipients improve their economic stability and that kids from recipient families perform better in school.
State Campaigns: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia
Broadband Expansion
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and in today's world that means making sure all kids have equal access to advanced technology for learning, no matter a school or library's ZIP code. Policymakers in state capitols and in Washington, D.C., are facing the fact that critical funding is necessary to support the continued adoption of technology in classrooms throughout the country. With the use of advances in technology for learning and administration, we must do everything we can now to finish the job of connecting every classroom and library. Common Sense Kids Action will work with state policymakers to identify budget solutions that would allow for federal matching grants with the purpose of expanding broadband access to rural and underserved communities.
Student Data Privacy
Common Sense Kids Action pioneered legislative efforts that have shaped how third-party vendors contracting with schools can share and disseminate student information collected in a classroom setting. In 2013, working with party leadership in the California Senate, we drafted the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA) that has now been adopted by 18 states. In 2017, we will continue to advocate for this standard of student data privacy because we believe that a student's personal information collected at school should be used solely for educational purposes -- that a student's personal information or online activity should not be used to target advertising to students or families.
State Campaigns: Massachusetts
We look forward to working with you to ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive in today's world. Join our efforts -- become a Kids Action Advocate today!
JR oversees Let's Invest Large in Youth (LILY), a multi state program for Common Sense Kids Action. In this capacity JR works with a team of internal and external stakeholders to identify and introduce state based legislation that will positively impact kids. Prior to joining Common Sense, JR served as a seasoned political operative managing campaign efforts for some of the nation’s most competitive races. JR was recognized as a Rising Star by Campaigns and Elections magazine in 2014. He currently lives in San Francisco with his wife Morgan. JR is a frequent contributor to Campaigns and Elections Magazine, contributing to the Campaign Insider column.
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