State Policy Academy: Supporting Families with Comprehensive Tax Policies
Money matters for child and family wellbeing. State tax credits targeted to families with children, including earned income tax credits (EITCs) and child tax credits (CTCs), are tools many states use to increase families’ available resources. To date, 32 states (including DC) have adopted a state EITC, and 16 (including DC) have adopted a state CTC. The design of credits, how they intersect, and how they interact with the state’s wider income tax structure impact which families benefit and to what extent those families benefit.
To help states design and implement effective state tax credits and family income support policies, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is inviting select states to apply to the State Policy Academy: Supporting Families with Comprehensive Tax Policies in Nashville, TN from November 9-11, 2025. The event will begin at 6 pm on Sunday, November 9 and conclude by 2 pm on Tuesday, November 11. Expenses for travel, accommodation, and meals will be covered by the Policy Impact Center.
This State Policy Academy will offer opportunities to engage with and learn from state and national experts, collaborate as a state team to determine policy priorities, and strategize advocacy efforts. Each team will leave with an actionable plan for comprehensive tax policies in their state.
What's Included?
- Dinner and a networking event on the first day.
- Presentations and workshops addressing:
- Components of income tax systems and tax credit policies.
- How tax credits and other family economic support policies intersect.
- The impact of tax credits on families, businesses, and the state economy.
- Mechanisms for funding tax credits.
- Strategies for building successful coalitions.
- Case studies and lessons learned from states’ efforts to adopt and implement tax credits.
- Extensive state team planning time.
Following the event, attendees will be first in line to receive ongoing assistance from the Policy Impact Center in the form of:
- In-state presentations to your stakeholders.
- Analysis of select states’ current or proposed policy.
- Data support, including benefit-cost analysis for your state’s proposed policy.
- Data simulations for select states’ policies with our Policy Impact Calculator.
- Testimony from Center staff to summarize research and translate our findings.
- Answers to individual questions about tax and economic support policies for families.
Eligibility and Team Composition
The Policy Impact Center will select state teams based on several factors, including:
- Demonstrated interest in establishing or expanding a state EITC and/or CTC.
- Identified champion(s) prepared to lead the advocacy efforts.
Each state team will consist of up to six members. Priority will be given to teams with diverse representation in roles, each needed to successfully develop state tax policies that support families, carry out effective advocacy campaigns, and usher policies through the legislative process. State teams should designate one team member to complete the application on behalf of the team.
Examples of team members include:
- State lawmakers
- Legislative staff
- Executive office staff
- Statewide tax policy advocates
- Statewide early childhood advocates
- Organizations representing parents
Questions and Timeline
Please direct all inquiries, including questions on the application process or policy academies, to Jeni Palmer, State Relations Manager, at jennifer.palmer@vanderbilt.edu.
| State Policy Academy | Supporting Families with Comprehensive Tax Policies |
| Application | CLOSED |
| Application Open | Wednesday, June 25, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | Friday, July 25, 2025 |
| Acceptance Notification | Wednesday, August 13, 2025 |
| Academy Dates | November 9-11, 2025 |
| Cost | All associated hotel, food, and travel costs are covered by the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center |
| Questions? | Email: jennifer.palmer@vanderbilt.edu |
About the Policy Impact Center
The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, housed within Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, is a nonpartisan research center dedicated to supporting evidence-based policymaking in the field of early childhood development. We track emerging evidence, conduct original research, and monitor state-level policy activity to inform effective and equitable policies that strengthen families and promote optimal outcomes for children. An Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the 12 effective solutions identified in the Policy Impact Center’s annual Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap.
The Policy Impact Center is led by Dr. Cynthia Osborne, Professor of Early Childhood Education and Policy at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College. The Center employs over 30 researchers, policy experts, and leaders of our communications and outreach efforts. Staff work remotely in 14 states across the US.
