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Background and Context
These resources will help students develop a thorough understanding of Economic Issues and make connections between historical events, current conversations, and current policy proposals surrounding the economic issues and challenges in the United States.
Available for Middle & High School
Current Issue Debates
Current Issue Debates are framed by a central question and followed by historical context, an overview of both sides of the topic, and discussion questions to facilitate deliberation in the classroom.
Available for Middle & High School
Available for Middle & High School
Available for Middle & High School
Available for Middle & High School
Available for Middle & High School
Videos from Policy Makers
Brought to you by ASP HOMEROOM, through a collaboration between Close Up Foundation and A Starting Point, these supplemental videos are an introduction to policy areas that provide an opportunity for students to hear different perspectives directly from lawmakers.
Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) & Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI) May 26, 2021
Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) & Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) May 14, 2021
Congressmen Don Beyer (D-VA) & Blake Moore (R-UT) April 15, 2021
Post | March 10, 2022
On March 1, 2022, President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address. He hit on several major topics that have impacted the nation over the last year. This post will focus on the president’s discussion of the most recent and pressing global issue: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. READ MORE: The Russian […]
Post | February 15, 2022
Last month, Senators Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., introduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, a reform bill which would require members of Congress to divest their stock market investments or face fines totaling the entire amount of their congressional salary.1 According to an August 2021 Gallup poll, approximately 56 percent of U.S. […]
Post | January 13, 2022
Across the United States, towns and cities are flooded with “Help Wanted” signs on business doors. The U.S. job market has seen its share of ups and downs over the last two years, but 2021 was a year of record-breaking highs in many categories. The two most important: record-breaking quits and record-breaking new job openings. […]
Post | January 4, 2022
Already facing the enormous challenge of addressing spiking cases of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant, President Joe Biden’s administration was presented with a new challenge when Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced that he would not support the $2 trillion spending plan known as Build Back Better. Citing concerns over the level of spending on […]
Post | November 22, 2021
On November 15th, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bill represents the culmination of months of negotiations between House Democrats and Republicans as well as within the two parties. The goal of the bill is to significantly revitalize and modernize American infrastructure – the various systems, equipment, and structures that […]
Post | October 27, 2021
The case of Brackeen v. Haaland is currently facing the U.S. Supreme Court. The case calls into question the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978. The two major questions in the case are: (1) Is the ICWA unconstitutional on the basis of racial discrimination because of its favoring of Native families […]
Post | August 25, 2021
On August 24, the House of Representatives passed a $3.5 trillion spending bill, committed to passing an infrastructure bill, and moved forward with significant voting rights legislation.1 It was an important step in enacting such a large spending plan, but it was not the final step. Republicans and a number of conservative and moderate Democrats […]
Historical Perspective (ELA Unit) | August 20, 2021
Words of Ages Teacher’s Guide are designed to supplement your standard classroom history text while offering new, creative perspectives on the nation’s heritage.