If you'd like to explore just how the federal government is investing in children, head on over to ChildrensBudget.org, a project of First Focus and the America's Promise Alliance. The site is an incredibly thorough and user-friendly way of examining exactly how much federal money is being spent on youth- and education-related programs, and exactly what those programs are. You can also take a look at how funding for children compares to funding for other major areas, and see breaking news and trends in past budgets, look at the effect of the current economy on children, and create your own category to keep an eye on the programs you're most interested in.

First Focus, and ChildrensBudget.org, are national bipartisan organizations, and the information on the site is extremely useful for parents, educators, financial aid professionals, or anyone interested in seeing just what Washington means when they talk about addressing the needs of young people.