Moving Up and Out Post-Secondary Education In Arkansas

510,000 Arkansans are poor 510,000 Arkansans are poor 19% of the state (up from 17% in 2000/2001) 19% of the state (up from 17% in 2000/2001) Average poverty threshold for family of four in Arkansas - $18,392 Average poverty threshold for family of four in Arkansas - $18,392 Why the increase? Why the increase? Poverty in Arkansas today

“Sagging Economy” “Sagging Economy” “Increase in low-paying jobs” “Increase in low-paying jobs” Effects of not providing sustainable skills for “decent work” Effects of not providing sustainable skills for “decent work” Arkansas Democrat Gazette (9/27/03) Arkansas Democrat Gazette (9/27/03) Average cost of childcare this past year$ 3,640 Children’s Defense Fund Average cost of childcare this past year$ 3,640 Children’s Defense Fund

Poverty in Arkansas Eliminating Barriers Through Post-Secondary Education

Why Post-Secondary Education? Children of Single Parents without Post-Secondary Education are more at risk of living in poverty, failing in school, experiencing learning and behavioral problems, malnutrition, and infant mortality

A child is born into poverty every 59 minutes A child in Arkansas dies before his/her birthday every day  Source: Children’s Defense Fund

  Every $1 invested in quality early education saves as much as $7 by increasing the likelihood of literacy, employment, and enrollment in post- secondary education.  Source: Children’s Defense Fund

 Every year spent as a child in poverty will cost an estimated $11,800 in lost future productivity in his/her adult life  Source: Children’s Defense Fund

We spend $3.20 per prisoner and only $1 per public school pupil  Source: Children’s Defense Fund

Children of parents with higher educational attainment  live in homes with more adaptive and positive parenting strategies  score higher on standardized tests  develop strong literacy and language skills  are more likely to finish high school Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

“The biggest beneficiaries are ….their children, who, watching their moms taking their schooling so seriously, become much better students themselves.” ….their children, who, watching their moms taking their schooling so seriously, become much better students themselves.” -- Hillary Clinton Moving up and Out

Parents who obtain a post- secondary education …  Empower themselves and their children by gaining a sense of control over their own lives and giving hope to their children.

“Growing Up Poor does not mean you have to die that way.” -- Patricia Moving Up and Out -- Patricia Moving Up and Out “I dream big now. I never say ‘never’ because if I can do this, I can reach for the stars” -- Sandi Moving Up and Out

Parents who obtain a post- secondary education  95% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education, reported meeting with their child’s teacher often. -- Walton Family Foundation Report -- Walton Family Foundation Report  Have more social capital and social ease.  80% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education reported reading to their children often.

 Yet the share of low-income single parents that have acquired at least some college education has decreased from 24 to 17 percent following the 1996 Welfare Reform  Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research  Research consistently shows that women with post-secondary education are more likely to leave welfare FOR GOOD!!

Post-Secondary Education Reduces poverty And addresses the employment needs of Arkansas

Projected Job Demands in Arkansas

Employment Projections Source: Department of Labor 56% 44%

Bachelor’s Degree Or More 75% Post Secondary/ Vocational 11% 14% Associate’s Degree Post Secondary Job Requirements

 35.1% of Arkansans have high school diploma/GED Educational Attainment in Arkansas  22.5% of Arkansans have less than a high school diploma/GED  58% of Arkansans have high school or less  Source: Census 2000 Supplementary Data

Post Secondary Educational Attainment  16.6% of Arkansans have a Bachelor’s Degree or More   4.6% of Arkansans have an Associate’s Degree

 Percent of women in Managerial and Professional Occupations 29.2% Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research Education is even more important for single mothers  11.9% of Arkansas Women have a Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degree

Where do go from here? Continue to challenge leaders in local industry to see the investment potential. Continue to challenge leaders in local industry to see the investment potential. Continue to empower single parents by helping them realize that they are needed here, in Arkansas. Continue to empower single parents by helping them realize that they are needed here, in Arkansas. Challenge local leaders, organizations to help ASPSF continue to break the cycle of poverty. Challenge local leaders, organizations to help ASPSF continue to break the cycle of poverty. Continue returning thousands of starfish to the sea……….. Continue returning thousands of starfish to the sea………..

For every single parent we help We save generations to come!!!!

Thank you ! Thank you !