Playing Keep-Away: The State of Texas and Tarrant County Children & Our Revenue Crisis Frances Deviney, Ph.D. Texas Kids Count Director Center for Public Policy Priorities June 1, 2011

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation & The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Special Thanks To Our Co-host United Way of Tarrant County

Let’s explore the Texas Century from the perspective Texas’ children

2000 (5.9M) 2010 Texas’ child population added nearly ONE MILLION Kids 6.9 M Source: 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census data, U.S. Census Bureau

Although Texas’ child pop grew overall, 144 counties lost kids Source: CPPP analysis of 2000 SF3 data and 2010 redistricting data from the U.S. Census Bureau

In 2000, Tarrant County’s White child population was the clear majority Source: Summary File 3, 2000 Decennial Census data, U.S. Census Bureau

By 2010, Tarrant Co grew to more than 507K kids, with Hispanic kids accounting for most of the growth Source: CPPP analysis of redistricting data, 2010 Decennial Census, U.S. Census Bureau

The vast majority of Tarrant Co. kids are U.S. citizens Source: Table B05003, American Community Survey 3-year estimates, Census Bureau

Tarrant Co. child poverty increased dramatically following the Recession Recession began in Sept 2008 Source: 2000 through 2009 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau

Tarrant Co.’s Black & Hispanic children nearly 4x more likely to live in poverty than White children Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau 4x

Thrive Grow

Births to Tarrant Co. teens declining over time, but only for married teens Source: Percentage of all live births, Vital Statistics, Texas Department of State Health Services 10.0% 9.8% 3.5% Births to Married Teens Births to Unmarried Teens

More babies born too early... Tarrant County U.S. Texas Source: Vital Statistics, Texas Department of State Health Services

... and too small Source: Vital Statistics, Texas Department of State Health Services Babies born weighing less than 5.5 lbs

One of Every Four Texas Preschoolers Not Read to Regularly Source: 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health from Annie E. Casey Foundation, KIDS COUNT Data Center

Over half of Texas’ 4 year-olds attend Public Pre-K 192,594 Source: Texas Education Agency 11,917

Nearly two-thirds of Tarrant County’s students are economically disadvantaged Source: Texas Education Agency Standard Student Reports

Since recession, nearly 34,000 more economically disadvantaged students in Tarrant Co. Source: Texas Education Agency Standard Student Reports

Fewer Economically Disadvantaged Kids in Tarrant Co. Pass the TAKS Tests Source: Percent Students Passing Across Grades Within Each Test, 2010 TAKS data, Texas Education Agency

How Many Economically Disadvantaged Kids Not Passing in Tarrant County? Reading = 37,000+ Math = 10,000+ Science = 10,800+ Social Studies = 1,900+ Writing = 2,900+ Source: Students Not Passing Across Grades Within Each Test, 2010 TAKS data, Texas Education Agency

Tarrant Co. Dropouts: Still Not Great, But Improving Source: Attrition rate, Intercultural Development Research Association Texas Tarrant Co.

Tarrant Co. Dropouts Nearly Twice as Likely to Live in Poverty as Graduates Source: Table C17003, Adults 25+ yrs, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

More than 6,200 Tarrant County kids confirmed as abused or neglected in 2010 Source: Department of Family and Protective Services

Tarrant county kids in Foster Care increased by 50 percent Source: Rate of kids in foster care per 1,000 Children Ages 0-17, Department of Family and Protective Services

DFPS making more relative care placements, fewer foster care placements Source: Annual Data Books, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Foster Care Relative

Percentage of kids in excellent/very good health varies by... Geography: TX = 78%, U.S. = 84% Source: 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health

Texas Has Highest Rate of Uninsured Children in the Nation Eleven Years Running Source: Kids 0-18, KIDS COUNT State-Level Data Online, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Reduction in uninsured Texas kids leaves middle class behind 23% Source: CPPP analysis of 3-year average data, children ages 0-18, Current Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Texas Century for children

We do big things

Sustained & balanced investment is the key to healthy child development and Texas’ future prosperity.

Only one dime of every federal dollar is spent on kids Source: Children’s Budget 2010, First Focus

Combined State & Federal Funds Spent on Children in = $80.5 Billion 3% 1% 3% 4% Source: Texas Children’s Budget for , CPPP

Children’s Spending 41%

Per Capita Spending by State Children’s Spending 41% Children’s Spending in Other States

Why was there a $27 billion shortfall?

It’s not just the Recession! 2006 school tax cut created a structural deficit Predicted Cost of Property Tax Reduction$14.2 B Predicted Amount of New Revenue$ 8.3 B Predicted Shortfall$ 5.9 B Minimum Cost of Property Tax Reduction $14.2 B Forecast of New Revenue$ 4.5 B Likely Shortfall$ 9.7 B

Source: University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, 3-11

Cuts to Kids Provider rate cuts in Medicaid and CHIP Initiative to improve rural health care Community Mental Health services Pre-K grants State and community mental health hospitals Newborn health screenings Child abuse, neglect, and delinquency prevention Children with special health care needs Early Childhood Intervention Foundation School Program Community-based obesity prevention Family Planning Services Communities in Schools program Middle school PE grants High School Completion and Success Financial support for Family Based Services for abused kids Reading, Math, and Science Initiatives Teen Parenting/Life Skills

Source: University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll,

“$15 Billion Cut” really means Firing teachers & increasing class sizes Limiting access to health care Putting children in harm’s way

We know we can do big things. It’s time to do the right thing.

TEXAS KIDS COUNT

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