Texas v. the U.S.: How do our kids fare? Frances Deviney, PhD Texas KIDS COUNT Director Center for Public Policy Priorities Austin, TX July 27, 2010

Nearly 74 Million Kids in U.S. Source: 2008, KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

1 of every 11 (or 6.7 Million) U.S. Kids Live in Texas Source: 2008, KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Texas Children: Now and in the Future Projected to add over 1M kids by 2020 Source: 2008 Population Projections using Scenario, Texas State Data Center

Nearly half of Texas’ kids are Hispanic

One of every three TX Kids Lives in Single-parent Home

Texas Kids in Poverty Outnumbers the Total Child Populations of Million Total Children Source: 2008 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates; 2008 Population, Texas State Data Center

To be considered “officially poor,” a family of three had to make less than 17,330 / year Source: 2008 Poverty Thresholds for a family of 3 with two related children under 18 years old

Children Under Age Five Twice as Likely to Live in Poverty than Working-Age Adults Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau Overall child poverty (0-17) = 23%

Texas’ Black and Hispanic Children Are Over 3x as Likely to Live in Poverty as White Children Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Thrive Grow

Texas Ties for Worst Rate of Child Food Insecurity Source: Current Population Survey, Kids Count Data Center 1.6 Million (24%) Hungry children: –Miss more school –Less attentive –More likely to fail and be held back –More likely to drop out

Kids Receiving SNAP (a.k.a. Food Stamps) Grown Dramatically 29% October 2008 Source: Children Ages 0-17, Texas Health and Human Services Commission 1.95 million July 2010

Health Care Coverage and Gaps

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

Children’s Health in Texas Infant Mortality 6.3 (2,564) (rate per 1,000 live births) 11% since 2000 Immunizations by 2 77% 19% since 2002 Children with Special 17% (1.1 M) Health Care Needs 42% since 2001 Low-Birthweight Babies 8.4% (34,000) 17% since 2000 Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

State of Texas Families’ Economic Security?

TX Unemployment Rose Steadily Throughout 2009 Current poverty data from this time period Source: Monthly Unemployment Rate (%), Not Seasonally Adjusted; Texas Workforce Commission

Education = Economic Competitiveness

Texas Dropouts Declining Source: not graduated or working, ACS, KIDS COUNT Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation

GAPS IN ACHIEVEMENT: Fewer Economically Disadvantaged Kids Pass the TAKS Tests Source: Percent Students Passing Across Grades Within Each Test, 2009 TAKS data, Texas Education Agency

GAPS IN ATTAINMENT: Economically Disadvantaged and Minority Students Have Higher Drop Out Rates Source: Class of 2009 four-year longitudinal dropout rate within group, Texas Education Agency

Source: Median Earnings in Past 12 Months for Tarrant Co. Population 25 and Over, 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau (Table B20004) Having a Degree Translates into Higher Annual Earnings

GAPS IN EARNINGS: One of Every Four Dropouts Lives in Poverty Source: Table C17003, Adults 25+ yrs, 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, National KIDS COUNT Report Texas is in the bottom quarter of states for reading proficiency TX 72%

Important to close the Achievement Gap? Gap caused by factors outside of school? Whose responsibility? 88% 77% 57% up to the school alone Public Poll on Education Source: Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll (2006)

Early Care & Education

“Early disadvantage, if left untouched, leads to academic and social difficulties later in life. Early advantages accumulate, just as early disadvantages do.” Heckman & Masterov, as cited in “Early Childhood Education for All: A Wise Investment”

Language exposure of 4 year olds By age 4, the average child from a: Professional family has heard 20M more words than child from working-class family

Language exposure of 4 year olds By age 4, the average child from a: Professional family has heard 35M more words than child from low-income family Source: Hart, B., and Risley, R. (1999). The social world of children learning to talk. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing.

One of Every Four Texas Preschoolers Not Read to Regularly Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, National KIDS COUNT Report TX 26%

Broader, Bolder Approach to Education Continue school improvement efforts. Provide developmentally-appropriate, high- quality early childhood education. Improve the quality of out-of-school time. Provide routine pediatric, dental, hearing, and vision care for all children. Source: Economic Policy Institute Task Force,

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

INSTEAD… Texas Leadership calling for 10% cuts for state budget!

Proposed Cuts for Source: Presentation by TX DSHS Commissioner David Lakey on

“Is it good for kids?”

Texas Needs A Balanced Approach to Balancing the Budget

New 3 R ’s R eserves R elief R evenue

How Texas Can Close the Revenue Gap in 2011? Use the Rainy Day Fund Utilize All Federal Funds Available to Us

How Texas Can Close the Revenue Gap in 2011? Use the Rainy Day Fund Utilize All Federal Funds Available to Us Find New Sources of Revenue

Let’s make sure Texas’ story is NOT about shortchanging our kids.

Contact Information Frances Deviney, PhD Texas KIDS COUNT Director (512) ext. 106

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