KPLU Local News
(2010-07-27)
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(KPLU) - Washington's kids are healthy but continue to face education challenges compared to other states. That's the finding of a national-survey on America's children.
The annual Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation uses data from the census bureau to track children's health and education. Overall Washington ranks high, among the top dozen, elevated by statistics like this: the state has the lowest infant mortality rate in the nation. Combined with scores on key indicators like infant birth weight and child mortality rates, the state scores high on health-related factors.
But study coordinator Laura Beavers warns, "The state's not at the same level in the area of education, specifically around high school dropouts."
The study shows Washington lagging behind more than half the states with a higher percentage of teenagers aged 16 to 19 who are not getting a G.E.D or high school diploma. "There continues to be a pretty big gap and this is especially true for African-American and Latino kids," says Beavers. In those groups around 13% are not in school and not working.
Those numbers are familiar to organizations working here to improve graduation rates. Deborah Wilds directs the College Success Foundation.
"We under-educate kids who grow up in our state, and we tend to import more talent into the state than educate the young people who grow up here," according to Wilds. She adds that first-generation and minority kids need greater community supports in place - things such as mentoring and early college awareness, programs.
Wilds says the same is true for kids who live in poverty. The Kids Count report shows the number of kids living in poor households is on the rise. And the authors say that statistic will only get worse the latest numbers are from before the recession took hold.
Click on the Kids Count hyper link in the above text to see the full report released Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
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