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Capitol briefing, June 9, 2004

The State of the Child in Pennsylvania. Capitol briefing, June 9, 2004. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children Advocacy organization Independent, non-profit Prevention-focused, research-based

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Capitol briefing, June 9, 2004

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  1. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania Capitol briefing, June 9, 2004

  2. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children • Advocacy organization • Independent, non-profit • Prevention-focused, research-based • Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children is a strong, effective and trusted voice for improving the health, education and well-being of the Commonwealth’s children.

  3. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • The State of the Child in Pennsylvania – 2004 • Local data on child well-being and circumstances – county, major municipality, school district • KIDS COUNT product, Annie E. Casey Foundation • Separate Casey Foundation publication -- 2004 KIDS COUNT Data Book -- shows PA’s standing among states • PA ranks 13th – again!

  4. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Is PA a great place to be a child and to raise a child? • State of the Child says “no” • Can PA become a great place to be a child and to raise a child? • Absolutely • How?

  5. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania could reach struggling kids with targeted help. • The State of the Child shows where they live, and they live in surprising places • The State of the Child shows that well-designed interventions can help children maximize their potential. • Pennsylvania has done it before – CHIP/MA • The State of the Child argues for coherent, interlaced policy strategies to support families and help all children achieve. • Promising and proven practices to assure success

  6. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Picture • Children in our communities are growing up in families struggling to make ends meet… • Statewide: 1 in 3 children is low-income • Rural: 1 in 2 children is low-income • 1 in 7 lives in extreme poverty • 1 in 7 lives in a high-poverty neighborhood • Even in counties like Lehigh and Lebanon, 1 in 3 is low-income

  7. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Picture… • Children are being born under circumstances that dramatically inhibit their future success… • 1 in 7 is born to a mother without a high school education • 1 in 11 is born to a mother under age 20 • 1 in 12 is born at low birth weight • Children are living in families who are juggling work and family responsibilities… • Two school-age children out of three have all available parents in the workforce • Children are failing to meet national education standards… • Nearly half of fifth graders fail to meet reading and math proficiency standards

  8. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania Some local perspective… • In Blair County, 1 child in 2 lives in a low-income family • In Schuylkill County, 1 child in 3 is low-income • In Lebanon County, 1 child in 4 was born to a mother without a high school diploma • In Jefferson County, 1 child in 5 (under 5) lives in deep poverty • In Philadelphia, 1 child in 6 was born to a mother under age 20 • In Dauphin County, 1 child in 7 lives in a high-poverty neighborhood • In Greene County, 1 child in 8 was born to a mom under age 20 • In Lackawanna County,1 child in 9 was born to a mother who didn’t have early pre-natal care • In Chester County, 1 child in 10 was born to a mom without a high school degree

  9. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania Data should drive policy… • Research-based policies designed to improve child outcomes • Appropriate health coverage • School readiness programs • High-quality public education • Family supports • After-school and youth development programs

  10. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania Children’s health coverage

  11. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • One child in three is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP • 945,000 total in December 2003 • Medicaid enrollment up by 100,000 children since December 2000 • CHIP enrollment up by more than 33,000 • Uninsured population constantly changing

  12. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Continue to build children’s health coverage • Strengthen coordinated emphasis on outreach and enrollment • Assure coverage that advances healthier kids • Effective renewal practices & health care usage • Comprehensive benefits to meet children’s physical and behavioral health needs

  13. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania School readiness programs

  14. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • National Academy of Sciences notes presence of risk factors that can inhibit school readiness, including: • Poverty: One in seven PA children lives in deep poverty; one in three lives in a low-income family • Mothers without a high school education: One PA child in seven • Births to mothers under age 20: One child in 11 • Low birth weight: One child in 12

  15. The State of the Child The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Some recent early childhood education gains – but not enough • 40 school districts include pre-K in block grant plans • Pre-K competes with other choices • $15 million slated for Head Start • A first step, but not enough to meet need • PA pre-k falls short on seven quality standards out of 10 (NIEER)

  16. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Wholehearted ECE commitment needed for school readiness outcomes • Increased attention to high standards • Growing investments and long-term commitment to dedicated funding • Offer significantly more children quality prekindergarten

  17. The State of the Child The State of the Child in Pennsylvania High-quality public education

  18. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania The State of the Child • Growing school diversity • Enrollments by minorities and students with disabilities rising • 3.1% of students have limited English proficiency • NCLB: Each group must progress toward proficiency • 33% of PA kindergartners in full-day-- compared to 55% in U.S. • Nearly half of fifth graders failed tomeet 2002-03 proficiency standards • 43.7% scored below proficient in math • 41.9% scored below proficient in reading

  19. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania The State of the Child • Funding policies lack a rational formula and fail to restore equity • Per-pupil expenditures ranged from $5,900 (Juniata County SD) to $14,870 (Lower Merion SD) • 2.5 to 1 ratio • Declining state share squeezes districts • Ed Week: PA among the top 14 states in funding adequacy, but next-to-last in equity and state share • Result: Appearance of adequacy from combined state and local resources, but poorest communities can’t extract more revenues from weak tax bases

  20. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Create an education funding formula that assures every student the opportunity to succeed • Include funding for full-day K and promote small class sizes in the early grades • Demonstration of need: Full-day K is the most popular block grant option • More than half of PA school districts – 293 – included FDK in their grant applications • 99 choosing class-size reduction

  21. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania Family support After-school and youth development programs

  22. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • One child in three in a low-income family • Below 200% of poverty ($37,700, family of four, 2004) • Well below adjusted median income of $47,202 • One child in seven in a high-poverty neighborhood • Jobs are scarce, basic necessities are costlier, and organized activities are limited • Two out of three school-age children have all available parents in the workforce

  23. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • KIDS COUNT Data Book measure of 18- to 24-year-olds who have reached young adulthood without the tools for success • One young adult in seven without a job, out of school, and has no degree beyond high school • PA’s 14% similar to national average of 15% • “Disconnected youth”

  24. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Elevate family support and youth development on PA policy agenda • Increase access to subsidized child care • Expand and coordinate nurse home visiting programs for at-risk mothers • Target audience includes key State of the Child figures – mothers under 20 and those lacking high school degrees • Improve prenatal health behaviors • Decrease child abuse • Prevent teen delinquency

  25. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Expand tax forgiveness for low- and moderate-income families • Step up outreach efforts • PA has lacked a strategy for youth development and after-school programs • Coordinate funding • Encourage range of community programs • Discourage criminal behavior and drug & alcohol use • Improve school performance and aspirations for higher education

  26. The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • The State of the Child in Pennsylvania • Commit to promoting child success • Coordinated strategies • Equal opportunity for all children • Supports from birth to adulthood • Incorporate research • Pennsylvania can become a great place to be a child and to raise a child

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