Yesterday's Austin American-Statesman reported a study showing that Texas has a higher percentage of children living in poverty than 41 other states. According to the annual Kids Count study:
- Twenty-three percent of the state's children live in poverty, compared with the national average of 18 percent.
- Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured children in the country, 21 percent. The national average is 11 percent.
- Almost half of Texas children lived in low-income families in 2004. That's an income below $38,314 for a family of four.
- Texas' infant mortality rate and the percentage of babies with low birth weights increased between 2000 and 2003. The state ranks 22nd in the nation on both.
- Twenty-nine percent of Texas children are in immigrant families, compared with 20 percent of children in the country.
- One in 10 Texas children lives in extreme poverty (below $9,579 a year for a family of four in 2004).
- Texas had the second-lowest percentage of immunized children in 2004, 75 percent. Only Nevada had a lower percentage, 71 percent.
Not to be concerned, though, Texas can add a couple of more accountability tests and that will more than make up for the deficit that these kids enter school with.
_______________
This morning's Dallas Morning News reported that the 2 high school seniors who delivered the marijuana muffins to Lake Highlands HS as a senior prank are each being charged with 5 counts of felony assault on a public servant. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison. Is it possible that someone is over-reacting just a tad?
_______________
One of my colleagues commented today that education has become a field where thinking is no longer welcome...
1 comment:
Craig, "great" post, if such facts can be called great. Thanks for keeping the truth and the reality of our community before your folks. I hope that we can find more aggressive ways to partner with Skillman going forward.
Post a Comment