pennsylvania partnerships for children: the state of the child 2006

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children:

The State of the Child2006

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The State of the Child

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.

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Child Well-Being Indicators 1 PA child in 3 aged 12-21 lives in a low-income family

200% Poverty = $40,000 for a family of four 100% Poverty = $20,000 for a family of four– Impact: Greater likelihood of:

– Learning disabilities– Grade retention– School dropout– Substance abuse

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30% of children under age 18 living in families live with one parent. (ACS 2004)

Impact: Children of single parent are more likely to:

– Live in poverty– Have fewer relationships with male role models– Have less time to interact with parents– Have diminished social supports– Have lower academic and social well-being

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1 child in 6 is born to a mother with less than a high school education– Impact: Children likelier to live in poverty

and have lower reading skills 1 child in 11 is born to a single,

teenaged mother– Impact: Mothers are less likely to finish

high school and are more likely to be poor, unmarried, and on government assistance

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8.1% of babies born in 2003 were born at low birth weight, less than 5 pounds, 9 ounces. – Impact: Babies born at low birth weight are

likelier to die in the first year of life. They can also have disabilities and health problems that impair learning.

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133,000 of PA children under age 19 are uninsured.

68% of uninsured kids are between ages of 11and 18; (Office of Health Care Reform, 2004)

One child in 3 is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. – Impact: Uninsured children are more likely to miss

school, may not have relationship with primary care provider, and are more likely to need costly emergency room care.

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For 2004-05 school year, 14.7% of students were enrolled in special education

1.6 % have severe disabilities 2.3% of students have limited English

proficiency; LEP students are in rural, urban and suburban school districts alike (Conestoga Valley, Upper Adams, York City)– Impact: Students with limited English

proficiency face greater challenges making progress in school.

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20,920 children in PA (ages 0-20) are in foster care

9,962 are youth 13-20– Impact: Children who endure disruptions

in parenting are likelier to have poor academic performance as well as diminished physical and behavioral health.

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Early Education – 66.5% of income-eligible children ages 3 and 4 are

enrolled in Head Start– 10,127 children were enrolled in public school pre-

K in 2004-05– 51% of PA kindergarteners are enrolled in full-day

K compared to 65% nationally Impact: Early education fosters cognitive,

social and emotional growth. Kids exposed to pre-K do better in school and experience fewer incidents of special education placements and grade retentions.

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Basic Education 2004-05 PSSAs

35.8% of fifth graders scored below proficient in reading

31% of fifth graders scored below proficient in math

36% of eighth graders scored below proficient in reading

37% of eighth graders scored below proficient in math

– Pennsylvania schools face NCLB mandate of 100% proficiency by 2014

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2003-04 expenditures per pupil - $9,204– Gap from highest-spending district to

lowest: 2.6 to 1. From a high of $16,803 per student in Lower Merion (Montgomery County) to $6,344 in Northwestern School District (Erie County).

– Funding equity remains a problem in PA

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Youth in Transition/Ready by 21™ Young adults need an education that

prepares them for the rigor of college or a competitive labor force; they need skills that create potential to one day earn a family sustaining wage

They need to avoid risky behaviors They need strong interpersonal relationships

with friends, family & community

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One in 7 Pennsylvanians (1,688,643) is a young person, 12-21– One in three lives in poverty – More than 12,000 are in foster care – More than 40,000 are in juvenile justice – More than 26,000 teens are mothers– One in 50 students has limited English proficiency– 14% have a disability

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Graduation Gap Two out of 5 urban ninth graders fail to graduate from

high school in the same district four years later One out of 6 rural ninth graders fails to graduate from

high school in the same district four years later One out of 6 suburban kids fails to graduate

– Impact: Adult life for young people without at least a high school diploma is full of economic problems and few opportunities to advance skills.

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In 2003-04, 76% of school district graduates said they planned to pursue further education– School districts with lowest number of

graduates planning further education are a mix of rural and urban: Chester Upland School District, Fannett-Metal, Turkeyfoot Valley and Northern Potter

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High school graduates earn three times more than those who did not graduate.

College graduates earn six times more. Dropouts have higher rates of teen

pregnancy, substance abuse and crime. 80% of those incarcerated are dropouts.

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Youth Unemployment One in 5 urban Pennsylvanians 19-21 is idle

(not working and not in school) One in 7 rural youth 19-21 is idle One in 9 suburban youth 19-21 is idle

– Impact: Work experience is a valuable part of a successful transition from youth to adulthood. Learning how to be a responsible employee in the teen years creates a smoother transition into the workforce as an adult.

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Only 60% of Pennsylvanians 19-21 were employed from 2002-04. While 60% of idle youth are white, the employment challenges facing minorities are even greater: 1 in 3 African American and Hispanic youth is idle.

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The annual average employment rate of America’s teens fell to 36.4 percent in 2004, the lowest it has been since the federal government began employment estimates for teens in 1948.

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Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) Protective factors

– clear standards for behavior– strong bonds with adults who hold healthy beliefs– investment in positive lines of action such as school, service

and work Risk factors

– availability of drugs and firearms– low neighborhood attachment– poverty– lack of commitment to school

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45% of students surveyed said– not praised by teachers for good work– teachers do not tell parents about good

work– do not feel safe in school

25% of students surveyed said parents do not express pride in their accomplishments

31% lack strong family attachments

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31% said it would be easy to obtain alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or handguns, including twice as many (65%) 12th graders

22% said neighbors would not think it is wrong for students to use marijuana, drink alcohol or smoke

9% said communities are unsafe 10% reported poor family supervision

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The Pennsylvania Ready By 21™ Coalition is committed to youth-centered public policies and programs designed to ensure that all Pennsylvanians aged 12-21 have equitable access to high-quality education and support services that meet their needs, prepare them one day to earn a family-sustaining wage, be active citizens, lifelong learners, and enjoy healthy physical, social and emotional health.

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Evidence-based, proven and promising programs and polices that are youth centered and that respond to their needs and aspirations.

Equitable access to high-quality basic, career/technical and post-secondary education that prepares them for work and life.

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Career guidance that builds upon their strengths and interests; and which is informed by the knowledge base of available 21st Century careers/jobs in Pennsylvania that lead to a family-sustaining wage.

Afterschool programs and other extra learning opportunities, often fostered by school and community partnerships, which enhance academic, recreation and social needs.

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Appropriate work experiences that do not interfere with their education achievement and provide opportunities to explore, build and seed a career.

Comprehensive health and human services. Programs and systems of support and

encouragement by families, schools, communities and workplaces.

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Along with their families, decision-making roles in the design of policies and programs intended to address their needs and assure culturally competency.

The opportunity to fully contribute and serve within their communities.

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Our Vision - By 2014, PPC has helped Pennsylvania move into

position as one of the top 10 states in the nation to be a child and to

raise a child.

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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

www.partnerships.org

800-257-2030

Joan L. Benso

President & CEO

pennsylvania partnerships for children: the state of the child 2006

Documents

pa children

children likelier

uninsured children

commonwealths children

child2006the state

children of single parent

school year

government assistancethe