Latest news with #KIDSCOUNTDataBook
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
National report praises Mississippi's preschool standards
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi received national recognition for developing its youngest students in new research. The state went from being ranked the second-worst state in 2013 for fourth-grade reading to 21st in 2022. A report from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) suggested that recent education gains may not have been a fluke. NIEER announced that Mississippi was one of five states that met all 10 of its benchmarks for preschool. Mississippi receives its highest-ranking ever in KIDS COUNT report The benchmarks relate to a plethora of factors, including teacher education, class size, classroom monitoring and education standards. The state funds two preschool programs: state-funded pre-kindergarten and the Early Learning Collaborative program. Additionally, Mississippi was one of 10 states that increased preschool enrollment by more than 20%. Roughly a quarter of all preschool-aged children are in a state-run preschool, according to NIEER. The state has historically had a checkered past with education. The federal government forced Mississippi to desegregate schools 16 years after Brown v. Board of Education ordered schools to do so in 1954. Though graduation rates are among the highest nationally, standardized testing scores for college admission are still among the lowest. Still, the recognition from NIEER does not appear to be isolated. The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked Mississippi with the 16th best education ranking nationally. That was the state's highest ranking to date in the annual report spanning decades. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana's overall child well-being improves, with high rankings in economic and education
Research suggests that children and youth engaged in formal mentoring programs, especially those involved for a year or more, reported significantly fewer behavioral problems and fewer symptoms of depression and social anxiety when compared to non-mentored youths. (Getty Images) A state-by-state report shows Indiana child well-being has improved with its highest rankings in over a decade for both economic and education categories. But it remains in the bottom half for health and family and community — indicating progress and opportunities to do better for Hoosier children. The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked Indiana 25th overall for child well-being, slightly improving from 27th in 2024. In 2022 and 2021, the state ranked 28th and 29th. The report is developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in partnership with organizations across the country, including the Indiana Youth Institute. It aims to evaluate where there is progress and what needs greater support among four domains: economics, education, health and family and community. It ranks the national and state data among 16 indicators which are combined under the four domains. This year, Indiana ranked 11th in both economic and education, an increase from 15th and 17th last year, respectively. 'This year's KIDS COUNT rankings reflect encouraging momentum … demonstrating that investments in children and families make a meaningful impact,' said Tami Silverman, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to learn, play, and grow. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like workforce development and economic growth.' Nationally, states showed the most improvement in family and community. However, education worsened across the board, with declines in student proficiency in math and reading. New Hampshire and Vermont were ranked among the best in overall child well-being, while New Mexico and Louisiana were ranked lowest. Indiana's economic indicators showed slight increases and was better than the national data in all four categories. In 2023, the number of children in poverty — 239,000 or 15% — remained similar to prior data in 2019. Meanwhile, fewer teens were out of school or work, and more parents had secure employment in 2023. However, the percentage of children living in households burdened by high housing costs increased from 21% in 2019 to 23% in 2023. Indiana data showed better performances in education than national averages, ranking 11th among other states. But individual indicators were worse compared to prior year data. Eighth-grade math proficiency dropped, with 69% not being proficient compared to 63% in 2019. Similarly, 66% fourth graders were not proficient in reading, as compared to 63% in 2019. The percentage of high school students not graduating on time improved slightly, similarly to national trends. Indiana also performed worse in the percentage of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school, 60% compared to 59% in prior data. Indiana's health rankings align with national trends in children and teens between 10 and 17 who are overweight or obese and low birth-weight babies. The state is below average for children without health insurance showing 6% are without. Nationally 5% of children don't have health insurance. Indiana averaged 34 deaths for children and teens per 100,000, marking an increase compared to 29 deaths in prior data. Indiana remained near the bottom nationally in family and community ranking 31st — unchanged from last year. Although each indicator improved and is performing slightly better than national data. In 2023, the state was home to more than 1.59 million children under 18. Of that, 33% are children in single-parent families and 7% of children live in high-poverty areas, which decreased from years before. Nationally, 34% of children are in single-parent families and 11% of children live in high poverty areas. 'When Indiana's kids and families thrive, our entire state moves forward,' Silverman said. 'These rankings are a reminder that while we're seeing real gains in key areas, we must continue to focus on what works—ensuring that every child and every family has the support they need to grow, contribute, and thrive.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii keiki face mixed trends in well-being vs. mainland peers
Hawaii's children are increasingly affected by housing instability and parental job insecurity, ranking the state among the worst in the nation for economic well-being, according to the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report, now in its 36th year, evaluates child well-being across four categories—economic well-being, education, health, and family and community—using 16 key indicators. Hawaii ranked 24th overall in the nation, a slight improvement from 29th in 2024, but trends in housing and employment signal urgent challenges ahead. More than one in three children in Hawaii lived in households burdened by high housing costs in 2023—the fifth-worst rate in the country. Though the state saw a slight improvement in housing cost burden from 38 % in 2019 to 35 % in 2023, the issue remains more severe than the national average of 30 %. At the same time, the share of children whose parents lacked secure employment jumped from 24 % to 28 % over the same period, diverging from the national trend, which saw a modest improvement. Hawaii's rank in this category dropped from 16th to 36th in the nation. 'It took the lowest-income families a decade to recover from the Great Recession, and now we are once again facing the threat of a greater share of our keiki growing up in economic hardship, which can have harmful lifelong effects on their well-being, ' said Ivette Rodriguez Stern, junior specialist at the University of Hawaii Center on the Family. 'Without bold action from our leaders, it will be difficult for our children and their families to climb out of the upcoming economic hole they're likely to experience.' The warning comes as the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization predicts a potential recession, and as proposed federal budget cuts threaten to push thousands of local families out of vital food and health care programs. Deborah Zysman, executive director of Hawaii Children's Action Network, said the report's findings must serve as a call to action. 'Year after year, the KIDS COUNT Data Book reminds us that more can and must be done to support the economic well-being of Hawai 'i's children and their families. With the looming threat of a recession and harsh cuts to crucial programs, our state's leaders must act now to prevent our children's well-being from deteriorating further.' Education indicators were another weak spot for Hawaii, with the state ranking 29th in this domain. The share of fourth graders not proficient in reading rose to 68 %, slightly better than the national average of 70 % but still trending in the wrong direction. Eighth grade math proficiency worsened from 72 % not proficient in 2019 to 77 % in 2024—worse than the national rate of 73 %. Preschool access remained stagnant, with 54 % of 3-and 4-year-olds not enrolled, matching the national average. However, on-time high school graduation improved slightly, with 86 % of students graduating on time in 2022 compared with 85 % in 2019. Where Hawaii shines is in the health of its children. The state ranked 10th in the nation, with only 3 % of children lacking health insurance—the third lowest rate nationally—and one of the lowest child and teen death rates in the country, improving from 24 per 100, 000 in 2019 to 18 in 2023. Despite those strengths, the share of low birth-weight babies increased slightly from 8.4 % to 8.7 %, and childhood obesity worsened, with 29 % of children ages 10 to 17 considered overweight or obese—just below the national rate of 31 %. The state also ranked 14th in the family and community domain. The state's teen birth rate dropped significantly from 16 to 11 per 1, 000, and the percentage of children living in high-poverty areas improved from 5 % to 4 %. The rate of children in single-parent households held steady at 34 %, matching the national figure. Overall, experts say the report offers a critical snapshot of the challenges and opportunities facing Hawaii's youngest residents. The full 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book is available at and data for Hawaii can be found at.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Less than half of your open school board seats may be decided by Delaware voters in 2025
The state of public education is one of the hottest topics in Delaware right now. It sparks fervor from various angles. It could be the state's 45th ranking for education outcomes in the national KIDS COUNT Data Book. It could be struggling reading scores, still starving for pandemic rebound. Maybe it's the ongoing debate on updating public school funding, after an independent report called out an "alarmingly clear and negative relationship" between high-need students and their achievement. It could be around recommendations to spend $600 million to $1 billion more, while updating the state formula to follow students. But you wouldn't see it at school board elections. The filing deadline for Delaware's 2025 School Board Elections across 16 traditional public school districts is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7. There are some 28 different seats up for grabs across the state, as voters head to the polls this spring. Right now, 10 would go to election. In other words, with at least one seat up for election in every school district – and seven with two or more – roughly 64% of school board races in Delaware would be uncompetitive if the filing deadline passed at the end of last week. Sussex County voters would get only one election to make a choice. That's out of 12 seats up for consideration. And two such open seats, in Indian River and Woodbridge School District, still have no candidate filed as of the last Department of Elections update late Friday, Feb. 28. In Delaware state law, if there is just one candidate who files unopposed in a race for a school board seat, they've got it. The Elections Department would not hold an election for that seat, and the new board member would be handed a certificate of election instead. "What we really want people to have is a choice of who they put in that seat," said Julia Keleher, executive director of First State Educate. The nonprofit has been pushing to train and prepare current board members – and lately, potential candidates. As a local control state, school boards play a critical role in running districts. "We're trying to build the bench, trying to get people to understand what the role is, trying to encourage them to want to pick up the mantle and to see in themselves the kind of leaders that Delaware needs." This year's deadline is coming fast. Lack of interest here isn't new. Keleher noted that not quite 6,000 Delawareans voted in the last school board election. Back in 2023, it was about 10% of registered voters, and several districts posted lower than 5% turnout. This trend holds true across the nation, even while these nonpartisan races have become increasingly rife with political discourse and party influence. As for active contests, this year actually posts a slight improvement over 2024. But concerns about low competition and engagement continue. Nationally, a Ballotpedia study of more than 5,400 school board elections in 2023 found that about 53% of seats went uncontested. Regardless, these governing bodied make key decisions on budgets, curriculum and leadership every year. "I would love to find a way to make the issue of school boards one where everyone felt connected to it, even if it isn't that I dropped my kids off at a public school every day," Keleher posed. "Does that make sense?" The nonprofit leader said anyone fit for a school board should be passionate about education, as motivation is essential to the demanding four-year appointment. She also noted a necessary mindset for the greater good, rather than one passionate issue. These join a list of characteristics for effective school boards, from the Center for Public Education. "Sometimes somebody has to say, 'Wow, you have so many skills, and you're passionate about this issue, and you care about your community. You'd be a great person to help,'" she said. "But we don't see it sometimes until someone taps us on the shoulder and kind of invites us." Sussex Tech: Delaware high school student helps car crash victims, lands honors from Coast Guard JROTC Brandywine: District A Christina: District A Colonial: District B and District D Red Clay: District B and District G Milford: One at-large seat Cape Henlopen: One at-large and District B Delmar: One at-large seat Indian River: Two seats for District 1, one seat for District 2 and District 4 (Only one candidate filed for two District 1 seats) Laurel: One at-large seat Seaford: One at-large seat Woodbridge: Two at-large seats (Only one candidate filed) Trump & DOE: 'Bullying tactics': Delaware watches quietly as Trump targets diversity efforts in education Legally, there are just a few qualifications. A candidate must be a citizen and district resident and be at least 18 years old, while they must not be paid employees of the district or ever convicted of embezzlement. Applications and evidence that a required background check is in the works must be submitted to the Department of Elections. Anyone in need of more information can contact the department: Sussex County: (302) 856-5367 – votesc@ Kent County: (302) 739-4498 – votekc@ New Castle County: (302) 577-3464 – votencc@ Look back at previous newcomers: Incumbent upset, narrow races: How 2024 school board elections shook out Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Less than half of Delaware's open school board seats may see ballots
