Closing educational gaps

Local News

December 11, 2008

Kids Count book shines critical light on needs of youngsters in Texas

Anonymous The San Marcos Record Thu Dec 11, 2008, 10:32 AM CST

A number of Texas children, including some in Hays County, are coming up short educationally, with poverty and lack of adequate health care the prime underlying causes.

That’s one of the findings by The Center for Public Policy Priorities, which on Wednesday released The State of Texas Children: Texas KIDS COUNT Annual Data Book 2008-09.

Included in the book are some statistics about the factors driving the education gaps in Hays County.

This year's data book includes a special essay on “Closing the Educational Gaps,” revealing that community and statewide factors play a pivotal role in a child's academic achievement.

“In every grade, fewer economically disadvantaged kids succeed in school or graduate than their peers. This is not simply about poor kids from poor families. This is about the broader social and community problems that hold kids back, such as access to quality prenatal care, exposure to more environmental hazards, hunger and lack of affordable housing. In combination, these factors can have a powerful affect on a student’s ability to learn,” Texas KIDS COUNT Director Frances Deviney said.

Only 80 percent of Texas’ economically disadvantaged students pass the TAKS Reading, and 68 percent pass the TAKS Math tests compared to 93 percent and 84 percent of their non-disadvantaged peers, respectively, the report said.

In Hays County, economically disadvantaged children passing rates are 79.6 percent for reading and 65.2 percent for math, compared their non-disadvantaged peers’ passing rates of 93.1 percent and 84.7 percent, respectively.

Factors Driving the Education Gaps

Poverty in Texas and in Hays County

With nearly one in four kids living in poverty (24.7 percent), Texas' child rate exceeds most other states' (U.S. = 18.5 percent). That means 1.5 million Texas children live in families making less than the federal poverty level (e.g., less than $17,600 for a family of 3 in 2008). In Hays County, 3,532 children (12.9 percent) live in families below the poverty line.

According to the report, compared to their peers, these children:

• are less likely to pass the TAKS test;

• drop out of school at higher rates; and

• earn less in future employment.

Child Health in Texas and Hays County

Texas' uninsured rate for children exceeds that of every other state. Texas had the worst uninsured rate nine of the last 10 years, with 21 percent of children under 17 uninsured in 2006.

In Hays County, 5,434 children (18.6 percent) lack health insurance.

The report said children without regular health care are more likely to contract illnesses that will keep them out of school. They are more likely to have poorer oral health, vision, and hearing.

Child Nutrition in Texas and in Hays County

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from 2004-2006, 15.9 percent of Texas households (approximately 1.3 million households with 1.4 million children) were classified as food insecure, ranking Texas as 48th in the nation. One resource for these children is the Food Stamp program.

In Hays County, 4809 children (16.7 percent) live in families receiving Food Stamps (TX = 24.1 percent).

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