skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump will name more conservative judges. He may even pick a majority of the Supreme Court; Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban Literacy initiative to implement 250 new early-education activations in PA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Arkansas receives mixed results in annual Kids Count Data Book

play audio
Play

Monday, June 10, 2024   

Arkansas is ranked 45th in the 2024 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The annual report ranks states on the overall condition of children in four areas: economic well-being, education, health and community and family. Arkansas' education numbers dropped from last year.

Keesa Smith, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, said the state has a history of underinvesting in programs to help kids get out of poverty.

"Arkansas, many years ago, used to be a leader in the area of pre-K education but we stopped funding it at the level that it was previously funded," Smith pointed out. "As a result, we now see we have a number of three- and four-year-olds that are not receiving pre-K education."

The state did see improvements in the area of family and community. The number of children living in single-parent families and in high poverty areas decreased.

The number of children whose parents lack secure employment remains the same as last year and the number of teens not in school or working increased but Smith noted another positive statistic in the report is a drop in teen pregnancies.

"Arkansas has made a concerted effort to invest in the availability of contraceptives to reduce unplanned pregnancies," Smith emphasized. "We know when pregnancies are not planned, that often leads individuals into critical financial situations."

She added it is helpful to have the information before the Legislature meets in 2025 so the issues can be addressed by lawmakers.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said overall, the report found significant dips in the percentage of children who are reading proficiently by the end of fourth grade and the number of students who are proficient in basic math.

"Our economy is propelled by a prepared workforce," Boissiere asserted. "In order for our workforce to work well, it's important that we prepare our young people with the skills that they need so they are entering the workforce prepared."

She contended the U.S. is not equipping its children with the skills needed to compete in the global economy.

Disclosure: The Annie E. Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Welfare Reform. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …


Social Issues

play sound

Roughly 30% of Minnesota's private-sector employees do not have a work-sponsored retirement plan but some business owners and consumer advocates hope …

Environment

play sound

It is finally cooling down in Arizona, which means more leaves on the ground as well as heightened use of lawn equipment to keep Arizona properties …


Passing an amendment on no-excuse absentee voting makes Connecticut the 28th state to enact it. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut voters approved an amendment enshrining no-excuse absentee voting in the state's constitution. Passing by a little more than 57% of the …

Social Issues

play sound

New federal loan adjustments aim to ease financial burdens for farmers but advocates said lasting change requires legislative action. The U.S…

City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin experienced its first election using the state's new competitive political maps, and experts said it made a significant difference in …

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers se…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021