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Texas ranks poorly in study on children

Web Posted: 06/27/2006 03:00 AM CDT
Nancy Martinez
San Antonio Express-News

More Texas children are living in poverty, and their health is suffering because of it, according to a national report to be released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

The Kids Count data book provides statistics that tell about the not-so-pretty picture of children's lives:

Texas is one of the bottom 10 states in the percentage of kids in poverty, up five percentage points since 2000 to 23 percent and well above the national average of 19 percent. Almost half of Texas' children live in low-income families.

To be considered living in poverty in 2004, a family of three would have to make less than $15,219 annually.

"Texas needs to get serious about fighting poverty and its siblings — low birth weight, high infant mortality, and low immunization," said Frances Deviney, spokeswoman for the Texas Center for Public Policy Priorities and director of Texas Kids Count. "How can we continue to believe Texas is the greatest state in the country to live when we can't take care of the most fragile among us?"

Twenty-one percent of Texas' children are uninsured, more than in any other state, and almost twice the 11 percent national average, the report said.

In 2004, only 75 percent of 2-year-olds in Texas were immunized, down from 78 percent the year before. Only Nevada had a lower percentage of immunized children, 71 percent.

On a brighter note, the center reports that Texas students are performing better than the nation in reading and math.

Fewer of Texas' fourth-grade students scored below basic in reading and math than the national average, the report said. Eighty-seven percent scored at or above the basic math level, compared with the national average of 79 percent, ranking Texas sixth in the country.

Eighth-graders in Texas are ranked 20th in the country, with 28 percent of students scoring below the basic math level in 2005 — four percentage points better than the national average.
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nmartinez@express-news.net
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I have two statements: No child left behind and effects of illegal immigration.