Ohio middle-of-the-road on education, child health and economic well-being

The following article was originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and posted on News5Cleveland.com under a content sharing agreement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio ranked midfield on growth indicators in a statewide survey of child wellbeing.

The data, collected by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranked Ohio 31st in the country for overall child welfare based on indicators of economic well-being, education, health, and family and community context.

Compared to 2019 numbers, Ohio was seen as improved in the categories of child poverty and teenage school absenteeism. According to the survey, 18% of the state’s children live in poverty, better than 23% in 2010, but slightly higher than in the country where 17% of children live in poverty.

The number of child and adolescent deaths rose in the state, with 27 deaths per 100,000 in Ohio, up from 25 in 2010.

Obesity rates among children ages 10-17 also rose in the state, increasing 2% from 2016-17 to 2018-19. The state maintained its low birth weight baby rate, with 8.6% of Ohio infants born with less than normal birth weights, according to the study.

The teen birth rate improved from 34 per 1,000 Ohio teenagers to 19 in the state.

The state ranks 28th in the field of education, with fourth grade reading literacy remaining the same as it was ten years ago at 64%. The state improved in eighth grade math skills and high school graduation rate, but the study showed that 18% of high school students in the state still don’t graduate on time. In 2010 the rate was 20%.

Childcare advocates in the state say it’s too early to say the exact impact the pandemic will have on graduation rates.

“But we know that children who are emotionally healthy are better prepared to study, so we need bold policies that meet the needs of Ohio students, such as having every child from Student Wellness and Success Funds Mental and Behavioral Health can benefit from mentoring and other support to keep them ready to study after such a tough year, “Tracy Najera, executive director of Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, said in a statement.

The survey takes place in the middle of the state budget negotiations in the Statehouse. The House version of the budget included a revision of public school funding to relieve local school districts through direct state funding of the EdChoice voucher program for private schools and to relieve less of real estate taxes to determine education funding proportions.

The Senate put forward a version of the budget that takes a different approach to school funding that still funds EdChoice vouchers directly, but differs from the House of Representatives’ version on funding models for public schools. Teacher unions and education advocates across the state said they are still in favor of the house version of the education budget, but negotiations on the final draft budget are ongoing.

State childcare directors have also criticized the version of the Senate budget, particularly efforts to remove the standard-setting model for the Step Up to Quality facility.

The child protection study recommended, as part of its findings, expanded income support to help families afford childcare and improved public schools and post-secondary education.

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/ohio-middle-of-the-road-on-education-child-health-and-economic-well-being/