More Than Half Of American Schoolchildren Now Live In Poverty

[applegrove]

More Than Half Of American Schoolchildren Now Live In Poverty

by Rebecca Klein at the Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/16/southern-education-foundation-children-poverty_n_6489970.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

"SNIP..................


Overall, 51 percent of U.S. schoolchildren came from low-income households in 2013, according to the foundation, which analyzed data from National Center for Education Statistics on students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Eligibility for free or subsidized lunch for students from low-income households serves as a proxy for gauging poverty, says the foundation, which advocates education equity for students in the South.

The report shows the percentage of schoolchildren from poor households has grown steadily for nearly a quarter-century, from 32 percent in 1989. "By 2006, the national rate was 42 percent and, after the Great Recession, the rate climbed in 2011 to 48 percent," says the report.

Kent McGuire, president of the Southern Education Foundation, told The Washington Post that the analysis shows poverty has reached a "watershed moment."

“The fact is, we’ve had growing inequality in the country for many years,” McGuire said. “It didn’t happen overnight, but it’s steadily been happening. Government used to be a source of leadership and innovation around issues of economic prosperity and upward mobility. Now we’re a country disinclined to invest in our young people.”

The analysis shows the highest percentages of poor students in Southern and Western states. Mississippi had the highest rate of low-income students -- 71 percent. New Hampshire had the lowest, at 27 percent.



....................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. Three Cheers for the GOP!!

[rhett o rick]

7. This isn't just a GOP problem. This is a conservative problem. Big difference.

The Ruling Oligarchs own a number of Democrats. Blame conservatives, Republican and Democrat.

[ND-Dem]

8. Its not just a 'conservative' problem either. Don't kid yourself.

[rhett o rick]

13. Please explain. nm

[ND-Dem]

14. The descent of Americans into poverty over the last 40 years couldn't have happened without

the help of the R party and the D party.

[rhett o rick]

15. I agree but making the division by party is very misleading. Progressive have fought

hard for the 99% while the conservatives of both parties have worked hard for the 1% Oligarchy.

[ND-Dem]

16. and i agree with that as well.

[woo me with science]

11. K&R for the OP, but

you seriously need to stop this ABSURD pretending that this is just a GOP problem.

It is CORPORATISM, and corporatists drive both parties now.

[cyberswede]

2. USA! USA!

American exceptionalism! Rah!

...but seriously, this is absolutely shameful.

[applegrove]

4. Maybe insecure kids are the goal of the GOP. I never thought of that,

but maybe. They would stop at nothing to maintain power and $$$$. Maybe they want desperate young adults who will put up with poor pay and few regulations in their jobs.

[cyberswede]

5. Yeah...the right wants to keep people down

When you're busy trying to survive, you have less time to pay attention on how the system is screwing you over...and no time to get active in the political process.

[nobodyspecial]

3. Lazy bums should get a job

Let's abolish child labor laws!

[Skittles]

6. see, no, apploegrove, you are failing to be distracted by the shiny numbers

NOW LOOK OVER THERE!!!

[Katashi_itto]

9. VOTE Hillary Only she can achieve the other 50%!

[RiverLover]

10. Maybe they'll be asking to clean our windshields at traffic stops for some change

soon, like they do in Mexico.

Thanks GOP & Third Way for outsourcing our jobs & gutting unions!!

USA!!

[TheKentuckian]

12. Yet it is fine and dandy to bleed out some more jobs and crush wages songs more

on the "free trade" alter?!?

Damn the TeaPubliKlans and their advanced assimilation team, the Turd Way, to Hell.

[riderinthestorm]

17. Shameful. Absolutely shameful. We must do better for our children

[Brigid]

18. So let's see here . . .

Our kids grow up in poverty, attend underfunded schools staffed with underpaid teachers, and then, if they go to college, they graduate with a mountain of student loan debt to pay off and no job.

Is this a great country or what?