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Massachusetts Third in Nation for Child Well-Being, Challenges Persist
Children in Massachusetts lead the nation in Educational achievement, and are at or near the top in a number of measures of Health, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book
In other areas, children in Massachusetts continue to face some significant hurdles. For instance, while Massachusetts's child poverty rate is relatively low compared to other states, one in six kids under five is currently living in poverty--roughly 75,000 young children. One way to help improve the economic security of some of those children would be to increase the minimum wage, which has lost 25% of its value since 1968.
In education, our 4th-graders have the highest rate of reading proficiency in the nation, and our 8th-graders the highest rate of math proficiency. "The long-term investments we began to make in our schools in the 1990s are paying off, but too many of our kids are not yet getting the support they need to have a real opportunity to succeed." said Noah Berger, president of MassBudget, the KIDS COUNT group in Massachusetts. "For example, half of our 4th graders are still not reading proficiently--and we know that early reading success is crucial to the ability of a child to succeed in school. Focusing on what it takes to give every child an opportunity to succeed is crucial not just for those kids, but also for our state's ability to build a strong, high wage economy."
MassBudget's KIDS COUNT reports cover a range of issues affecting children in Massachusetts, including early education & care, homelessness policy, youth jobs, and public health. Our Children’s Budget contains clear descriptions and funding information for the many programs in the Massachusetts state budget that affect children. And the MassKidsCount.org group blog is a place for leading voices in child advocacy and public policy research to discuss issues affecting the well-being of children in Massachusetts.
Read the 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book
View a summary of Findings for Massachusetts
See all of our KIDS COUNT resources
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| The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. |
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