2011 Maine KIDS COUNT Data Book Released

Mar 18 2011 19:31

The Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) released the 17th annual Maine KIDS COUNT data book yesterday at Portland High School. KIDS COUNT serves as a valuable resource to policymakers, educators, health professionals, child advocates, and anyone seeking current data on the status and well-being of Maine’s children and families. Speakers at the KIDS COUNT event were: MCA president Dean Crocker; Superintendent of Portland Schools Jim Morse; Augusta attorney and Jobs for Maine’s Graduates board member Jon Doyle; Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Peter Gore; and Portland High School student Jasmine DiPietrantonio. Crocker introduced the significance of KIDS COUNT data to addressing the crucial needs of Maine’s children. “The long-term success of our state begins with our youngest citizens, and it will require attention from all directions to prevent long-term problems,” he said. “From parents to the business community to legislators—all members of society must focus on what will best raise our children to become happy, healthy, productive citizens.” Kids Count reports that in 2009 (the most recent data available), 17.5 percent of all Maine children under age 18 are living in poverty—an increase from 16.5 percent in 2008 as reported last year. Among children under age 5, more than 21 percent are living in poverty. These rates are the highest in New England. Along the same lines, Maine’s median income of families with children dropped to $52,700 in 2009—down from $54,800 in 2008. Superintendent Morse said that these numbers are particularly significant because “it costs twice as much to bring a child out of poverty to perform at the same level as his or her peers.” Morse described the definitive link between lifting our children up and improving our collective well-being. “The key to our economic kingdom is a quality education.” Morse also noted that, on the positive side, KIDS COUNT data shows an increase in the percentage of four-year-olds enrolled in public pre-school (pre-K) programs. The numbers went up from 19.6 percent (2008-09 school year) to 25 percent (2009-2010). He said that strong early childhood education should be an emphasis all across Maine. Among those attending the KIDS COUNT event were students from Portland High School’s alternative education program as well as students from Portland’s and Bath’s Morse High School’s Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) program. JMG prepares students to graduate from high school ready for continued education and careers. Jon Doyle addressed these students, encouraging them to earn their high school diploma and continue on to meet their goals. “All young people are capable of doing well when they’re really motivated,” he said. Doyle described how JMG serves students who are at risk for falling through the cracks and helps them move forward as productive, valuable citizens. This year’s KIDS COUNT finds that about 20 percent of high school students do not graduate. Furthermore, a greater percentage of Maine’s “disconnected youth”—those who are unemployed or who are not seeking employment—are actually high school graduates. Speaking on behalf of the Maine Chamber of Commerce, Peter Gore emphasized the importance of preparing Maine’s youth to help strengthen Maine’s economy. “Some people may wonder why the business community would be interested in seeing our young people succeed,” he said. “Our youth are the workforce of tomorrow, and we depend on them to make our community strong.” Also speaking at the press conference was Portland High School student Jasmine DiPietrantonio, a senior who offered a powerful account of how being in an alternative education program has offered her the tools and the hope to move beyond a life of poverty. She dropped out of school but has since come back and is preparing to graduate this year. “The best part is that now that I am graduating, I do have options that I didn’t when I was one of those 2162 students who left school,” said DiPietrantonio, referring to KIDS COUNT figures on high school dropouts. “I also know that I will go to college and I will strive to make sure that I never have to live in poverty again. For a complete look at the data in the 2011 Maine KIDS COUNT, including summaries by county for many indicators, visit the Maine Children’s Alliance website, www.mekids.org, or call 623-1868, ext. 202 to request a copy of the report. For more information about 2011 Maine KIDS COUNT, please contact:

 Dean Crocker President/CEO, Maine Children’s Alliance Office: (207) 623-1868 ext. 212 Cell: (207) 215-9591 Dcrocker@mekids.org Claire Berkowitz Research Coordinator, Maine Children’s Alliance Office: (207) 623-1868 ext. 206 cberkowitz@mekids.org

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