Learning loss increases in CT children; obesity score also poor: report

15.06.2024 12:45

Despite leading most of the nation in rankings of education and overall child well-being, Connecticut continues to see increased levels of learning loss — only slightly better than the national average.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy organization that focuses on the educational, economic, social and health outcomes of children, recently released its annual “KIDS COUNT Data Book” report.

The 2024 report presented data about economic well-being, education, health and family and community factors and ranked states on overall child well-being. Connecticut ranked No. 8 in overall child well-being (an improvement from No. 9 in 2023) and No. 3 in terms of education (same as last year).

But the report also focused on how American schools, compared to other countries, have struggled to improve student test scores — particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across the country, only 32% of fourth graders were reading proficiently or above proficiency in 2022. Only 26% of eighth graders were proficient in math in the same year, according to the report. Black, Latino and American Indian students were scoring disproportionately lower than their Asian and white peers.

The same figures are slightly better in Connecticut but remain low, with just 35% of fourth grade students reading proficiently and 30% of eighth-grade students scoring proficiently in math. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of fourth-grade children were reading proficiently and 39% were proficient in math by 8th grade.

Also, statewide chronic absenteeism rates, or missing 10% or more of classroom time, were 22% in 2022, which is nearly double than what it was pre-pandemic.

“While Connecticut’s relative high ranking in overall well-being should be celebrated, the concerning rise in learning loss is a stark reminder of how much work must still be done to create equitable educational opportunities and provide holistic support for all students,” said Emily Byrne, executive director of Connecticut Voices for Children and Connecticut’s member of the KIDS COUNT network, in a statement. “This moment calls for bold steps to address not only academic gaps but also the broader social and economic disparities that impact our children’s future and our state’s future.”

According to the report, over “$31 trillion in U.S. economic activity hinges on helping children complete learning that was delayed by the pandemic.”

“Just as underprepared workers are less competitive within our economy, an underprepared workforce makes America less competitive in the global economy. The United States lags many of its peer nations, according to the first post-pandemic results of the Program for International Student Assessment,” the report said.

Last October, Dalio Education, a grant foundation that works with public school communities and provides funding to several nonprofits, released a report about how over 119,000, or about 19%, of young people in Connecticut between the ages of 14 and 26 were “at risk” or “disconnected” in 2021-22. The Dalio report also tied the outcomes for these young people to the state’s finances and job market. It estimated that by getting all of those youths “back on track,” Connecticut would spend less on social services and bring in more in taxes — an estimated net benefit of some $650 million.

Connecticut leads the nation in preschool attendance and was ranked at No. 2 for one of the lowest teen birth rates for young people between the ages of 15 to 19. In 2022, only six teen births occurred in every 1,000 teenagers, which is a 25% decline in Connecticut since 2019, according to the report.

The state also was ranked No. 3 in the percentage of children with health insurance (around 97%).

From the year prior, Connecticut improved from No. 12 to No. 11 in its ranking in health, which included factors such as children without health insurance, child and teen deaths per 100,000, children who are overweight and low-birth-weight babies.

Connecticut, however, ranked 23rd in the nation for youth obesity, with 32% of children between the ages of 10 and 17 classified as overweight. Other Northeast states ranked significantly better, like New Hampshire, No. 1, Vermont, No. 3, and Massachusetts and New Jersey tied at No. 7.

Connecticut’s rankings worsened in overall economic well-being from No. 15 to No. 18, and family and community from No. 19 to No. 22, which included factors like: the percentage of children in poverty, the percent of children with parents who lack secure employment, children who live in households with high-cost burdens, children with single-parent families and families where the household head lacks a high school diploma.

“Connecticut ranks No. 22 in the nation in terms of number of children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma,” said a summary report from CT Voices for Children. “In 2022, 9% of children in Connecticut lived in a family where the head of the household lacked a high school diploma (estimated 66,000 children). While the rank isn’t as bad as others, it’s not good either. However, the greater reason it’s on this year’s low point is due to the dramatic increase from last year (when Connecticut ranked No. 12).”

Connecticut ranked No. 32 in the number of children living in high-poverty areas, an increase from a No. 24 rank last year, and numerically totaling about 57,000 children.

Connecticut’s worst ranking was No. 40 for its housing cost burden.

About 31% of children, or 230,000 children, lived in households that spent over 30% of their income on housing in 2022.

“Kids of all ages and grades must have what they need to learn each day, such as enough food and sleep and a safe way to get to school, as well as the additional resources they might need to perform at their highest potential and thrive, like tutoring and mental health services,” said Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The report suggested that for students to get back on track, schools must provide low or no-cost meals, reliable internet and a safe place to study and spend time with friends. The report also recommended expanded access to tutoring, wraparound services for families and “positive approaches” to chronic absenteeism rather than “criminalizing consequences.”