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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

WI makes the grade for child well-being, but education woes, disparities stick out

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Monday, June 10, 2024   

An annual report suggests Wisconsin has a strong foundation in creating positive outcomes for kids. But low-test scores and racial disparities show not all youth are faring well.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest Kids Count Data Book ranks Wisconsin 11th in the country for child well-being.

The state saw a slight dip in its child poverty rate, falling to 13%.

However, Emily Miota - communications director of the statewide policy group Kids Forward - said the positive results mask persistent disparities for the Badger State.

"Wisconsin," said Miota, "remains the worst state in the nation for Black children and families."

For example, Black children were 29 times more likely to live in high-poverty areas than white children.

Those disparities also spill over into education. And overall test scores show 68% of fourth graders not proficient in reading, mirroring national trends.

Kids Forward calls on state leaders to dig deeper in boosting public school funding and focus on hiring and retaining Black teachers.

The report contends that the pandemic is not solely to blame for the country's worsening educational
outcomes.

The Casey Foundation's Vice President of External Affairs Leslie Boissiere said educators, researchers, policymakers, and employers who track students' academic readiness have been ringing alarm bells for a long time.

"For example, the pandemic erased decades of increases in math scores," said Boissiere. "However, if you look over those 35 years that we've produced the Data Book, we've never seen a significant percentage of children who were either proficient in fourth grade reading or basic math."

The report calls on all states to expand access to intensive tutoring for students who are behind in their classes and missing academic milestones.

For addressing chronic absenteeism, the authors say lawmakers should embrace positive approaches rather than criminalizing students or parents due to attendance challenges.

Wisconsin did see a worsening rate of young children not attending school.



Disclosure: Annie E Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Education, Juvenile Justice, Welfare Reform. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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