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Data shows West Virginia ranks at the bottom of the nation in educational outcomes, while child poverty is increasing

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A quarter of West Virginia children live in poverty, and modern data shows that number has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Children count Data collection Rank West Virginia 47th out of 50 states in terms of children’s economic well-being. The data released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation was designed to analyze how children are faring after the pandemic.

According to the study, there is a link between poverty and indigent educational outcomes, and West Virginia ranked 48th out of 50 in education.

Fred Albert, president of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, said teachers would spend their class time teaching the 6,000 children in foster families, thousands of homeless students and the growing number of children in danger mental health support.

“Our teachers tell us that they spend an inordinate amount of time helping children who are hungry and sleeping in class because they didn’t get a good night’s sleep the night before,” Albert said. “You can’t concentrate on school and you can’t think properly when you’re hungry or don’t know where to sleep.”

According to the data, in 2022, the most recent data available, 85% of eighth graders were not proficient in math and 78% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading.

“A grade is just a snapshot,” Albert explained. “It doesn’t reflect the true story of what’s actually happening in the classroom. We can’t just focus on test scores – we have to consider the entire needs of the child.”

Students’ standardized test results from 2023 showed indigent math and reading scores. Scores are still below those of West Virginia students before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, Albert said that increasing absenteeism rates play a role in indigent academic performance.

Kids Count data showed that 35% of West Virginia children were chronically absent from school during the 2021-22 school year, more than the national average of 30% of children.

To address the problem, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 568which requires communication with parents about students who have been absent from school. In addition, schools must determine the reason for the student’s absence and offer support.

Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said supportive services are key to combating chronic absenteeism.

“Staff specifically dedicated to caring for parents,” she explained.I don’t ask teachers to do more, but I make sure that the support staff in the school is really sturdy and has the resources they need.”

Not every school in West Virginia has a full-time counselor or social worker.

Allen said the state’s Republican-dominated legislature has focused on school choice, which typically only helps a “certain subset of families” who do not live in poverty.

“I hope they take this [Kids Count] results seriously and recognize that over 90% of children are getting their education in the public school system and will continue to do so,” she said. “I hope they will start to prioritize public education again.”

Albert added: “Our recent legislative sessions have not focused on the issues that are so critical to a good education… We have focused on these culture wars – the things our teachers are not asking for help with, like student attendance and removing kids from foster care or [homelessness].”

Nearly half of children in West Virginia experience negative childhood experiences

West Virginia ranks 44th in overall child well-being, with 45% of children experiencing one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), compared to 40% of children nationwide.

Children with ACE values ​​are The likelihood of being suspended or expelled from school is almost four times higher.

During the 2023 legislative session, teachers said a major issue would be addressing widespread discipline problems which affected the lessons.

A The invoice The bill, which would have strengthened elementary school teachers’ ability to remove students from their classrooms, failed to pass on the last night of the March session. The bill, drafted by a senator who is himself a public school teacher, faced Push back because of the lack of emotional support for students and the possible involvement of police in the care of juvenile children.

“Our teachers and school staff have said, ‘We need people to listen to us. We are on the front lines,'” Albert said.

In addition, KIDS COUNT data showed that the majority of children in West Virginia have health insurance.

“The data demonstrate the importance of policy actions to improve children’s health: In 2022, despite Medicaid and CHIP rules for continuous health coverage in place during the pandemic and the most recent data available, only 3% of West Virginia children were uninsured,” the WVCBP said in a press release.

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