A majority of students in public schools (click rate) throughout the American South and West are low-income for the first time in at least four decades, according to a new study that details a demographic shift with broad implications for the country.
The analysis by the Southern Education Foundation, the nation’s oldest education philanthropy, is based on the number of students from preschool through 12th grade who were eligible for the federal free and reduced-price meals program in the 2010-11 school year....
... But by 2011, almost half of the nation’s 50 million public-school students — 48 percent — qualified for free or reduced-price meals. In some states, such as Mississippi, that proportion rose as high as 71 percent....
No doubt the study by Southern Education Foundation didn't consider charter schools as a public school, but, this provides an idea of the extent to which the USA is impoverished. It is increased throughout the country with few exceptions.
There are a few elements at play here, but, it doesn't really matter; this is the legacy to the USA by the Bush White House. Economic deprivation of our country.
50% of this nation's children are in poverty. For the most part. 50%. Why spit hairs? That is a national shame.
...The 2008 recession, immigration and a high birthrate among low-income families have largely fueled the changes, said Steve Suitts, vice president of the Southern Education Foundation and an author of the study....
These are excuses. Bush pushed people into believing large families were the answers to their dreams, lack of access to birth control, teen pregnancies and all the trappings of Republican priorities. Destruction of unions, the fall in the average wage in the USA and outsourcing. It is all part of it. It needs to be fixed, TODAY.
I don't want to hear how this is ONLY the public schools, either. This IS the public schools is more the emphasis. These are the children of our nation and they are in poverty.
FIX IT !!!!!!
Elementary and Secondary Education (click here)Enrollment
In 2010–11, there were about 13,600 public school districts with over 98,800 public schools, including about 5,300 charter schools. In 2011–12, there were about 30,900 private schools offering kindergarten or higher grades.
In fall 2013, about 50.1 million students will attend public elementary and secondary schools. Of these, 35.3 million will be in prekindergarten through 8th grade and 14.8 million will be in grades 9 through 12. An additional 5.2 million students are expected to attend private schools.
About 1.3 million children are expected to attend public prekindergarten this fall. Enrollment in public kindergarten is projected to reach approximately 3.8 million students.
This fall, about 4.1 million public school students are expected to enroll in 9th grade—the typical entry grade for many American high schools.
What is that favorite Republican expression, "Do more with less." I don't think so.
