Minnesota remains one of the nation’s top states for child well-being, ranking fifth overall in the recently released edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Lisa Lawson is president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation…
“In terms of economic well-being, Minnesota is ranked second, which is outstanding. It has a score of 899, and that really is due in part to a state child tax credit, which is helping put more resources in the hands of low-income families.”
Despite ranking among the nation’s best states for child well-being, the new report shows Minnesota still faces significant challenges in education and closing achievement gaps…
“The trend is looking good in economic well-being and in the family and community factors, but it was really in the health factors and the education indicators that things are not going in the right direction.”
New statistics show that nearly 69 percent of Minnesota fourth graders are not proficient in reading, while about two-thirds of eighth graders are not proficient in math. The report also highlights persistent racial disparities.
(content: in part, courtesy MNN)
