In 13 States in the South, 4 in West, Majority in Public Schools Below the Poverty Line

[cali]

Last edited Fri Oct 18, 2013, 06:38 AM - Edit history (2)

No, this isn't meant to bash the South, but it's alarming.

For the first time since the 1960s, a majority of the children in public schools in the South and West of the United States come from families living below, at or not far above the poverty line, according to a new study. The study's findings are part of a trend that is set to continue across the nation.

While the percentage of low-income students in public schools has grown across the nation over the last 20 years, there are now 17 states in which they represent the majority. Thirteen of those states are in the South; four are in the West.

The report, which was released this month by the Southern Education Foundation (SEF), a nonprofit group supporting education improvement, also found that schools with the largest proportion of low-income children spent the least in support of students.

A decade ago, only four states reported that a majority of children in their classrooms came from low-income families. But since 2001, the number of poor students has grown by 32% nationwide; in the same time, national expenditure on public schooling has increased by only 14%. The report warns that the "nation has not adjusted its support for public schools to reflect the educational challenges that these developments bring", and notes that poor students are more likely to score lower on test scores and to fall behind, and thus to need more assistance.

<snip>

Steve Suitts, vice-president of the Southern Education Foundation and the report's author, said: "With huge stubborn unchanging gaps in learning, schools in the south and across the nation face the real danger of becoming entrenched, inadequately funded educational systems that enlarge the division in America between the haves and the have-nots and endanger the entire nation's prospects."

<snip>

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/17/public-schools-children-poverty-south-west

Here's a link to the study. It includes a map showing the states.

http://www.southerneducation.org/getattachment/0bc70ce1-d375-4ff6-8340-f9b3452ee088/A-New-Majority-Low-Income-Students-in-the-South-an.aspx

[Shampoyeto]

1. Change your false title

Your own information says, "For the first time since the 1960s, a majority of the children in public schools in the South and West of the United States come from families living below, at or not far above the poverty line..."

[cali]

7. 13 of those 17 states are in the south. 13- compared to 3 in the west.

so no. got anything else brilliant to say?

[Shampoyeto]

9. You falsely claimed that a majority of those students are "BELOW" the poverty line

That is simply false, as clearly stated in your own link.

[cali]

11. or for fuck's sake read the report

Mississippi: 71% BELOW the poverty line. Got that? Moving right along:

Louisiana: 66%

Arkansas: 60%

Georgia: 57%

Kentucky: 57%

Florida: 56%

Tennessee: 56%

South Carolina: 55%

Alabama: 55%

W. Virginia: 51%

North Carolina: 50%

Texas: 50%

Your ridiculous quibbling here is lame- to put it kindly. Now how about commenting on the alarming trends in this study, more prominent in the South but by no means limited to that region or the West. What about the huge disparities in per pupil spending? What do you think about this study?

[Shampoyeto]

22. those percentages are for "low income" students. You misquoted the report

It is not true that the report says 71% of Mississippi students in public schools are below the poverty line. You are not telling us that the report says NOTHING about these percentages being for those "below" the poverty line.

Low income can be below or above the poverty line.

[cali]

8. I decided to change it, even though it was accurate

despite the report, there are more than 4 states in the west.

[Shampoyeto]

10. Thanks for deleting "majority"

Now it's good.

[cali]

12. oops. thanks. didn't realize I did that. I'll put it back in. it's accurate.

[Shampoyeto]

15. It's inaccurate. The survey does not say a majority is below the poverty line

It is possible that you put it back out of anger.

You have no idea what percentage of those students are "below" the poverty line, yet you say a "majority" is below the poverty line.

The fact that you initially corrected this inaccuracy indicates that you know you are wrong.

[cali]

16. it's accurate. that's why it's in the headline.

I posted the numbers from the study.

[Shampoyeto]

18. Show me where in the study it says that a majority is below the poverty line nt

[warrant46]

20. Wow respect shown

[cali]

2. the trends nationwide are more than a little alarming

not that we see our democratic politicians addressing this.

The report is chock-a-block full of interesting charts and information.

[JI7]

3. do these public schools include charter schools ?

[cali]

4. Great question. I'm reading the report now.

I'll let you know.

[cali]

5. The report doesn't specifically mention charter schools though

it does touch on private schools. I'm assuming that the report includes charter schools as part of the public school system, but I could be wrong.

[Laelth]

6. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[bemildred]

13. The Reagan Revolution in a nutshell, right there. nt

[cali]

14. absolutely.

[warrant46]

21. It's Randian in Scope

ie: they are "poor" because they are lazy

[ananda]

17. And don't forget NCLB.

..

[bemildred]

19. I consider that part of the Reagan Revolution.

Part of the same broad historical sweep of reactionary corruption and decay, and very exemplary of it too, as you say.

[redqueen]

23. k&r