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Moving Up and Out Post-Secondary Education In Arkansas. Poverty in Arkansas today. 510,000 Arkansans are poor 19% of the state (up from 17% in 2000/2001) Average poverty threshold for family of four in Arkansas - $18,392 Why the increase?. “Sagging Economy” “Increase in low-paying jobs”
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Moving Up and Out Post-Secondary Education In Arkansas
Poverty in Arkansas today • 510,000 Arkansans are poor • 19% of the state (up from 17% in 2000/2001) • Average poverty threshold for family of four in Arkansas - $18,392 • Why the increase?
“Sagging Economy” • “Increase in low-paying jobs” • Effects of not providing sustainable skills for “decent work” • Arkansas Democrat Gazette (9/27/03) • Average cost of childcare this past year$ 3,640 Children’s Defense Fund
Poverty in Arkansas Eliminating Barriers Through Post-Secondary Education
Why Post-Secondary Education? Children of Single Parents without Post-Secondary Education are more at risk of living in poverty, failing in school, experiencing learning and behavioral problems, malnutrition, and infant mortality
A child is born into poverty every 59 minutes A child in Arkansas dies before his/her birthday every day • Source: Children’s Defense Fund
Every $1 invested in quality early education saves as much as $7 by increasing the likelihood of literacy, employment, and enrollment in post-secondary education. • Source: Children’s Defense Fund
Every year spent as a child in poverty will cost an estimated $11,800 in lost future productivity in his/her adult life • Source: Children’s Defense Fund
We spend $3.20 per prisoner and only $1 per public school pupil • Source: Children’s Defense Fund
Children of parents with higher educational attainment • live in homes with more adaptive and positive parenting strategies • score higher on standardized tests • develop strong literacy and language skills • are more likely to finish high school Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research
“The biggest beneficiaries are ….their children, who, watching their moms taking their schooling so seriously, become much better students themselves.” -- Hillary Clinton Moving up and Out
Parents who obtain a post-secondary education… • Empower themselves and their children by gaining a sense of control over their own lives and giving hope to their children.
“Growing Up Poor does not mean you have to die that way.” -- Patricia Moving Up and Out “I dream big now. I never say ‘never’ because if I can do this, I can reach for the stars” --Sandi Moving Up and Out
Parents who obtain a post-secondary education • Have more social capital and social ease. • 95% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education, reported meeting with their child’s teacher often. -- Walton Family Foundation Report • 80% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education reported reading to their children often.
Research consistently shows that women with post-secondary education are more likely to leave welfare FOR GOOD!! • Yet the share of low-income single parents that have acquired at least some college education has decreased from 24 to 17 percent following the 1996 Welfare Reform • Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Post-SecondaryEducation Reduces poverty And addresses the employment needs of Arkansas
Employment Projections 1998-2008Source: Department of Labor 44% 56%
Post Secondary Job Requirements PostSecondary/ Vocational 11% 14% Associate’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree Or More 75%
Educational Attainment in Arkansas • 35.1% of Arkansans have high school diploma/GED • 22.5% of Arkansans have less than a high school diploma/GED • 58% of Arkansans have high school or less • Source: Census 2000 Supplementary Data
Post Secondary Educational Attainment • 16.6% of Arkansans have a Bachelor’s Degree or More • 4.6% of Arkansans have an Associate’s Degree
Education is even more important for single mothers • 11.9% of Arkansas Women have a Bachelor’s degree • Percent of women in Managerial and Professional Occupations 29.2% Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research
Where do go from here? • Continue to challenge leaders in local industry to see the investment potential. • Continue to empower single parents by helping them realize that they are needed here, in Arkansas. • Challenge local leaders, organizations to help ASPSF continue to break the cycle of poverty. • Continue returning thousands of starfish to the sea………..
For every single parent we help We save generations to come!!!!