Iowa’s children increasingly living in poverty, in need of early education

When placed side-by-side, two new reports on the status of Iowa’s young children make clear the continued need for programs that address early education needs, especially for those living in poverty.

According to new annual figures released by the Child and Family Policy Center, the economic condition of Iowa’s children and families continued to deteriorate in 2009, and the number of children living below the poverty line in Iowa has climbed nearly 32 percent in the past decade.

“It is no surprise that the economic conditions for many Iowa families have worsened the past few years,” said Michael Crawford, senior associate with the Child and Family Policy Center in Des Moines and author of the report. “However, it also is a concern that these economic tough times will continue. At the same time, it is very important for Iowa children and families that critical education and health programs supported by the state are continued and enhanced as families struggle to regain their economic footing.”

A second report, released Tuesday by the national organization Voices for America’s Children, shows that while Iowa has moved toward cost-effective investments in young children and their healthy development, much more needs to be done.

“Research is clear that half of all school failures are already evident at the time children start school. Moreover, we know that investments in the early learning years can prevent these problems and are among the most cost-effective investments we can make,” said Bill Bentley, executive director of Voices for America’s Children.

“It is not whether we can afford to make investments in young children; it is whether we can afford not to make them.”

Because of the state’s Early Childhood Iowa initiative, the Hawkeye State ranks third among states on its level of investment in the birth-to-two years, but still invests less than nine pennies of every dollar provided to school-aged children.

“The report shows Iowa can play a leadership role among states in expanding its investments, building upon the work already underway, with opportunities to scale up successful efforts,” said Sheila Hansen, who leads the Every Child Counts network. “While we have made advances in providing services, we still have major gaps in meeting children’s needs and ensuring all children start school healthy and prepared for success. [This report] provides basic information we need to develop an investment plan for Iowa’s future.”

Although between 12 to 18 percent of Iowa infants and toddlers could benefit from early intervention services for developmental concerns, only about 3 percent are currently receiving such services. In addition, only 11 percent of the state’s 3-year-olds participate in Head Start or special education preschool, although more than double that amount qualify.

Child care workers in Iowa also earn roughly half the average annual salary for all jobs in Iowa, which the report authors say contributes to the difficulty in providing high-quality programs.

Every Child Counts legislative priorities include, according to Hansen, continued investments in early childhood, with an emphasis on Iowa developing a long-term strategy that is evidenced-based and investment-oriented. Providing such investments will not provide immediate help to the families and children, but will aide in the state’s quest to weather and overcome a national economic decline. This is because investments in early education lead to a skilled workforce and reduce later expenditures related to special education, juvenile court and adult corrections.

“Ensuring all children start school healthy and prepared for school not only benefits individual children, but it makes classrooms more effective for all children,” explained Dr. Charles Bruner, director of the Child and Family Policy Center and author of the report.

“Economists and business leaders see investments in the earliest years as being the most productive investments the public sector can make. If Iowa builds upon Early Childhood Iowa and its community, public-private partnerships and strengthens its child care and preschool programs, Iowa can realize needed gains that will benefit all of society. From an economic development perspective, these are the most important investments for Iowa to make.”

Iowa Kids Count 2009 provides health, education, welfare and economic data on 18 indicators of child and family well-being, and is distributed to lawmakers and other interested parties throughout the state. The organization is supported by a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland, which supports Kids Count activities in all 50 states.

Early Learning Left Out