As we approach the new school year, it’s a good time to contemplate what education means to us as a country.
Many, if not most, of us tend to take education for granted. We assume our kids will go to school, do well enough to graduate, and then go on to enroll in some sort of post-secondary degree or certification program.
But for a growing number of kids in our country, that path is blocked or derailed by circumstances beyond their control – namely poverty or homelessness.
Poverty and homelessness can have a devastating impact on children and their ability to learn. Low-income or impoverished children suffer increased health, developmental and behavioral issues.
Consider a 9-year old who doesn’t know where he will be sleeping that night or if there will be enough food for dinner. How does a 10-year old girl study or excel at school when her stomach growls, she feels she doesn’t fit in, or feels anxious over what tomorrow will bring?
The National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that one out of every 50 children in this country faces homelessness each year. That’s a staggering statistic. And each one of those children is at risk of dropping out of school before graduation.
According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, 5,000 students drop out of school each day in the U.S. That’s approximately 1 million each year. And for a country that once led the world in college graduates, we have now dropped to No. 15.
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is given every three years and measures a 15-year-old’s literacy in reading, math and science. The most recent assessment, in 2012, ranked the U.S. below average in mathematics (27th), and only close to average in reading (17th) and science (20th).
According to the PISA report, “Socio-economic background has a significant impact on student performance in the United States. … Disadvantaged students show less engagement, drive, motivation and self-beliefs.”
The question is what affect does all of this have on our economy?
The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that, “…if the United States improved its PISA scores by 25 points over 20 years…(our) gross domestic product (GDP) would likely increase by as much as $41 trillion.”
Wow! That’s a lot of money.
How can that be?
The answer is simple. High school and college graduates typically get higher-paying jobs over the long-term, therefore paying more in state and federal taxes and contributing to the overall economy. They make better healthcare decisions and are less likely to depend on government assistance, thereby saving taxpayer money. And they are more productive and save companies in training costs, thereby adding to the company’s bottom-line.
Graduates are also less likely to become incarcerated. The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network estimated that it cost the U.S. $24 billion in crime and public welfare in 2004 due to the number of dropouts.
How we educate our children is an ongoing discussion in this country. But one thing is clear. If we could reduce the number of children living in poverty, we could significantly increase the number of kids who graduate, thereby making a positive impact on our economy.
We are fortunate to have one of the leading dropout prevention programs, Communities In Schools, right here in Renton. They work directly with the schools to identify students at risk of dropping out, and then work with the student to establish relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health-care providers and volunteers to help that student succeed, both inside and outside of the classroom.
We also have first-class programs to help homeless families, such as Vision House and Way Back Inn, both transitional housing programs. Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS), helps kids struggling with mental health and substance abuse. The REACH Center for Hope helps homeless women get back on their feet, while locally, A.R.I.S.E. works with homeless.
If you believe, as I do, that the future health of our economy depends on having an educated workforce, then we need to go to the source and help people who have fallen through the cracks. Only then will this country will be great again.
For more information on how you can help, contact Lynn Bohart, FAHP, at the Renton Community Foundation 425-282-5199, or any one of the organizations mentioned above.
