Early Childhood Literacy:Improving Social & Economic Outcomes

Working Group II - Indicator and Data OverviewSeptember 27, 2013

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Today, there are

14,6753rd graders in Fresno County

8,072(55%) of them are not proficient in reading

1 in 6(16%) will not graduate from high school

1,292are potential high school dropouts

3rd grade reading levelsThird grade reading levels are indicative of students’ performance across subjects and are a strong predictive indicator of whether or not a student will graduate from high school.

Why third grade reading levels?

Source(s): The Children’s Movement, Fresno, 2012; Kids Count Data Center, 2012

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Across the U.S.:

85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate

60% of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate

Recidivism rates drop from 70% to 16% if inmates receive literacy help

Illiteracy contributes to incarceration

Source(s): Begin to Read; DoSomething.org – 11 Facts about Literacy in America

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Societal costs of crime and illiteracy

Source(s): Kids Count Data Center, 2010; Children Now’s California Report Card 2010

11,542Youth incarcerated in 2010

$1.1 billion annuallyCost of crime

$252,000 annuallyCost of incarceration per minor

In California…

Exposure to reading 1 in 5 children were read to less than 3 times a week 3 in 5 children are not enrolled in preschool

Absenteeism 6% of children missed school due to illness or injury 20% of third grade students missed at least 10 days of school 8% of students were suspended in Fresno County in 2012 44% of Fresno County households moved within the last 5 years

Violence in the home/neighborhood safety: Domestic violence calls (11.0 per 1,000), nearly double the state rate (6.1) Violent crime (509 per 100,000 people), 7% higher than for the state 20% of California families earning incomes of $25K or less reported their child’s safety in

the neighborhood was somewhat unsafe/very unsafe

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

What influences 3rd grade literacy?

Source(s): Kids Count Data Center 2011 - 2012; kidsdata.org; American Community Survey, 2008 - 2010

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Impact of improving 3rd grade literacy

If all children in Fresno County learn to read by the 3rd grade…

…then we could change the following…

Impact of improving 3rd grade literacy

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 2

2010 2011 20120%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%California

Fresno

High school dropouts15% of Fresno County students who had entered the 9th grade four years earlier did not receive a high school

diploma in 2012.

Fresno County 4-Year Adjusted Cohort Dropout Rate, 2010 - 2012

Source(s): Kids Count Data Center, 2010–2012; Alliance for Excellent Education, 2007

Individuals who lack a high school diploma are more likely to face unemployment, earn lower wages, require public assistance, and engage in criminal activity.

17%

64%

14%

5.40%

BlackHispanicWhiteOther

70.20%

15.10%

8.70%

3.10% 2.80%

0 days1-2 days3-9 days10-19 days20 days or more

Youth felony arrests by race/ethnicity, 2012

11th Graders reporting a high level of schoolConnectedness,2008 - 2010

Self-reported gang membership, 11th Graders, 2008 - 2010 9%

91%

Yes No

Alcohol, tobacco or drug Use within the past month, 11th Graders, 2008 - 2010

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Impact of improving 3rd grade literacy

More healthy, safe and secure youth

More engaged and connected youth

84%

16%

Yes

No

Source(s): Kidsdata.org, 2008 - 2010; Fresno Area Strive 2012 Baseline Report

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Impact of improving 3rd grade literacy

Source(s): California Dropout Research Project, 2008, 2009; A Portrait of California, 2011.

Benefits not only for Fresno County… but for the state of California…

Fiscal gains:(Per high school graduate) An additional $290,000 in earnings per graduate $100,000 more in federal, state and local taxes $53,000 in economic benefits at the local level, $390,000 statewide

Social benefits: 3,774 more children reading proficiently by 8th grade 317,216 fewer adults would be obese 202 fewer murders, 51,081 fewer prisoners Life expectancy would increase on average by six months 975,055 more people would vote in general elections

3rd Gr. Literacy HS graduates Improved outcomes

Children’s Summit 2013 Working Group 3

Impact of improving 3rd grade literacy

Reading by the third grade means opportunity for life