OAKLAND — California is failing to get most of its youngest residents off to a healthy, productive start, according to a report released Thursday, and is particularly falling short in serving kids from low-income families.
The findings underscore the impact of growing income inequality amid a booming economy in the Golden State.
The report by Oakland-based child advocates Children Now gave the state low marks in most of 25 categories surveyed.
Among findings in the 2018 California Children’s Report Card, only half of California’s 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool — now considered a critical launchpad for a child’s learning — and just one-quarter of infants and toddlers have access to licensed child care. Only 14 percent of low-income children are in publicly funded child care.
The report gave the state a D-plus in infant and toddler care, a D in academic outcomes, a C-minus in public school funding and a D-plus in mental health services.
Of California’s 9.1 million children, one in five lives in poverty, and slightly more than that lack consistent access to adequate food. About 15 percent are English learners.
“We are failing kids,” Children Now President Ted Lempert said. Given the support indicated in polls for children’s programs and education, he said, “It’s actually alarming that our kids aren’t doing better.”
He pointed out that struggling families can’t afford high-quality and preventive services for their children.
“We cannot say we’re a poor state with no resources,” he said. “This is a state that is booming, and we’re not serving our kids.”
California received an A in just one area, health insurance: 97 percent of children are insured, thanks largely to MediCal, but many lack access to quality care because most physicians do not participate in the state insurance program.
Among other findings:
- Despite caring for kids at a time when their brain is developing most rapidly, preschool employees earn on average 42 percent of the average public employee salary. Child care workers earn even less, about one-third the average public salary.
- Students from low-income families are more likely to have underprepared teachers. California also is training far too few teachers to keep up with demand.
- The state is doing better in discipline, chronic absence and after-school and summer programs, earning grades in the B range.
Children Now called on California to enact innovative and high-impact programs to provide equitable opportunities for children.
To read the 2018 California Children’s Report Card, go to www.childrennow.org.
