“From the time our children are born, we imagine a bright future for them: a solid foundation of education and development in their early years, excellent health care, high school graduation, a good college education and a career path that launches them toward lifelong achievement and economic self-sufficiency. As parents, nothing will stop us from doing everything within our power to make that happen. And as Americans, our concern extends beyond our own doorsteps. We want success for children in rural towns and urban communities across the nation because we understand that providing opportunity to all children, regardless of their race or ethnicity, is essential to America’s future prosperity.”
RACE FOR RESULTS: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children
Birth through age eight are especially critical years in the development of a child. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s RACE FOR RESULTS looked at 12 indicators to measure the impact of a child’s race on his or her opportunity for success in adulthood:
- Babies born at normal birthweight
- Children ages 3 to 5 enrolled in nursery school, preschool or kindergarten
- Fourth graders who scored at or above proficient in reading
- Eighth graders who scored at or above proficient in math
- High school students graduating on time
- Females ages 15 to 19 who delay childbearing until adulthood
- Young adults ages 19 to 26 who are in school or working
- Young adults ages 25 to 29 who have completed an associate’s degree or higher
- Children who live in two-parent families
- Children who live with a householder who has at least a high school diploma
- Children who live in families with incomes at or above 200% of poverty
- Children who live in low-poverty areas (poverty <20%)
The conclusion the study comes to, that “African-American, American Indian and Latino children face some of the biggest obstacles on the pathway to opportunity,” may not seem surprising. The fact that by 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that children of color will represent the majority of all children, makes the need for equity of opportunity even more pressing than ever before.
Find out more about the impact of these indicators on each race and ethnicity represented in the study. Learn more about the Annie E. Casey Foundation recommendations for how we can help all children reach their full potential.
Read RACE FOR RESULTS: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children
