Moving Up and OutMoving Up and OutPost-Secondary Post-Secondary

Education Education In ArkansasIn Arkansas

510,000 Arkansans are poor510,000 Arkansans are poor 19% of the state (up from 17% in 19% of the state (up from 17% in

2000/2001)2000/2001) Average poverty threshold for family Average poverty threshold for family

of four in Arkansas - $18,392of four in Arkansas - $18,392 Why the increase?Why the increase?

Poverty in Arkansas todayPoverty in Arkansas today

““Sagging Economy”Sagging Economy”

““Increase in low-paying jobs”Increase in low-paying jobs”

Effects of not providing sustainable Effects of not providing sustainable skills for “decent work”skills for “decent work”

Arkansas Democrat Gazette (9/27/03)Arkansas Democrat Gazette (9/27/03)

Average cost of childcare this past Average cost of childcare this past year$ 3,640 year$ 3,640 Children’s Defense FundChildren’s Defense Fund

Poverty in ArkansasPoverty in Arkansas

Eliminating BarriersEliminating Barriers

Through Post-Through Post-Secondary EducationSecondary Education

Why Post-Secondary Why Post-Secondary Education?Education?

Children of Single ParentsChildren of Single Parentswithout Post-Secondarywithout Post-Secondary

Education are more at risk of Education are more at risk of living in poverty, failing in school, living in poverty, failing in school,

experiencing learning and behavioral experiencing learning and behavioral problems, malnutrition, and infant problems, malnutrition, and infant

mortality mortality

A child is born into poverty every 59 minutesA child is born into poverty every 59 minutes

A child in Arkansas dies before his/her birthday every dayA child in Arkansas dies before his/her birthday every day

Source: Children’s Defense FundSource: Children’s Defense Fund

Every $1 invested in quality early education saves as much as $7 by increasing the likelihood of literacy, employment, and enrollment in post-secondary education.

Source: Children’s Defense FundSource: Children’s Defense Fund

Every year spent as a child in Every year spent as a child in poverty will cost an estimated poverty will cost an estimated $11,800 in lost future productivity $11,800 in lost future productivity in his/her adult lifein his/her adult life

Source: Children’s Defense Source: Children’s Defense FundFund

We spend $3.20 per prisoner and We spend $3.20 per prisoner and only $1 per public school pupilonly $1 per public school pupil

Source: Children’s Defense FundSource: Children’s Defense Fund

Children of parents with higher Children of parents with higher educational attainmenteducational attainment

live in homes with more adaptive live in homes with more adaptive and positive parenting strategiesand positive parenting strategies

score higher on standardized testsscore higher on standardized testsdevelop strong literacy and language develop strong literacy and language skillsskills

are more likely to finish high schoolare more likely to finish high school

Source: Institute for Women’s Policy ResearchSource: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

““The biggest beneficiaries areThe biggest beneficiaries are

…….their children, who, watching .their children, who, watching their moms taking their schooling their moms taking their schooling so seriously, become much better so seriously, become much better students themselves.”students themselves.”

-- Hillary Clinton-- Hillary ClintonMoving up and OutMoving up and Out

Parents who obtain a Parents who obtain a post-secondary post-secondary

educationeducation…… Empower themselves and their Empower themselves and their

children by gaining a sense of children by gaining a sense of control over their own lives and control over their own lives and giving giving hopehope to their children. to their children.

““Growing Up Poor does not mean Growing Up Poor does not mean you have to die that way.”you have to die that way.”

-- -- Patricia Patricia Moving Up and OutMoving Up and Out

““I dream big now. I never say ‘never’ I dream big now. I never say ‘never’ because if I can do this, I can reach for because if I can do this, I can reach for the stars” the stars”

----Sandi Sandi Moving Up and OutMoving Up and Out

Parents who obtain a Parents who obtain a post-secondary educationpost-secondary education

95% of former Scholarship recipients who 95% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education, reported completed their education, reported meeting with their child’s teacher often. meeting with their child’s teacher often.

-- -- Walton Family Foundation ReportWalton Family Foundation Report

Have more social capital and social Have more social capital and social ease. ease.

80% of former Scholarship recipients 80% of former Scholarship recipients who completed their education reported who completed their education reported reading to their children often.reading to their children often.

Yet the share of low-income single Yet the share of low-income single parents that have acquired at least some parents that have acquired at least some college education has decreased from 24 college education has decreased from 24 to 17 percent following the 1996 Welfare to 17 percent following the 1996 Welfare Reform Reform

Source: Institute for Women’s Policy ResearchSource: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

Research consistently shows that women Research consistently shows that women with post-secondary education are more with post-secondary education are more likely to leave welfare FOR GOOD!!likely to leave welfare FOR GOOD!!

Post-SecondaryPost-SecondaryEducation Education

Reduces poverty Reduces poverty And And

addresses the employment addresses the employment needs of Arkansasneeds of Arkansas

Projected Job Projected Job DemandsDemands

in Arkansas 1998-in Arkansas 1998-20082008

Employment Projections 1998-2008Employment Projections 1998-2008

Source: Department of LaborSource: Department of Labor

Require HighSchoolDiploma orless (sometraining)Require Post-SecondaryTraining orDegree

56%56%

44%44%

PostSecondaryVocationalAssociate'sDegree

Bachelor'sDegree

Bachelor’s Degree Or More 75%

Post Secondary/Vocational11%

14%Associate’s Degree

Post Secondary Job Post Secondary Job RequirementsRequirements

35.1% of Arkansans have high 35.1% of Arkansans have high school diploma/GED school diploma/GED

Educational Attainment Educational Attainment in Arkansasin Arkansas

22.5% of Arkansans have less than 22.5% of Arkansans have less than a high school diploma/GEDa high school diploma/GED

58% of Arkansans have high 58% of Arkansans have high school or lessschool or less

Source: Census 2000 Supplementary DataSource: Census 2000 Supplementary Data

Post Secondary Post Secondary Educational AttainmentEducational Attainment

16.6% of Arkansans have a 16.6% of Arkansans have a Bachelor’s Degree or MoreBachelor’s Degree or More

4.6% of Arkansans have an 4.6% of Arkansans have an Associate’s Associate’s Degree Degree

Percent of women in Managerial and Percent of women in Managerial and Professional Occupations 29.2%Professional Occupations 29.2%

Source: Institute for Women’s Policy ResearchSource: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

Education is even more Education is even more important for single mothersimportant for single mothers

11.9% of Arkansas Women have a11.9% of Arkansas Women have a

Bachelor’s degreeBachelor’s degree

Where do go from here?Where do go from here?

Continue to challenge leaders in local Continue to challenge leaders in local industry to see the investment potential.industry to see the investment potential.

Continue to empower single parents by Continue to empower single parents by helping them realize that they are helping them realize that they are needed here, in Arkansas.needed here, in Arkansas.

Challenge local leaders, organizations to Challenge local leaders, organizations to help ASPSF continue to break the cycle help ASPSF continue to break the cycle of poverty.of poverty.

Continue returning thousands of starfish Continue returning thousands of starfish to the sea……….. to the sea………..

For every single For every single parent we help parent we help

We save generations to We save generations to come!!!!come!!!!

Thank you !Thank you !