Washington state sees drop in child health, education stats

A recent report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation revealed that Washington's ranking for child well-being dropped from 14th to 16th. The state faced a notable decline in education, with only 32% of fourth graders proficient in reading and 30% of eighth graders proficient in math. Furthermore, 16% of students did not graduate on time in 2022, which is higher than the national average of 13%. Executive director of Children's Alliance, Stephan Blanford, emphasized the critical need for increased investments in children's services.

The report also indicated that Washington's health ranking fell to 9th, and its economic well-being ranked 30th. In 2023, the state reported a rise in low birth weight births compared to 2019. Additionally, child and teen mortality rates surged to 29 per 100,000, marking a 38% increase since 2019. More children lived in homes facing economic instability, highlighting the urgency for policy changes.