Press Releases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2005 California Failing to Meet Children’s Most Basic Needs, According to New Children Now “Report Card” Education and Health Get Disappointing Performance Grades Oakland, CA--California’s grade point average is unacceptable as related to the health and education of the state’s children, according to a new study from Children Now, a leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to assuring all children thrive. The 2005 California Report Card: An Assessment of Children’s Well-Being, a research report issued today, highlights generally poor health and education statistics for California’s children, while noting a few bright spots. The report gives letter grades to individual issues, such as a “D” in children’s obesity, a “D+” in K-12 education and a “B-” in health insurance. The report presents eye-opening data on the status of 10.5 million kids in the state. For example: California ranks 44th in school spending among the states, when adjusted for regional cost differences. Fewer than 55 percent of all 3rd and 7th graders scored at or above grade level on math and reading achievement tests in 2005. 800,000 California children, ages 0-18, don’t have health insurance. Over 70 percent of 5th, 7th and 9th graders do not meet state standards for all-around physical fitness. 46 percent of all 4-year-olds in California aren’t enrolled in preschool. “The aim for our 2005 Report Card is to create broad awareness and clear understanding of the issues keeping California children from thriving,” said Ted Lempert, Children Now president. “Our goal is not to highlight the negative, but rather to focus on problem areas where we can effect a positive shift for all children in the state.” Children Now’s report makes important recommendations on how policymakers can better support California’s children. These include: Creating a free, voluntary, publicly-funded, quality preschool program for all California 4-year-olds that requires B.A.-level teachers who receive salary parity with teachers in the K-12 system; Passing legislation in 2006 to ensure that every child under age 19 has access to affordable health and dental insurance, and making it easier for families to enroll their children and to keep them covered; Maintaining rigorous statewide standards for student achievement and progress, and providing ample flexibility to local schools and districts to meet those standards; Reinstating mandatory physical education as a daily activity in K-12 schools. Californians rate “the well-being of children” as their chief concern, outranking cost of living, taxes, the war in Iraq and terrorism, according to a poll conducted in March by the Field Research Corporation for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. “The state simply has to do more now,” said Lempert, “to align its public policy with the strong public will to support our kids above all else.” The report is based on the most recent data available, including the 2005 California County Data Book, Children Now’s companion research document. Both reports are available online at publications.childrennow.org/publications/invest/reportcard_2005.cfm.  Children Now is a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization working to raise children's well-being to the top of the national policy agenda. The organization focuses on ensuring quality health care, a solid education and a positive media environment for all children. Children Now's strategic approach creates awareness of children's needs, develops effective policy solutions and engages those who can make change happen.