In order to ensure the success of our state, it is critical that we continue to support and invest in young Mainers. Our kids are our future and we need to ensure the best future possible for them.
Earlier this week, the Maine Children’s Alliance released the 2014 Kids Count Data Book, which ranked Maine 14th in the nation for child well-being. This is good, but we can do better. While Maine children are improving in the areas of educational attainment and health, our state is struggling to ensure the economic well-being of our children.
More children are attending pre-school, and we hope the pre-K law the Legislature passed this year will continue this trend. The new law provides start-up funding to school districts who want to start a voluntary pre-K program. Studies show that pre-K education increases school readiness and later academic success. Allowing more young Mainers access to pre-K education will ensure that students have the chance to succeed regardless of economic status. While pre-K may not be for every child or every family, no child should be excluded from an early childhood education because of where they live.
One of the greatest benefits of pre-K is that it provides a good breakfast to children. Kids can’t learn when they are hungry, and unfortunately many Maine kids are hungry. Nearly one in four Maine children is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal is coming from.
The Legislature passed two measures this year to reduce student hunger. First, we overrode Governor LePage’s veto of a bill to increase access to federal summer food programs. More than 70,000 children who qualified for free or reduced meals during the summer don’t have access to a summer food program and the new law will make it easier for schools to start one.
Secondly, we created a task force to end student hunger. The task force will be exploring different ways to increase student access to food, including taking advantage of federal funding, as we did with the summer food programs bill.
These are good first steps, but the report also tells us where we have more work to do. While the health and education of Maine children improved, their economic well-being is much worse.
More than one in five children live in poverty and one in three children have parents who want to work full time, but can’t find enough work.
We know our economy is struggling — we’re at the bottom of the pack for job growth and job creation — and our stagnant economy is hurting our children.
When parents can’t find enough work, it’s harder to find the money to put food on the table. And when children are hungry, they struggle in school.
Maine people, including our children, deserve better. We need an economy that works for everyone, including our children, and we owe it to ourselves and to our children to work together to create one.
Our children are counting on us. Let’s not let them down.
