Support a levy that’s good for kids, families

Published 4:21 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2015

In response to the “Best Starts for Kids is our golden opportunity” (Reporter, Oct. 9):

In today’s society, education is viewed as a necessity to building a better life and creating a future for oneself. Many of the reforms of the 1960s an 1970s were based on the recognition that students who are hungry, sick or worried about their families could not achieve as well as students who were free of these cares (National Association of Social Workers, 2009). Yet, the programs that are put in place to help such students are often the ones that are at risk for budget cuts when money is tight.

The Best Starts for Kids levy will provide an opportunity for the youth in our community to succeed and build a positive future, despite the struggles students may face. This levy recognizes the need for community collaboration; cultural awareness is also an important piece. Families and students will benefit from strategies that are culturally appropriate and tools and support will be provided for families. When students do not receive much needed support, outcomes such as student dropout may be a possibility.

Students who do not finish school and drop out often have bleak futures. On average, a dropout earns less money, is more likely to be in jail, is less healthy, is less likely to be married, and is unhappier than a high school graduate (Messacar & Oreopoulos, 2013). Thirty-three percent of recent female dropouts have given birth as a teenager, 13 percent of male and female dropouts are separated or divorced, and 22 percent report being unhappy (Massacar &Oreopoulos, 2013).

High school dropouts are much more likely than their educated peers to become involved with the justice system; more than two-thirds of state prison inmates have no high school-diploma (Bloom, 2010). It is for these reasons that our community should support this levy.

– Brittany Miller