Dear Friends,
Because I am a self-professed “data nerd,” I was recently combing through the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book from The Annie E. Casey Foundation — a resource I encourage everyone to read. I was disheartened to see the statistics for Arkansas.
In our state:
- 72% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading, up from 69% in previous years.
- 12% of high school students are not graduating on time.
- 20%+ of children live in poverty.
As I read these statistics, I thought to myself, “How will we stop failing our children?” At that moment, one of my favorite quotes came to mind from John F. Kennedy. It says, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”
We must invest in our children because doing so creates a better future for all of us. Investing in children often starts by investing in parents. Parents or guardians are the primary influence in children’s lives, and research shows that their education level has a significant impact on their children’s success.
In a recent study, the National Center for Children in Poverty found that the less education a parent has, the more likely their family will be low income. Specifically, the study found that 67% of children with parents who have a high school degree (but no college education) live in low-income families, compared to 31% of children with at least one parent who has some college education.
Additionally, low socioeconomic status can affect the family dynamic and even lead to social and behavioral problems that can impact children’s academic success and intellectual development.
If we want to change the trajectory for children in Arkansas, we must invest in their parents.
More than a third of Arkansas children live in single parent households. For 35 years, ASPSF has invested in single parents living in poverty and pursuing higher education to create brighter futures for themselves and their families. Today, your help in delivering on our mission has never been more vital.
I’m grateful for your investment in a better future for single parents and their kids.
Thank you,
Jenn Morehead
ASPSF CEO
