Speaking Out! Only 2 percent of presidential debate discussion about kids’ issues

Congress skirmishes over unemployment benefits

Partisan bickering over unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut continued last week. At stake are nearly 2 million people whose benefits would be cut off in January if extended unemployment benefits are not renewed this year.

Both long-term unemployment benefits and President Obama’s payroll tax cut could prove crucial to the U.S. economic recovery. Unemployment benefits are thought to promote demand, since families collecting unemployment insurance tend to spend the money right away. And the payroll tax cut is an effort to promote hiring at companies still wary in the slow recovery.

Our friends at MomsRising recently rallied voices in favor of extending unemployment benefits for the sake of millions of families struggling with joblessness. Ms. Magazine joined them, and has rounded up a great collection of opinions online.

Since both measures are fairly popular with both parties, observers say both are likely to be extended eventually. But the inclusion of an item for a proposed oil pipeline from Canada to Texas has provoked a partisan split and a promised veto from the president. Obama has threatened that unless Congress presents an acceptable extension for him to sign, there may be no holiday vacation for Congress.

Report: Only 2 percent of presidential debate discussion about kids’ issues

Candidates for office are always talking about creating a better future for our children. But how often do they get specific? Not nearly enough, according to a new report by Voices and its member organization The Child and Family Policy Center.

Analyzing the presidential debates so far, the report finds that kids’ issues were discussed only 2 percent of the time. K-12 education has gotten almost no attention, and issues like early care and education, mother and child health, and child safety have been ignored.

You can read the whole report online. Also, check out the press release for a great summary of the key points. Voices is planning a campaign based on this report to demand greater attention to kids’ issues – stay tuned!

Only one-third of fourth-graders proficient readers

We’ve just released the second in our series of education reports looking at student test scores. This report focuses on disparities in our education system, and shows that our system is still leaving behind kids of color, kids from low-income families, and kids with disabilities.

It’s bad enough that only one-third of fourth-graders read at a proficient level, according to new Department of Education data. But did you know that only 18 percent of kids from low-income families scored as well? And that only 11 percent of kids with disabilities read as well as they should?

The racial disparities are just as troubling. Only 16 percent of Black students and 18 percent of Hispanic students read as well as they should, compared to 42 percent of White students.

Get the basics from our press release and dive into the report to learn more!