Louisiana again ranks as one of the worst states in which to be a kid, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
According to the foundation’s newly released 2016 Kids Count Data book, Louisiana ranked No. 48 overall, appearing on the list ahead of New Mexico and Mississippi. Minnesota (No.1), Massachusetts (No. 2) and Iowa (No.3) took the top spots.
Louisiana scored last or low in every category measured, including economic well-being of children (No. 50), education (No. 45), health (No. 50) and family and community support (No. 48).
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization devoted to improving the lives of at-risk U.S. children.
According to the foundation, 28% of Louisiana children live in poverty, while 34% lack parents who have secure employment.
“Economic uncertainty also increases parental stress, which can compromise parenting,” the report says. “The negative effects of poverty on children also increase the chances of poor outcomes for youth and young adults, such as teen pregnancy and failure to graduate from high school.”
In terms of education, the foundation says 71% of the state’s fourth-grade students were not proficient in reading, and 82% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math in 2015.
