Children and Youth

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In 2008, 4,208 preschoolers were not enrolled in quality early education centers. Context: Guiding Star sites are early education centers rated by the Early Learning Coalition of Duval

Source: Early Learning Coalition of Duval.

At least 40 percent of child care programs in Duval County need additional support in order to provide high quality early learning opportunities.

Context: High quality early education should include a developmentally appropriate curriculum, knowledgeable and well-trained program staff and educators, comprehensive services that support children's health, nutrition, and social well-being, in an environment that respects and supports diversity. Until recently, this expectation for teaching was not made by parents and child care centers are transitioning with the support of state and local incentives.

Source: "A Vision for Excellence," National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Annual job turnover in Duval County's child care workforce is between 30 and 40 percent.

Context: Child care workers earn low wages and frequently lack health insurance.

Source: Based on a limited survey of child care workers supported by Early Learning Coalition of Duval.

 

In 2006, of the approximately 9,000 kindergarteners screened for readiness, 36 percent, or 3,240 were not ready, according to initial sound recognition results on DIBELS.

Context: The Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) includes two tools for defining a child's readiness for kindergarten. ECHOES and DIBELS are the two tools. One of the DIBELS screens involves an adult showing a child an image. The child is then asked for the word that is associated with that image and whether they know the sound that begins that word.

Source: Florida Department of Education, State Report of District Results.

 

81% of low-income students in elementary and middle schools are not participating in after school programs with academic enrichment.

Context: After school programs vary; some provide tutoring and reinforce lessons learned in the classrooms while others do not. The after school programs that provide academic enrichment have shown that students are promoted to the next grade more frequently than their peers who do not attend after school programs.

Source: Jacksonville Children's Commission, After School Gaps Analysis.

 

Currently, there are 1,232 mentor matches in Jacksonville.

Context: The number of parents who would like a mentor for their child is much higher than the number of available volunteer mentors. 

Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida and Take Stock in Children


An estimated 3,800 youth ages 12-17 are homeless.
Context: The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 5% to 7.7% of youth 12-17 years old experience homelessness each year. In 2008, Duval County had an estimated 75,105 youth ages 12-17 years old. Five percent of that number equals 3,755. 

Source: Fact Checker, National Alliance to End Homelessness and Florida CHARTS.

The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of 1 school psychologist for every 1,000 students. Source: Duval County Public Schools

The ratio in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) is 1:2,550.
Source: Duval County Public Schools


The American School Counseling Association recommends 1 guidance counselor to every 250 students.

Source: Duval County Public Schools

 

In DCPS high schools the ratio is 1:451.

Source: Duval County Public Schools

 

There were 3,468 student code of conduct violations in 2006-07 in DCPS.
Context: These include Level Three, and Four violations of the Student Code of Conduct.  A student has been violent or caught in the possession of drugs or alcohol if the violation reaches Level Three or Four. This is an unduplicated number.

Source: Duval County Public Schools 


In February 2008, an estimated 111 families were waiting for therapeutic help from Full Service Schools of Jacksonville.
Context: Full Service Schools is the largest provider of free assistance for students experiencing mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. Students are referred by teachers, coaches, parents, and school staff. Families on the waiting list will wait approximately 5-6 months for an appointment with a therapist.

Source: Full Service Schools in Jacksonville

 

87 youth in foster care aged out of the system.

Context: Youth in foster care might live in a group home. When they turn 18 they are no longer a ward of the state. However, many 18 year-olds are not ready to support themselves.

Source: Family Support Services of North Florida, Inc.

 

Of the 87 who aged out, 16 did not receive Independent Living funds.

Context: Youth who age out of foster care are entitled to financial and educational assistance well past the age of 18.

Source: Family Support Services of North Florida, Inc.

 

 

13,789 children living in families eligible for Florida's health insurance plan remain uninsured.
Context: The 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study found that 9 percent of Florida's children remain uninsured. Applying that percentage to Duval County means approximately 19,699 children in Jacksonville are uninsured. Florida KidCare provides health insurance for children from low-income families. However, KidCare does not enroll all children eligible. Across Florida, 70 percent of uninsured children are, in fact, eligible for KidCare. Applying that percentage to the number of uninsured children means 13,789 children are eligible for KidCare and remain uninsured because they have not enrolled in the program.

Source: Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition 

 

In 2005-06, one-quarter of all DCPS middle school students were served an in-school suspension. Context: Middle school students experience the highest number of suspensions. This is an unduplicated number. Source: Florida Department of Education, Florida School Indicators Report

 

In the same year, one-third of all DCPS middle school students were served an out-of-school suspension. Source: Florida Department of Education, Florida School Indicators Report

 

COMMENTS


from KWEHR on 2008-04-28

The 2004 Florida Health Insurance Study (FHIS) indicated that 9% of children Duval County, not all of Florida, were uninsured. The FHIS also indicated that 13.7% of the population in Duval County under age 65 was uninsured. The source should include the University of Florida as the author of FHIS. The Kaiser Family Foundation should be credited for the estimate that roughly 70% of children are eligible for Medicaid/SCHIP programs (i.e. Florida KidCare in Florida).

 

I would also include a ratio of nurses to students in the Duval County Public Schools -- which is also lacking.