COMMENTARY
College Gap
Safety
The loss won’t just be felt in terms of personal income. It is
Children of all backgrounds can find themselves in unsafe
likely that, unless we correct the course we’re on, we will also
situations, though kids in poverty are at particularly high risk.
observe a shortage in qualified job applicants. Georgetown
A lack of a safe, stable environment presents its own problems
University Center on Education and the Workforce projects
for kids who are growing and developing every day, so it
that by 2018, 66% of Nebraska’s jobs will require a post
should come as no surprise that children who experience
secondary education. However, the percentage of Nebraskans
trauma or instability in one area of their lives may struggle
who will actually have a college degree is expected to be
to be successful in other areas. That’s because the stress
about 50% in 2025. Yet another gap emerges, this one be-
hormones that are released in a scary situation affect how
tween the number of jobs that will become available and the
the brain develops – doing early damage that can have
number of adults who will be qualified to fill them.
lasting consequences, according to a report from the Center
51
While programs to boost educational achievement for
on the Developing Child at Harvard University.54 In other
older youth are important, we believe that the most effective
words, children’s brains can change when trauma occurs,
approach to producing educated and productive adults begins
and it isn’t for the better and it isn’t easily fixed. Such changes
much earlier in life. “Gaps in college attendance across socio-
to a developing brain follow the child into adulthood, into
economic groups are largely shaped by abilities formed in the
the community, and ultimately into the child’s own future
early years. Gaps in child ability across families of different
family.55
income levels are associated with parental environments and
In 2010, 5,169 Nebraska children were victims of
parenting practices. Early interventions can partially remediate
abuse or neglect.56 Of those kids, 67% were ages 8 and
these deficits. Later interventions are much less effective.”52
under. Maltreatment is a travesty at any age, but we know
Such early interventions have been found to:
that young children are particularly vulnerable to the long-
• Reduce crime;
term effects of abuse. Intervening early is important not only to stop the child’s suffering but also because it presents the
• Increase high school graduation and college attendance;
“opportunity to prevent enduring impairment that can lead
• Reduce grade repetition and special education costs;
to a lifetime of poor mental and physical health, diminished
• Reduce teen births; • Raise test scores; and • Raise IQ, especially among girls.53 In sum, ensuring that the next generation of young
economic productivity, and antisocial behavior.”57 Children placed in out-of-home care, while sometimes necessary for their safety, also face an increased risk of dropping out of school. This may in part be due to increased school mobility, or changing schools. A higher rate of mobility, which can happen when children in care change placements
adults is educated and able to contribute to our communities
frequently, is linked with lowered academic progress. As
starts with today’s youngest children. If we hope to recoup the
children change schools, they may fall behind with each
potential losses of an unqualified, unfit future workforce, we
placement or have a difficult time forming relationships with
should dedicate more resources to early childhood education.
other students and teachers.58 When young children in out-of-
It is not enough to imagine a fourth-grade classroom where
home care experience developmental, emotional or behavioral
every child is reading on time; it is imperative to work toward
problems, early intervention becomes especially important.
that goal.
When compared to other eligible low-income children, young
15