Over 20% of U.S. school kids live in poverty

More than one out of every five school-age children in the U.S. was living below the federal poverty line in 2013, according to new federal data. That amounted to 10.9 million children — or 21% of the total — a 6% rise in the childhood poverty rate since 2000.

Childhood poverty rates rose for every racial group, ranging from 39% for African Americans and 36% for Native Americans, 32% for Hispanics and 13% for Asians and whites. The percentage of school-age children living in poverty ranged from 9% in New Hampshire to 33% in Mississippi.

This year’s Department of Education report focused on kindergarteners. It found that poor children start kindergarten with fewer “positive approaches” to learning, like persistence in completing tasks, eagerness to learn new things, and ability to work independently, and struggle academically compared to more affluent children.

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