Compounding the issue, they're likely to go underrepresented for federal programs designed to help, according to the Center's research. Some 30 percent of kids under the age of five live in communities likely to be undercounted in the 2020 Census.
That's a problem because one in five Texas children live in poverty. Also, 9 percent of the state's children remain uninsured, even after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
What's more, the state's cuts to education funding don't exactly create an easy escape route from those dire economic situations. Compared to 2008, the state spends 21 percent less per student on programs to keep children on track for success, according to the report.
And since the majority of school funding now comes from local property taxes, students in districts with the lowest property wealth now face significant disadvantages to those in richer districts.
To improve the outlook for Texas kids, the report recommends lawmakers implement policies that improve workers' pay, expand healthcare access and consider race-equity tools when creating legislation that affects children.
In addition, it recommends the legislature, which convenes in January, overhaul the state's
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