Kansas children rank near the top nationally for economic well-being but an annual report showed the state falls short on other measures affecting children’s long-term outcomes.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s latest Kids Count Data Book ranks Kansas 14th overall among states. Kansas ranked fifth in the nation for children’s economic well-being.

Nathan Kessler, principal economist for the group Kansas Action for Children, said higher wages help address poverty and cost-of-living challenges across the state. He credited Kansas for seeking more fairness in its tax code to help families get on firmer financial ground.

“The most effective program over the past 50 years is the Earned Income Tax Credit,” Kessler contended. “In Kansas, we have a refundable match of 17%, which, if you look at similar states, that’s actually quite generous.”

Kessler argued more work is needed to close remaining gaps.

The report’s authors warned a concerning number of Kansas children lack health insurance. About 51,000 Kansas children were uninsured in 2024, the highest total in nearly 15 years.

With federal changes expected to place more pressure on public health programs, Kessler called on Kansas to increase awareness about eligibility so households do not fall through the cracks.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the foundation, said the report’s findings represent real children, not just data points.

“It’s a child who either has enough to eat or doesn’t have enough to eat,” Boissiere stressed. “It’s a child who is either in a stable home and has access to quality education to put themselves on a pathway to thrive, or it’s a child who doesn’t have those necessities.”

Kessler argued reversing declining insurance coverage rates for children could also help address other concerning indicators, including education.

“It’s not just ‘that test score,’ it’s what’s going on at home,” Kessler emphasized. “It’s, ‘Do they have health insurance? Are they in poverty?’ And so, we really need to be looking at the whole picture.”

According to the report, Kansas lags behind more than half of states in student success. It found 72% of fourth graders in Kansas are not proficient in reading, while 74% of eighth graders are not proficient in math.

Source: Public News Service