Child Wellbeing Declines in 47 States Post-COVID, New Report Reveals
Reading, Math Proficiency Fell In 47 States As Child Wellbeing Slid Post-COVID, New Kids Count Report

Image: Benzinga
A recent report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation reveals a decline in children's wellbeing across the U.S. from 2019 to 2024, with significant drops in education and health scores. While some indicators improved, overall child wellbeing scores fell nationally, highlighting ongoing challenges for families.
- 01The national child wellbeing score decreased from 553 in 2019 to 547 in 2024.
- 02Education scores plummeted from 518 to 417, with 47 states showing lower reading and math proficiency.
- 03Child and teen deaths rose by 8% during the study period.
- 04Despite declines in education and health, family and community scores improved significantly from 518 to 608.
- 05South Carolina saw the largest improvement among lower-ranked states, gaining 38 points.
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The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, indicates a notable decline in children's wellbeing across the United States from 2019 to 2024. The national child wellbeing score dropped from 553 to 547, with 29 states experiencing worsened conditions post-COVID-19. Education and health metrics were particularly affected, as education scores fell from 518 to 417 due to decreased reading and math proficiency in 47 states. Health scores also declined, from 624 to 607, alongside an 8% increase in child and teen deaths. However, some positive trends emerged, with family and community scores increasing from 518 to 608, and economic wellbeing improving slightly from 551 to 557. The report highlighted that 31% of children now live in cost-burdened households, affecting 22.4 million children, marking the first rise in this measure since 2010. Policymakers are urged to continue investing in programs that support children and families to address these challenges.
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The decline in child wellbeing scores indicates a growing crisis affecting millions of families, particularly in education and health sectors.
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