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FLORIDA - A new national report reveals Florida is facing a troubling decline in child well-being, placing 35th in the country as concerns grow over student performance, healthcare access, and rising living costs for families.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, published by the Annie E Casey Foundation found that nearly 70% of fourth graders in Florida are struggling with reading comprehension.
In math, the data shows 79% of eighth graders did not meet proficiency levels.
This represents a steep drop in the state’s education ranking, which fell from fifth to nineteenth in just one year.
Housing instability is another growing issue.
According to the report, more than one third of families spend over 30 percent of their income on rent or mortgage payments, placing them in a financially vulnerable position.
Meanwhile, eight percent of children in the state remain without health insurance, a figure that experts warn could grow due to potential federal Medicaid cuts and a lack of new investments from state lawmakers.
The Florida Policy Institute says these struggles cannot be fixed with a single policy change.
Racial disparities also persist, with outcomes for Native and Black children frequently ranking below the national average.
Although there has been progress in areas like teen birth rates, advocates argue that without significant investment in public education and healthcare, Florida’s youth will continue to face worsening conditions.