Kansas City, MO – Missouri improved and Kansas held steady in a survey of child well-being in the annual Kid's Count report. The study looks at child poverty, teen pregnancy, high school graduation rates, and other measures.
Missouri ranked 31st among all states, up from 33rd last year.
Kansas was ranked 13th overall, and held on to that status. The number of Kansas children, however, in families at or below the federal poverty level went up 25 percent.
Child poverty increased in both states over the past decade, mirroring a national trend.