There’s a first for everything and this one is sure to have a lasting impact. For the first time in history, the diversity of America’s ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, high birth rates, especially amongst Hispanics, has led to a more rapid growth of ethnic minorities, compared with whites.
It is estimated that by as early as the end of this year, the scales will tip in the under-5 age group, making whites the minority. This trend is projected to continue in the next five years, allowing minorities to make up more than half of children under 18.
For the first time in more than a century, the number of deaths exceeds birth rates among white Americans. While the white population continues to grow due to immigration, it has staggered substantially compared to American Hispanics and blacks.
As white children become the minority in the U.S. population, it may be logical for the government to reconsider initiatives such as affirmative action in college admissions in order to readjust the focus from race towards students from low-income homes.
With the ethnic minorities’ rapid population growth, it’s now more important than ever to ensure children of all ethnic backgrounds receive the education needed to play significant roles in the future work force.
Research shows a child’s achievement varies extensively depending on a parent’s education and income. Parents with higher levels of education tend to have fewer children and generally higher incomes, which allows for more money to be spent on a child’s development.
College Board data show that the average SAT score for a student with a family income exceeding $200,000 spread 130-140 points higher in every category compared to a student with a family income of less than $20,000.
In an attempt to combat this discrepancy, President Obama proposed expanding pre-K education for legally impoverished families. This would be a great benefit to the children in that minority age group. Obama proposed subsidizing his plan with an increased federal cigarette tax that was met with varying degrees of opposition.
Whatever the decision, it’s obvious that increasing the education attainment of children of ethnic minorities in the United States is a challenge deserving of our attention!
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-whites-now-losing-majority-under-5-age-040336032.html