With Data Snapshots, we aim to share key statistics that are guiding the work of the John T. Gorman Foundation and its partners to strengthen the well-being and resiliency of Maine children and families. We hope you find them useful as well.
For our latest Data Snapshot, we turn to education – particularly its importance to family economic mobility. As the data shows, education can create opportunities for families to break the cycle of poverty. For parents and caregivers, education can lead to higher earnings. And for children, education during their developing years forms a foundation for later success. This compelling data is one of the key reasons why the John T. Gorman Foundation is supporting partnerships that are creating greater access to educational opportunities.
Education by the Numbers
For children, high-quality early-learning environments for kids ages 0-4 lay a foundation for later success, including greater rates of high-school graduation and college enrollment. In Maine, however, many families face significant barriers to accessing early-learning environments.
- 22% of Mainers live in childcare deserts, where there are more than 3 children needing care for each available slot.
- The average single parent in Maine would need to spend 45% of their income to provide childcare for just one child.
- Public pre-K enrollment among Maine 4-year-olds is rising but still only reaches just over half of Maine 4-year-olds.
For parents and caregivers, education can offer a path to higher earnings and financial stability. The latest data show that more Maine families could benefit from these education pathways.
- Poverty rates are lower in families headed by higher-educated Mainers – 2% for families with a Bachelor’s Degree compared to 25% for those with less than a high-school level education.
- Close to half of Maine’s working-age adults (45%) do not have a postsecondary degree or credential.
For parents pursuing education, improving their children’s well-being is a powerful motivator to persisting in school and accomplishing their goals. But, given their responsibilities as caregivers and providers, tailored supports are needed to ensure their success.
- Nationally, one in five undergraduates are parents. Most student-parents are mothers and more than two in five student-mothers are single.
- Student-parents earn better grades than their peers. One-third of student parents have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, compared to 26% of dependent students.
- Yet, many student-parents struggle to complete school due to time constraints and other barriers – only 37% of all parenting students complete a degree or certificate within six years, compared with 59% of students without children.
From Statistics to Strategies
By investing in initiatives that make quality educational experiences accessible – for children and parents – the John T. Gorman Foundation is working with its partners to unlock Maine families’ opportunities for success.
Our current partnerships include:
- CEI’s work to help entrepreneurs launch high-quality childcare businesses.
- An Educate Maine pilot initiative to help address Maine’s teacher shortage and ensure students have access to high-quality educators.
- A partnership between Lewiston Public Schools and Tree Street Youth to deliver academic and social-emotional support to youth in Lewiston Middle and High Schools.
- The Industry Exploration Academy, a program led by Eastern Maine Community College in partnership with Bangor Housing that introduces participants to employment and training opportunities while providing supports like childcare and transportation.
- A two-generation initiative led by Jobs for the Future that aims to increase access to postsecondary education, essential resources, and economic opportunities for student-parents.
As these initiatives continue to progress, we look forward to sharing more about them, including the impacts they are having on Maine families.
Data Sources:
- Educate Maine Education Indicators Report
- Ascend Postsecondary Success for Parents
- Aspen/IWPR data report, Parents in College By the Numbers
