KIDS COUNT Infant Mortality Data Brief

KIDS COUNT Infant Mortality Data Brief

We are delighted to release a new data brief entitled Infant Mortality – Understanding the complexities of death among Virginia’s youngest citizens.

Although Virginia ranks well among the states on most indicators of child well-being, Virginia ranks 31st on infant mortality (KIDS COUNT online data, 2004). We hope this brief will help advocates, policymakers, and the media understand more about the causes and complexities of infant mortality. As we point out in the brief, rates vary by locality and by race. The infant mortality rate for African Americans was 14.4 deaths per 1,000 births in 2005 compared to 5.9 for Whites.

Public Comment to Include Graduation Rates as a Requirement for Standards of Accreditation

Please submit public comment to the Board of Education in support of including graduation rates as a requirement for schools to meet their Standards of Accreditation. Comments are due July 13, 2007. For a copy of our public comment letter and talking points, courtesy of JustChildren, please contact voices@vakids.org

Send your letter to:

Mrs. Anne D. Wescott
Assistant Superintendent for Policy and Communications
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Policy@doe.virginia.gov
Fax: 804.786.5389