Ready Rhode Island

2. Economic Development Begins in
the Classroom
As of October of 2013, Rhode Island’s
unemployment rate remains at the unacceptably
high level of 9.2%, now the second highest rate of
unemployment in the nation. 9 Yet, according to
Census data, Rhode Islanders without a high
school diploma are up to four times more likely to
be unemployed than Rhode Islanders with a
Bachelor’s degree. 10 Similarly, Census data show
that median earnings for Rhode Islanders
possessing a Bachelor’s degree are more
than twice as high as median earnings for
Rhode Islanders who lack a high school
diploma. 11
A strong foundation in early childhood
represents an important building block
toward on-time high school graduation.
For example, children who are not
proficient in reading by the end of third
grade can be up to four times less likely to
graduate from high school on time. 12
Children from low-income families who
live in communities of concentrated
poverty who are not proficient in reading
by the end of third grade are thirty-five
percent less likely to graduate from high
school on time. 13
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Unemployment Rate by Education
Level: Rhode Island, 2010-2012
Less than high
school
Less than High school
high school diploma
High school
diploma
Some
college or
Associate's
degree
Some college
or Associate's
degree
Median Earnings by Education Level,
Rhode Island, 2010-2012
Bachelor's
Degree
Bachelor's
Degree or
higher
Graduate or
Professional
Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Adapted from Rhode
Island KIDS COUNT Issue Brief: Improving High School Graduation Rates in Rhode
Island, November 2013
As Mayor of the City of Providence, I have maintained a strong focus on raising the percentage of third
grade students who are reading at grade level. For example, our plan to boost the school readiness of
incoming kindergarten students won the $5 million grand prize in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ inaugural
Mayor’s Challenge. Achieving universal pre-kindergarten will significantly strengthen Rhode Island’s
cradle-to-career pipeline, helping to ensure that all of Rhode Island’s young people, regardless of family
circumstance, have the opportunity to enter school ready to learn, graduate on-time, and succeed in
their chosen career.
9 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment Rates for States Monthly Rankings Seasonally Adjusted, October 2013
10 Issue Brief: Improving High School Graduation Rates in Rhode Island, November 2013
11 Issue Brief: Improving High School Graduation Rates in Rhode Island, November 2013
12 "The Vital Link: Early Childhood Investment is the First Step to High School Graduation,” ReadyNation, September 2013
13 “The Vital Link: Early Childhood Investment is the First Step to High School Graduation,” ReadyNation, September 2013
Page 3 of 8
Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Angel Taveras| Ava Vanech, Treasurer
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