Establishing the Spokane Children's Investment Fund

Spokane is facing a persistently troubling school dropout rate that educators and civic leaders alike agree is undermining the social fabric of our families and community life.

It is threatening our children's very ability to succeed.

Almost one out of every three students dropped out of school in Spokane last year, among the highest in the State of Washington. Sadly, the rate is even higher for such student populations as African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and foster care children.

While our public school system is doing all that it can to close this gap, it truly is a community-wide problem. It demands all of us paying more attention to and providing more resources for programs outside standard school settings.

Consider these facts:

Young dropouts are sixty three times more likely to end up in jail or a mental institution than their counterparts who finish school.
Young dropouts: unemployment rate is three times higher than those who finish school.
Each dropout can cost taxpayers as much as $400,000 in social service spending.

How Can We Deal With This Urgent Problem?

Spokane voters are being asked to approve a special Initiative which would establish a "Children's Investment Fund" aimed at providing more resources for existing preschool and after school programs that ultimately will lead to reducing the dropout rate

The Fund would not establish a new organization or city department, but rather provide additional needed resources through grants to existing organizations already addressing dropout root causes. Many of these programs help children in their lives before and after the classroom. Similar voter-approved funds in Seattle and Portland have shown remarkable success.

What are the goals of these programs:

To prevent child abuse, neglect and family violence
To provide a safe place during out of school time hours
To prepare children for arriving at school "ready to learn"
To mentor children for success in school and later in life

Bottom line accountability: Within six years of the fund's start, the goal will be to significantly reduce the dropout rate by as much as 20 percent, and there must be proven long-term social service savings to taxpayers as well as verifiable outcomes.

What Can I Do?

You can pledge your support in your neighborhoods, among your friends and at work to fight the root causes of school dropouts.

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How Do We Get Started?

The people of Spokane can show their strong interest in our children's future by supporting a city ballot Initiative to establish the Children's Investment Fund and a levy to finance it.

The election will take place at this year's November 2nd, City General Election

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