Florida remained in the bottom half of national child welfare rankings for the second consecutive year, placing 35th overall in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report evaluates child well-being across four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors.
The report found that Florida’s greatest challenge continues to be economic well-being, where the state ranked 43rd nationally. Researchers cited a growing number of children living in households burdened by high housing costs as a key factor behind the low ranking.
Florida’s overall ranking has remained largely unchanged since the COVID-19 pandemic, consistently placing between 30th and 35th among the states. The 2026 report introduced a new scoring system that combines 16 indicators measured over a five-year period from 2019 through 2024.
Education was Florida’s strongest-performing category, with the state improving to 15th nationally from 19th a year earlier. However, the report noted that a majority of Florida fourth-graders are still not proficient readers, reflecting challenges that continue to affect students years after pandemic-related disruptions.
The Florida Policy Institute, the state’s KIDS COUNT partner organization, said affordability issues related to housing, child care, and health care remain significant obstacles for families. The organization urged policymakers to increase investments to improve outcomes for lower-income children.
Nationally, the KIDS COUNT report found mixed results for children, with improvements in some economic and family indicators offset by ongoing struggles in education and persistent health and housing challenges. The foundation said the data highlights the importance of stable housing, quality education, accessible health care, and economic security in improving children’s long-term well-being.
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