Supporting Effective Teaching in Tennessee: Executive Summary | Page 10
Figure 2.2
Life expectancy (years)
Life expectancy (years)
$17 billion in health-care costs over the
Education influences more than
graduates’ lifetimes.” 9
simply individual wealth and economic
growth—it also influences health and
E m p l oy ers a re
An increased investment in education
other social outcomes. A recent Kaiser
would also provide other positive benefits
Family Foundation study found that
i n cre a si n g ly expecti n g
to society. For example, in 2004, 74.2
“education, not income or race, is the
percent of college graduates voted while
most important indicator of life span
b l u e - co l l a r wor k ers ,
only 34.6 percent of individuals with
and health.” 6 Specifically, the study
less than a high school diploma did so.
found low educational attainment is
s u c h a s e l ectrici a n s ,
Similarly, of the 61 million Americans
associated with high rates of infectious
who volunteered in some capacity between
disease, self-reported poor health,
co n str u ctio n wor k ers ,
2005 and 2006, nearly 75 percent had
shorter survival after illness, and
some level of college education. There is
shorter life expectancy.7 There is also
also a strong relationship between low
a strong connection between infant
a n d p l u m b ers , to
levels of education and negative social
mortality rates and the mother’s level of
outcomes. While less than one percent of
education. A recent study by the Robert
h ave at l e a st a n
prison inmates have a college degree, 38
Wood Johnson Foundation found the
83
percent have only a high school diploma,
lower a mother’s educational level,
a ssoci ate ’ s d e g ree .
and 54 percent have less than a high school
the higher the incidence of newborn
82
diploma. Furthermore, over two-thirds
mortality. In fact, the study found the
83
of all high school dropouts will use food
gap between the infant mortality rate
81
stamps at some point during their life.10
of mothers with a graduate degree and
82
mothers without a high school diploma
80
As this data illustrates, increasing student achievement and
was greater in Tennessee than in any other state in the
educational attainment in Tennessee will benefit not only the
81
country.8 Similarly, an Alliance for Excellent Education study
79
individuals who receive that education but also the communities
estimated that “if the 1.2 million students who drop out each
in which those individuals live.
year earned high school diplomas instead, states could 80
save
76
81
77
9
76
8
7
Less than a
High School Diploma
80
6
5
3
78
2
77
76
1
Less than a
High School Diploma
High School Graduate
Some Level of
College Education
Less than a
High School Diploma
High School Graduate
5
2
1
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births)
0
Source: University of Tennessee Center for Business and Economic Research and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Life expectancy (years)
6
0
High School Graduate
Some Level of
Life expectancy (years) Education
Infant mortality
College
4
Life expectancy (years)
79
7
3
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births)
Life expectancy (years)
78
77
82
8
4
79
Relationship Between Educational Attainment and Health Outcomes
83
78
9
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births)
9