• The official poverty rate in 2004 was 12.7 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2003. This remained statistically unchanged for 2005.

• In 2004, 37.0 million people were in poverty, up 1.1 million from 2003. This remained statistically unchanged for 2005.

• Both the poverty rate and the number in poverty for non-Hispanic Whites decreased —8.3 percent and 16.2 million in 2005, down from 8.7 percent and 16.9 million in 2004. The poverty rate for non-Hispanic Whites was lower than for the other racial groups. Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 43.9 percent of people in poverty and 66.7 percent of the total population. For Blacks, neither the poverty rate (24.9 percent) nor the number in poverty (9.2 million) was statistically different between 2004 and 2005. Among Asians, 11.1 percent were in poverty in 2005, higher than the 9.8 percent in 2004. The number of Asians in poverty also increased—to 1.4 million in 2005 from 1.2 million in 2004.

• In 2005, for children under 18, the survey found no statistically significant change in the poverty rate or the number in poverty (17.6 percent and 12.9 million). The poverty rate for children was higher than the rates for people 18 to 64 years old and those 65 and older. Children represented 34.9 percent of the people in poverty and 25.0 percent of the total population. These rates were statistically unchanged from 2004.

• Both the poverty rate and number in poverty increased for people 18 to 64 years old (11.3 percent and 20.5 million in 2004, up from 10.8 percent and 19.4 million in 2003). They remained statistically unchanges for 2005.

• The poverty rate increased for seniors aged 65 and older, 10.1 percent in 2005; also the number in poverty in 2005 increased to 3.5 million.

• In 2005, 46.6 million people were without health insurance coverage, up from 45.3 million people in 2004 .

• The percentage of people without health insurance coverage increased from 15.6 percent in 2004 to 15.9 percent in 2005.

• The percentage and number of children (people under 18 years old) without health insurance in 2004 was 10.8 percent and 7.9 million. Both increased, in 2005, to 11.2% and 8.3 million respectively.

• In 2005, the uninsured rates for non-Hispanic Whites at 11.3 percent and for Blacks at 19.6 percent were not statistically different from 2004. The rate for Asians increased to 17.9 percent in 2005, from 16.5 percent in 2004, but the 2005 rate was not statistically different from 2003. Among Hispanics, the uninsured rate was statistically unchanged at 32.7 percent, while the number of Hispanics without coverage increased from 13.5 million in 2004 to 14.1 million in 2005.

In 2004, NAEP administered the latest long-term trend assessment to approximately 75,000 students at ages 9, 13, and 17 in public and nonpublic schools throughout the nation. While there was some improvement in Reading /Math Test Scores at the lower Grades, graduates from the Educational System in the United States DECLINED in Reading and Math Scores.

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings puts a positive spin on the "National Report Card" stating: "The results from the newest Report Card are in and the news is outstanding." However, an examination of the Data indicate that the Achievement Test Scores in Reading and Math for ages 9, 13, and 17 are mixed.

Summary:
1. Significant Increases in Reading/Math Scores for Students Age 9; and, a Significant Increase in Math Score for Students Age 13,
2. No Change in Reading Scores for Students Age 13, and
3. A Reduction in Reading/Math Scores for Students Age 17.

• On June 30, 2004, 2,131,180 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails -- an increase of 2.3% from midyear 2003, less than the average annual growth of 3.5% since yearend 1995,

• there were an estimated 486 prison inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents -- up from 411 at yearend 1995,

• the number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities increased 2.9% from midyear 2003, reaching 103,310 and the number of men rose 2.0%, totaling 1,390,906,

• At midyear 2004 there were 4,919 black male prison and jail inmates per 100,000 black males in the United States, compared to 1,717 Hispanic male inmates per 100,000 Hispanic males and 717 white male inmates per 100,000 white males.