The State of America's Children 2004
A Continuing Portrait of Inequality
by Children's Defense Fund

One in six children in the United States continues to live in poverty. One in eight — 9.3 million — children have no health insurance. Three out of five children under six are cared for by someone other than their parents on a regular basis. Only 31 percent of fourth graders read at or above grade level. An estimated three million children were reported as suspected victims of child abuse and neglect. Almost one in ten teens ages 16 to 19 is a school dropout. Eight children and teens die from gunfire in the U.S. each day — one child every three hours.

Full story here.