Flint’s water crisis has led to a 56% increase in special education students, with at least 20% of public school students now eligible. Health officials link the rise to lead levels in the water supply, compounding the city’s financial woes.
Flint, Michigan has faced more than its fair share of woes in recent years, from high unemployment rates and population loss due largely to the downsizing of its major employer, General Motors, to crime rates who consistently place Flint on many of the “Most Dangerous Cities”. Now, even the youngest residents of Flint are facing a crisis. According to recent statistics, at least 20 percent of Flint public school students are eligible for special education status. Health officials believe there is a direct connection between the rising number of children with special needs and dangerous levels of lead discovered in the city’s water supply in 2014. The problem is compounded by financial woes. School districts are understaffed and underfunded, at least in part due to the loss of a tax base, but the federal government requires adequate services for children in special education. The percentage of special needs students in Flint increased 56% in the years following the water crisis, rising from 13.1% for the 2012-13 school year to 20.5% percent of all students in 2018-19. While many families have taken root to escape danger, others are plagued by poverty and are turning to the city, state, and federal government for help.
Lead and water contamination:
Lead accumulation in the human body can lead to nervous system problems, high blood pressure, anemia, developmental delays, and more.
The lead content in US water systems has been restricted since 1986, but old plumbing systems don’t need to be replaced to meet those standards.
Boiling water does not reduce the lead content in the water; in fact, colder water typically has less lead than hot water.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
