Neighborhoods Data_Syracuse_Lead Poisoning_ELA Proficiency

Lead has been a toxin for most of history, notably highlighted by the Flint, Michigan water crisis. While contaminated water is a frequent source, many U.S. cities also face lead risks from other avenues, such as deteriorating paint in homes. Lead takes a toll on young children in terms of both their immediate health and long-term wellbeing. Previous research has found that young children exposed to lead performed worse in math and English Language Arts (ELA) testing. Since this time, the standards for harmful levels of blood lead have become more stringent, dropping from 10 μg/dL to 5 μg/dL. In this study, we revisit test scores in New York State and focus on English Language Arts performance in order to examine the relationship between achievement and lead exposure at this more stringent level, and to ascertain how exposure to lead in a given neighborhood is associated with different levels of academic achievement among children in that neighborhood. We assess this relationship in light of possible confounding factors, like household English level and rent burden. This approach is important as it rules out school district level factors that may cause differences in ELA scores: we hold the school district constant and focus on the neighborhood as the unit of analysis, controlling for factors not analyzed in previous research. Our findings show that lead poisoning and substandard ELA proficiency are correlated at .38. The coefficient of the bivariate regression between these two variables was .73 (p<.05). When controlling for household English level and rent burden, lead poisoning remained statistically significant. Exposure to lead plays a large role in determining childrens’ ELA achievement, even when incorporating household English and rent burden. Accordingly, policy geared towards improving ELA proficiency should intertwine with neighborhood revitalization by supporting safe and affordable housing.