The Effects of Poverty on Education
The Effects of Poverty on Education “Despite being one of the most developed countries in the world, the United States has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty globally.”7 “Poverty has a particularly adverse effect on the academic outcomes of children, especially during early childhood.”8 Research has shown that children from families in poverty enter school with a readiness gap. Contributions to this gap include:
Poor physical development and health (due to poor nutrition and lack of access to medical care)
Challenges with concentration, memory, attentiveness, curiosity, and motivation9 due to the chronic stress of living in poverty
Greater risk for behavioral and emotional problems
Exposure to environmental hazards (such as lead paint) and violence in their communities.
Two additional things that are important to note:
This gap disproportionately affects Black and Latinx children.
Families experiencing poverty have challenges finding affordable, high-quality early care and education programs and are often in districts with under-resourced schools.
