PovertyHeather Min, Amasa Monroe, Paul Harvey,

Caitlin Tarantiles, JJ Smith

What is Socioeconomic Status?

● Socioeconomic status is the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation.

Learning Objectives1. To explore the challenges facing people of low

socioeconomic status and develop an understanding of them.

2. To discuss strategies and means of assisting students with low SES backgrounds in our schools.

3. To develop awareness of students with low SES as well as awareness of resources that are available to them.

RationaleLower SES is associated with the following:● higher rates of attempted suicide● higher levels anxiety, depression, ADHD● slower development in gaining academic skills● students enter high school 3 grade levels behind high

SES students● high school dropout rate = 16.7% versus 3.2% for high

SES students● lower education and poor health● Increased chance of exposure to alcohol & tobacco

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Facts about education and poverty in America

● �More than 30 million children are growing up in poverty.● �In one low-income community, there was only one book for

every 300 children.● �40% of children living in poverty aren’t prepared for

primary schooling.● �Less than 30% of students in the bottom quarter of

incomes enroll in a 4 year school. Among that group, less than 50% graduate.

● �Poverty- not race, ethnicity, national origin or where you attend school- is the best predictor of college attendance and completion.

● �The causes of poverty can be very complex but the list of solutions for poverty seems extremely short.

● �We say the only way out of poverty is a good education, but access to a good education is seldom available to students from low-SES households

What can we do?

Evidence-based interventions● Annual book fairs to provide books for

students over the summer ○ 17 high-poverty elementary schools in Florida○ three year research○ increase in students’ reading achievement by 35-

40% of a grade level

Evidence-based interventions● A home visitation program

○ low-income families who have young children at high risk of emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems, or child maltreatment

○ 157 families in Connecticut○ 40-70% reductions

■ serious levels of child conduct and language development problems

■ mothers’ psychological distress.

National Resources● Technology

○ Title 1 qualifies for grants that bring technology into the schools.■ https://www.apple.

com/education/docs/l501899b_fed_funds_for_apple_edu_solutions.pdf

● Grants○ http://www.getedfunding.com/

Resources in our Backyard● Food:

○ Interfaith Food Shuttle■ Serves 275,000 in 7 counties in the Greater Triangle Area■ Runs Backpack Buddies program■ Open Food Bank at location once a month: http:

//foodshuttle.org/contact-us/can-get-food/○ Urban Ministries

■ Offices in Durham and Raleigh○ Parish Outreach

● Clothing:○ Urban Ministries in Durham and Raleigh○ Catholic Charities in Durham○ Dress for Success

■ For women who need work clothes

Resources in our Backyard● Technology

○ Public Libraries○ Kramden Institute

■ Provides refurbished computers to nominated students free of charge

■ Provides technical education to bridge the digital divide● Other

○ NC Poverty Coalition■ http://www.northcarolinapovertycoalition.org/nc-

resources.html○ Pro Bono Counseling - MHA of the Triangle

■ Durham, Orange, Person, Chatham Counties ○ Fee Waivers

ReferencesAllington, R. L., McGill-Franzen, A., Camilli, G., Williams, L., Graff, J., Zeig, J., Zmach, C., & Nowak, R. (2010). Addressing summer reading setback among economically disadvantaged elementary students. Reading Psychology, 31(5), 411-427.

Apple Inc. (2012). Using federal funds for apple education solutions. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/education/docs/l501899b_fed_funds_for_apple_edu_solutions.pdf

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. (n.d.). Where can I get food? Retrieved from http://foodshuttle.org/contact-us/can-get-food/

Lowell, D. I., Carter, A. S., Godoy, L., Paulicin, B., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of child FIRST: A comprehensive home-based intervention translating research into early childhood practice. Child Development, 82(1), 193–208.

National Center for Children in Poverty. (n.d.). North Carolina Early Childhood Profile. New York, NY: Columbia Univerity.

North Carolina Poverty Coalition Inc. (n.d.). N.C. resources. Retrieved from http://www.northcarolinapovertycoalition.org/nc-resources.html

Rumberger, R. W. (2013). Poverty and high school dropouts. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/indicator/2013/05/poverty-dropouts.aspx