Supporting Students Experiencing Poverty
Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for underserved students living in poverty is essential for fostering equity and success in education. This course encourages staff and administrators to challenge assumptions about people experiencing poverty. It gives them a comprehensive understanding of how poverty is defined and what it looks like. Learners will explore the difference between a deficit-based approach—focused on limitations—and an asset-based approach that values the strengths and resilience of students in poverty. Through practical strategies, staff will learn how to make learning accessible, engaging, and relevant to all students, ensuring that those facing economic hardships are not left behind. By emphasizing the critical role of advocacy, community outreach, and the importance of fostering a culture of empathy and support within the school environment, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make a lasting, positive impact on underserved students.
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Learning Objectives
- Challenge assumptions involving students in poverty
- Provide practical strategies for inclusion
- Foster advocacy and empathy
- Create equitable learning environments
Specs
| Intended Audience | K-12 Staff |
| Languages | English (US), Spanish (US), Spanish (European), Spanish (Mexican), French (Canada), French (European), Arabic, Chinese (Simplified Mandarin), Chinese (Traditional Mandarin), Filipino Tagalog, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (European), Russian, Thai, Vietnamese |
| Accessibility | Audio, Video, Interactive Transcript, Closed Captions |
| Course Features | Interactive Modules, Knowledge-Checks, Assessment |
Key Questions
Students experiencing distress, such as homelessness or food insecurity, may show signs like a decline in academic performance, frequent absences, or difficulty focusing. Other behaviors to watch for include aggression, irritability, withdrawal from social activities, or sudden mood changes. Physical signs like chronic hunger, untreated medical or dental issues, and poor hygiene may also indicate distress, signaling a need for timely support or intervention.
What are the long-term effects of child poverty?Studies have shown that the long-term effects of these health-related issues can lead to developmental delays, chronic medical conditions, and mental health disorders. In fact, studies have shown that children in low-income families are nearly twice as likely to have moderate or severe attention deficit disorder.
What are the key ways schools support students in poverty?Schools support all students, including those living in poverty, by focusing on three key areas: building caring relationships, setting high expectations and maintaining standards, and providing opportunities for participation and meaningful contribution. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools highlights these factors as helping create a nurturing and supportive learning environment for every student.
How do you define poverty?Poverty is a lack of means, but it’s also about a lack of support and access to those social and educational mechanisms that can help improve financial and social circumstances – in immediate ways and over time.
Sample Video Transcript
Poverty isn’t just about a lack of money or other resources. It’s also about worry, anxiety, fear, and insecurity. Childhood poverty can have lasting effects on the individual, their family, community, their future opportunities, hopes, and dreams. We’re all here because we care. We care about our students, our communities, and the future. But we can’t do this alone. And we can’t do it without you. In a perfect world, we could just end poverty. But this world is not perfect. Sometimes, it can be downright hard, hostile, and unfair to the most innocent and undeserving – our kids. That’s the bad news. The good news? The good news is that while we may not be able to solve the problem of poverty in our communities, we can take the time to understand it. And with proactive involvement and practical interventions, we can help mitigate its effects on the students we care for and about every day.
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