Helping K-12 Educators Better Support Students Experiencing Poverty

Nearly 14 percent of U.S. children 18 and younger—just under 10 million—live in poverty in 2023, up 1.2 percentage points from the year before. Childhood poverty can have lasting effects on students, and it is important for school administrators, teachers, and staff to understand the issue and help those students be successful in school.

The Impact of Childhood Poverty

Childhood poverty negatively impacts students’ health, academics, and social relationships.

From a health standpoint, studies have shown that children in persistent poverty may experience inadequate nutrition, higher rates of illness, unsafe living conditions, and lack of access to healthcare. These problems negatively impact students’ long-term health. For instance, some studies have shown students in persistent poverty are more likely to have developmental delays, chronic medical conditions, and mental health disorders.

From an academic standpoint, hunger, housing insecurity, and stress can make it difficult for students to focus on their lessons, participate fully in class, or perform to their potential. When this is unaddressed, it may ultimately make it less likely that those students will complete high school or college.

From a social standpoint, when students have unstable housing due to poverty and must move often, it can inhibit them from creating strong relationships with other students, their school, or their community. When students have difficulty forming relationships and don’t have a strong sense of belonging or a sense of place, it can cause them difficulty later in life and may hinder them when they are seeking jobs.

Recognizing The Signs of Childhood Poverty

When school administrators and staff members recognize the signs of childhood poverty, they can take steps to support those students and refer them to appropriate resources. Some signs of childhood poverty include:

• Chronic hunger
• Untreated medical conditions
• Poor hygiene or dental problems
• Frequent absences
• Persistent signs of anxiety or depression
• Aggression or other behavioral issues
• Being withdrawn

Strategies To Support Students in Poverty

Many schools operate as hubs to connect students and families in poverty with resources like health care and housing. There are also some things teachers and staff can do to support all students that will be especially helpful for those living in poverty.

• Connect and Build Relationships. Work to connect with and learn about students and the challenges they are experiencing. When teachers understand students’ needs and perspectives, they will be better able to provide support or connect the students to the appropriate resources. Building relationships and trust with students is important. Encouraging students and making sure they know their teachers are rooting for them and are invested in the student’s success can have a big impact.
• Build Resilience. Engaging students in activities that build resilience and problem-solving skills can help equip them to navigate the challenges associated with living in poverty.
• Communicate. Keep an open dialogue with students and families. When students and families feel that they can come to their child’s teachers to discuss their circumstances, it will help the teacher be better able to support the student.
• Evaluate Your Perspective. Administrators, teachers, and staff should have an informed perspective on childhood poverty. They can consider the sources that have informed their perspectives and find ways to expose themselves to other perspectives.
• Tap Into Students’ Cultural Assets. Students living in poverty may not have strong ties to a particular place, but they may relate to cultural practices embedded in their families’ lives. If teachers can help them see these cultural practices as strengths, it can be a source of motivation and pride for the students.

New Online Professional Development Course: Supporting Students Experiencing Poverty

Vector Solutions has developed a new course, “Supporting Students Experiencing Poverty,” to help teachers, administrators, and staff members address the issue of childhood poverty. Available in Vector’s Inclusive Instruction & Interventions library, the course delves into what childhood poverty is and helps educators recognize and understand poverty and its impact. The course also provides practical interventions to help mitigate poverty’s impact on students’ success in school.

Vector’s courses are engaging and authored by subject-matter experts. They include pre- and post-course assessments and reporting to help administrators monitor and measure learning. The courses are available in multiple languages.