Poverty and Education in America

The growth of poverty in America impacts all of us, however public schools are being blamed for the consequences of poverty. 

No matter how you define poverty, the number of people in America in poverty has increased over time. Children in poverty have inadequate nutrition and lack access to health care. Over time, children in poverty become adults with health problems.  The consequences of poverty increase the cost of health care for everyone.

The growth of poverty in America impacts all of us. The standards movement, the charter movement, NCLB and all the other anti-pubic school initiatives all claim to want to improve the outcomes for the lowest performing students by holding schools and teachers accountable.  In fact their interventions in the system push change in the wrong direction.  Inequity is increasing as a few students are moved to private, charter and for-profit schools and the majority, the remaining students, get fewer education resources and live in the same poverty conditions.

The public schools are being blamed for the consequences of poverty.  Poverty is the primary reason why students do not do well in public school.  Why isn't there a change to the economic system to decrease the number of children in poverty?  That would decrease inequity in education outcomes, improve nutrition and improve health care for children.