Homeless Iowa teenager Ryan wrote
“school-work was never the hard part of school. The hard part was motivation” (Heggen). Growing up in a low-income family meant that Ryan had more pressing matters on
his mind than his education. This is a reality for the estimated 16 million
children living in poverty (Child Poverty).
Students who grow up while living under the national poverty line, $23,550 a year for a family of four, most often start school behind their classmates and continue to be behind throughout their school career (11 Facts). Nearly 40 percent of children living in poverty are unprepared for primary school (11 Facts). By the end of fourth grade low income students are two years behind. By twelfth grade they are four years behind (11 Facts).
Low-income students are seven times as likely to not graduate (11 Facts). Not having a high school diploma severely limits job opportunities throughout a lifetime. If a low-income student does graduate from high school their educational opportunities continue to be limited. In 2014 the average community college cost $3,260 a year (2014 Facts). That is nearly 14 percent of a family living in poverty’s yearly income. The average public four-year institution cost $8,890 in 2010 or nearly 38 percent of a family’s yearly income (2014 Facts).
Students who grow up while living under the national poverty line, $23,550 a year for a family of four, most often start school behind their classmates and continue to be behind throughout their school career (11 Facts). Nearly 40 percent of children living in poverty are unprepared for primary school (11 Facts). By the end of fourth grade low income students are two years behind. By twelfth grade they are four years behind (11 Facts).
Low-income students are seven times as likely to not graduate (11 Facts). Not having a high school diploma severely limits job opportunities throughout a lifetime. If a low-income student does graduate from high school their educational opportunities continue to be limited. In 2014 the average community college cost $3,260 a year (2014 Facts). That is nearly 14 percent of a family living in poverty’s yearly income. The average public four-year institution cost $8,890 in 2010 or nearly 38 percent of a family’s yearly income (2014 Facts).
Generational poverty also plays a
role outside of financial restrictions. Members of low-income families often do
not value higher education. Children have earning potential that would allow
them to contribute to the family immediately. Higher education can seem like an
unobtainable goal so students dismiss it early in their educational career.
These facts beg several classes. How
do we improve low-income schools? Is higher education a right? What affect
would Barrack Obama’s new free community college proposal have?
Evelyn and Sarah
Sources:
"11 Facts About Education and Poverty in America."
11 Facts About Education and Poverty in
America. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"2014 Facts." Fast
Facts From Our Fact Sheet. American Association of Colleges, n.d. Web. 21
Jan. 2015.
"Child Poverty." NCCP. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
Heggen, Danny. From a
Growing Community: Iowa's Homeless Youth. Des Moines, IA: Shrieking Tree,
2009. Print.
"News." The
Effects of Poverty on Education in the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 21
Jan. 2015.
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