The Face of Poverty:Where do we go from here?

Presented byDr. Kreslyn McGinnis

&Ms. Avis Williams

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Our Objectives

• To ENLIGHTEN you of issues that schools/communities face as a result of educating children in poverty.

• To MOTIVATE you to find solutions to help narrow/close the achievement gaps between students in poverty and their middle class counterparts.

• To MOBILIZE you into action by providing strategies for success.

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

The State of Huntsville/Madison County’s Educational Systems

• Huntsville Times – March 16, 2008

• Boom time for private schools by Steve Campbell

• Black, poor kids in city’s schools trail state scores by Steve Campbell

• No Child Left Behind – “Really???”

• BRAC – “All schools should strive for excellence…” Jim Williams, PARCA

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

What is Poverty?

• The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty.

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Poverty Thresholds

• Example: The threshold for a family of 5 is $24,662.

• This could include a mother, father, two children and a great-aunt.

• Mother: $10,000• Father: $10,000• Great-aunt:$ 5,000• Two children: 0• Total: $25,000

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Poverty Threshold

• Compare the total family income with their family’s threshold.

• Income/Threshold =$25,000/$24,662=1.01

• Since their income was greater than their threshold, this family is NOT in poverty according to the official definition.

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Poverty Threshold

• How can a family of 5 survive on $25,000 with little assistance?

• Could you?

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Poverty in Alabama• 24% of children in Alabama live in poverty

(National 20% - based on poverty threshold)

• 44% of children in Alabama live in low-income families (National 39%)

• 18% of young white children and 51% of young black children live in poor families

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Poverty in Huntsville compared to Athens, GA

Huntsville• Total Households:

70,322• Median Income:

$46,193$46,193• % Family Poverty: 8.7• % Pov SM YC: 43.8Pov SM YC: 43.8

• % Pov All: 13.8• % Pov YC: 26.2Pov YC: 26.2

Athens• Total Households:

41,922• Median Income:

$30,39730,397• % Fam Poverty: 14.5• % Pov SM YC: 21.9Pov SM YC: 21.9

• % Pov All: 31.1• % Pov YC: 33.4% Pov YC: 33.4Source: U.S Census, 2006 ACS

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

What do these numbers mean to YOU ?

• What can Huntsville’s corporate community do to affect the number of single mother families?

• What role can your company play in leveling the playing field for our children?

• Are you your brothers keeper?

• What is it like to live in poverty in a “rich” city?

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Effects of Poverty on Children

• Physical Health problems

• Cognitive Ability

• School Achievement

• Emotional & Behavioral Outcomes

• Teen Out-of-wedlock Childbearing

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Effects of Poverty on Children

• Before entering kindergarten, the average cognitive scores of children from high SES is 60% higher than children from low SES

• At age 4, children in poverty are 18 months below what is normal for their age group (cognitive levels)

• Children from middle-income, well-educated families know about 12,000 words in 3rd grade. Children in poverty know about 4,000 words.

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Consequences of Poverty on Children (Marzano, 2004)

• Lack of background knowledge/academic experiences

• Fluid & Crystallized intelligence

• Vocabulary• Lack of self-

confidence as a result of maltreatment

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self Actualization

Esteem

Love/Belonging

Safety

Physiological

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT MET?

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Motivation• What if you

could make a difference in one school?

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Narrowing the Achievement Gap

• Open-Mindedness• Mentoring• Reading Buddies• Adopt-a-class• Financial Support• Corporate

Sponsorship/Partnering• Time• Commitment• Care for ALL

students

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

GREATEST NEEDS

• More teachers for smaller classrooms ($50, 000 + each)

• Full time counselor/librarian ($50,000+)• Part-time Social Worker ($15,000)• Behavior Interventionist ( $13,000)• Intervention tutors ( $9,000 each)• Computer Programs ($13,000)• Other technological needs ($$$$$)• Student Supplies ($$$$$)

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

WANTED!Concerned Citizens

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Get Mobilized!• Make a commitment!• Partner with a Title I school.• Allocate money where it is most needed.• Become a Reading Buddy/Mentor.• Get physically involved (1 hour lunch break).• Pay employees to volunteer x number of hours

of community service in schools per week.• Be creative and think of other ways to be

involved.• This is not a committee, program, task or job…

Be committed!

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Each One – Reach OneYOU can make a difference!

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

How to Get Involved

• Contact the principal• Inform of your desire to help• Ask what the needs are• Be flexible• Collaborate with the principal or designee• Follow-through• Get others involved• Stay focused!

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Action Plan

• Identify your target school• State/Write your goal(s) and your action

steps• Determine needed resources and cost (if

any)• Share with others who may want to get

involved• Connect with decision makers and leaders• DO SOMETHING!

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Suggested Reading

• Failure is NOT an Option by Alan Blankstein• Building Background Knowledge by Robert Marzano• Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne• The Essential 55 by Ron Clark• What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker• The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination by Bradley

Schiller

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC

Additional Resources

• www.census.gov• www.nccp.org• www.irp.wisc.org• www.ukcpr.com“Poor education is the key vehicle through

which poverty is passed on from one generation to the next.” – End Child Poverty Once and for All, The National Children’s Bureau

© 2008 by SYeNERGY, LLC