Newsletter

Poverty: A Decided Core Factor in Poor Achievement in School

It should be no surprise that at a recent Workforce Readiness Forum, it was shown that the main cause for variations among high schools' PSAE scores was "Low Income". That is to say there is a high correlation between those individuals who took the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) and scored poorly and those from "Low Income" homes.

Equally of no surprise is a 2004 Report on Illinois Poverty: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Illinois Teens, which stated: "The teenage years are an important time of transition. Access to educational opportunity, adequate health care, stable housing, and positive relations with adults can assist teens in make healthy life choices. Poverty and vulnerability to risk factors during these critical years combine with limited supports can jeopardize a teen's future stability and success."

While there is a plethora of studies and statistics — both local and nationally — that clearly show that young people living in poverty tend to due progressively poorly in school, there has been little progress made in dealing with the matter. However with the advent of Ruby K. Payne's book Payne's book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty a great deal of light has been shed on understanding, providing for, dealing with the tenets of poverty.

In the introduction to Payne's book she states some key points to remember:

• "Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries."
• "Economic class is a continuous line, not a clear-cut distinction."
• "Generational poverty and situational poverty are different."
• "This work is based on patterns. All patterns have expectations."
• "An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of the class in which he/she was raised."
• "School and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden rules of middle class."
• "For our students to be successful, we must understand their hidden rule and teach them the rules that will make them successful at school and at work."
• "We can neither excuse students nor scold them for not knowing; as educators e must teacher them and provide support, insistence and expectations."
• "To move from poverty to middle class or middle class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships for achievement (at least for some period of time)."
• "Two things that help one move out of poverty are education and relationship."
• "Four reasons one leaves poverty are: It's too painful to stay, a vision or goal, a key relationship, or a special talent or skill."

Many educators in our area have read the book and others have been fortunate to have heard Dr. Pane lecture. Those who have not would be well advised to obtain the book and /or attend workshops presented by trained Payne presenters. As this work gains in popularity, hearing Dr. Pane lectures will be more difficult.

If we want them to be successful in school and later on in life there needs to be a continual focus on understanding and providing support for young people who are caught up in the "poverty cycle".

Do you Know?

• Public Act 93-0910 (effective January 1, 2005) requires all schools to have an automated external defibrillator in all physical fitness facilities.
• Public Act 93-857 requires that the Prairie State Achievement Examination be taken as a condition of graduation.
• Public Act 93-0679 allows individual districts to choose to keep or disband their local Professional Development Committees.
• Public Act 93-0677 requires all new employees of a school district to submit fingerprint images in order to allow a criminal history records check.
• Public Act 93-0858 increases the compulsory age attendance from 16 to 17 years of age.
• HR 0711, adopted by voice vote, encourages "Take Your Kid to Work Day" to occur during the summer months or during school vacation to prevent any unnecessary absence from normal quality education.

Baldwin Parent Night

The Regional Office of Education, Baldwin Middle School and the Baldwin PTA are co sponsoring a Parent Institute at Baldwin Intermediate School on November 18, 2004. Modeled after Quincy Conference, this Institute will have an area of displays where representatives from local agencies who provide services for students and their families will be present to hand out information. Several speakers will be on hand with sessions ranging from "Love and Logic", "helping your ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficient Disorder) student", "True Colors: a personality profile to help you appreciate the differences in people, Raising your student's self esteem, and many other sessions. The Baldwin PTA will provide open gym night for the students and a free soup supper will be served. Door prizes will also be awarded. The evening begins at 5:00 with supper and the display areas open. Speakers will begin at 6:00. The evening will end at 8:00. Reservations are requested for this free, information packed evening by calling Laurie at the Regional Office of Education at (217) 277-2080.