The U.S. Census Bureau uses a set of income thresholds to determine if a household is in poverty or not. If the income for a household is below the threshold depending on the number of people living in it, then they are considered to be living in poverty.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, One in 8 households experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. An estimated 44.2 million Americans lived in these households.

Experiencing food insecurity during the developmental years of childhood may lead to struggles in school.

A 2010 study on the effects of food insecurity on children's development found that children who grew up in families that experienced food insecurity had higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems than their food secure counter parts.

This isn't to say that those living in poverty are guaranteed to have behavior issues in school, but the absence of nutritional meals throughout important development years may lead to these issues later on.

Things that help increase a child's school readiness are reading with an adult, playing with toys that promote color and shape recognition, and simply listening to conversation. High school readiness helps increase a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Experiencing poverty may impact a child's school readiness. "Fewer than half (48%) of children [experiencing poverty] are ready for school at 5 years of age as compared with 75% of children from moderate- or high-income households" (American Academy of Pediatrics).

Children living in poverty may not get as much time with their grown ups due to their adults working multiple jobs, or possibly experiencing other family stressors. This interaction at a young age helps promote school readiness, and prepares children for a strong academic career.

The World Health Organization found that social inequalities are associated with increased risk of many common mental disorders. The stress that poverty can bring can lead to mental health issues, due to the many challenges that are associated with it.

• Approx. 37.9 million Americans, or just under 12%, now live in poverty

• Approximately one in six kids live in families with incomes below the official poverty line

In our classrooms, if we have a class of 20 kids, that would be that about 3-4 of our students live in a family experiencing poverty.

Poverty affects people of every race, age, gender, etc.

According to the 2022 Census Bureau Report on Poverty, here is how the percentage of poverty is broken down among different ethnic groups.

(Based on the entire population of each group)

•White population in poverty – 8.2%

•Hispanic population in poverty – 17%

•Black population in poverty – 19.5%

•Asian population in poverty – 8.1%

According to the Congressional Research Service, about 30 million children eat a free and reduced lunch at school everyday (Congressional Research Service 7). For many of these children, this meal may be the only nutritional meal they get everyday. During summer break, these kids may not have access to a nutritional meal.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). School Readiness. Publications.aap.org. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/2/e20191766/38558/School-Readiness  

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Effects of poverty, hunger and homelessness on children and Youth. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status/poverty-hunger-homelessness-children  

Belsky DW, Moffitt TE, Arseneault L, Melchior M, Caspi A. Context and sequelae of food insecurity in children's development. Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Oct 1;172(7):809-18. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwq201. Epub 2010 Aug 17. PMID: 20716700; PMCID: PMC2984258. 

Bureau, U. C. (2023, June 15). How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html  

Congressional Research Service. (2019, February 11). School Meals Programs and Other USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R43783.pdf  

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, December 4). Poverty. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/poverty  

Hunger & Poverty in America. Food Research & Action Center. (2023, October 25). https://frac.org/hunger-poverty-america  

Low-income communities: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Communities | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/low-income  

Shrider, E. A., & Creamer, J. (2023, September 12). Poverty in the United States: 2022. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-280.html#:~:text=Highlights-,Official%20Poverty%20Measure,37.9%20million%20people%20in%20poverty.  

US Department of Education. (2019). Trends in high school dropout and completion rates in the United States ... Compendium Report. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019117.pdf