Poverty's Impact on the Academic Achievement of Students within Eastern Kentucky School Districts
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Elementary Education
2nd Grade Level at Time of Presentation
*Select One*
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
KY House District #
52
KY Senate District #
16
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Ginni Fair
Department
College of Education
Abstract
Poverty is a persistent cycle that plagues the United States, but specifically Eastern Kentucky. This is especially evident within the school districts there. The overall purpose of this poster is to help highlight the magnitude of poverty within Eastern Kentucky and its impact on the academic success of the students. When analyzing data from the Kentucky School Report Card from the 2016-2017 school year, twenty-four counties were identified as having at least 75% of the student population within the district qualifying for free & reduced lunch. After the identification of those twenty-four counties, the elementary K-Prep Proficiency and Distinguished scores for both Math and Reading for the district were collected. Then each school district was contacted by phone and asked a set of questions:
- What are some of the needs of students from low-SES families look like within your school district?
- Are there any academic supports in place to intervene for challenges that may arise in the classroom from their low-SES?
- If you had more financial aid or resources, what would you like to have implemented in your school district for these students?
- Have you tried something, and it was effective or not effective for this group of students overall?
- Do you believe that there is a direct connection between socioeconomic status and academic achievement in your school district? Why or why not?
After receiving answers from an individual within the district, the answers to the questions were analyzed for trends. The data collected was utilized to formulate the most effective interventions and approaches that schools should use to allow their students to be successful academically. This poster also highlights what school districts said they would do if they had the resources and financial aid necessary.
Poverty's Impact on the Academic Achievement of Students within Eastern Kentucky School Districts
Poverty is a persistent cycle that plagues the United States, but specifically Eastern Kentucky. This is especially evident within the school districts there. The overall purpose of this poster is to help highlight the magnitude of poverty within Eastern Kentucky and its impact on the academic success of the students. When analyzing data from the Kentucky School Report Card from the 2016-2017 school year, twenty-four counties were identified as having at least 75% of the student population within the district qualifying for free & reduced lunch. After the identification of those twenty-four counties, the elementary K-Prep Proficiency and Distinguished scores for both Math and Reading for the district were collected. Then each school district was contacted by phone and asked a set of questions:
- What are some of the needs of students from low-SES families look like within your school district?
- Are there any academic supports in place to intervene for challenges that may arise in the classroom from their low-SES?
- If you had more financial aid or resources, what would you like to have implemented in your school district for these students?
- Have you tried something, and it was effective or not effective for this group of students overall?
- Do you believe that there is a direct connection between socioeconomic status and academic achievement in your school district? Why or why not?
After receiving answers from an individual within the district, the answers to the questions were analyzed for trends. The data collected was utilized to formulate the most effective interventions and approaches that schools should use to allow their students to be successful academically. This poster also highlights what school districts said they would do if they had the resources and financial aid necessary.