In recent days, Mayor Gray has made it clear that education will be a focus of his administration. Gray nominated Kaya Henderson for the permanent post of Schools Chancellor, and he indicated that a significant portion of the city’s recent revenue increase will be directed to public education.
However, the progress Mayor Gray wants to make on improving educational outcomes could be undermined by cuts in recent years to a number of programs that support low-income families, according to new findings on the impacts of poverty on student success. As Mayor Gray works to put the finishing touches on his budget proposal, it’s important to remember that direct investments in schools need to be backed up by services that promote family stability.
Over the past three years, DC leaders have approved cuts in cash assistance for families and for grandparents raising grandchildren, in services for homeless families, and in emergency assistance for families behind on rent or utilities, among others. And recently as last week, the Mayor’s Budget Director, Eric Goulet, indicated that the Mayor’s forthcoming budget is likely to include further cuts to human services. These cuts have been made in spite of the fact that one in three DC children lives in poverty and over 70% of DC public school students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.
The research is quite clear that poverty adversely affects educational achievement. A recent study emphatically asserts that “income plays a causal role in boosting younger children’s achievement.” The authors conclude that “for some outcomes later in life, particularly those related to achievement skills and cognitive development, poverty early in a child’s life may be especially harmful.” Other studies have shown that poor children are two times more likely to repeat a grade, be expelled from school, or drop out of school.
While the Gray Administration should set high achievement standards, the fact is it is difficult to expect children dealing with the adverse effects of extreme poverty at home to come to school prepared to achieve the same results as children who do not face these issues.
Public education is critical to the District’s future success and the investments that have been made in it over the past decade are making our city a better place to live. The city’s increase in population and school enrollment are signs that the District’s efforts are paying off. In order to keep this momentum going, it is critical that Mayor Gray’s budget reflects the fact that educational success and poverty reduction go hand-in-hand. Taking a balanced approach to the budget — one that protects investments in education and in families — is the best recipe for educational success in the District.
