Educational Leadership: Understanding How Poverty Impacts Education

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1 Educational Leadership: Understanding How Poverty Impacts Education Dr. Dana T. Bedden Superintendent of Schools University of Richmond - Downtown Take 30 Discussion Series February 18, 2016

2 WHY DOES EDUCATION MATTER TO THE ENTIRE CITY?

3 Key Facts About RPS: Student and Staff RPS serves approximately 24,000 PK-12 students (more students than in 2009) 40% of school age children in Richmond live in poverty 78% of RPS students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch 18% of RPS students qualify for Special Education 8% of RPS students are limited English proficient students Richmond Public Schools has: Approximately 3,855 full-time and part-time employees positions Largest functional component of the city Next largest is police with approximately 800 employees

4 Key Facts About RPS: Finances Approximately $350M overall budget/$270m general fund budget: a. 74.5% goes towards Instruction b. 9.5% goes towards Maintenance & Operations c. 5.7% goes towards Administration, Attendance & Health i. 2.6% for Administration ii. 3.1% for Attendance & Health d. 4.4% goes towards Technology e. 3.6% goes towards Transportation f. 2.2% goes towards Debt Service & Transfers (i.e. Charter School payment)

5 Key Facts About RPS Operations Operationally, RPS: Maintains 44 schools + 13 other buildings Maintains 4.75 million square feet of space Transports 20,716 students daily (41,432 rides per day) Operates 424 vehicles (16 surplus buses) 178 active buses 84 spare buses 163 Cars 11 Head Start Vehicles 4 Activity Buses Contract for 230 special education vehicles

6 What is POVERTY? ($24,250 for Family of 4) Poverty is the condition of people who lack adequate income and wealth. Absolute vs. Relative Poverty Absolute poverty is the absence of enough money to secure life s necessities enough food and a safe place to live. Relative poverty comparing the economic conditions of those at the bottom of society and the rest of society. According to this measure, the definition of poverty can vary. For example it would not be the same in India as the U.S.

7 Poverty is unevenly distributed in the U.S. Where people live, their race ethnicity, their sex, their age, and their marital status all effect their chances of being poor. The states with the highest level of poverty tend to be in the South and Southwest The poverty rate in rural areas of the U.S. is higher than the national average. Compared to urban Americans, the rural poor are less skilled and less educated. Jobs pay less than similar jobs in urban areas. Feminization of Poverty : divorce, births to single women, and the lower wages paid to women.

8 More than Numbers Health: stress, frustration = high blood pressure, ulcers, hostility, and crime. Poor are 3x as likely to die as children Black & Latino children are 2x as likely to die before the age of one. Long term health of adults Homicide is the #1 cause of death among black males Education: less informed, less likely to vote, 1:4 dropouts = poor Opportunities

9 Why are people poor? Human Capital Theory- Lack of education, job training, job skills or language proficiency. Racism, Discrimination and Segregation Family Type absence of 2 parent families Culture- assumes there are cultures that value education, self improvement and motivation more than others. Lack of Employment Opportunities and Low Wages Lack of Political Power

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11 WHY DOES EDUCATION MATTER TO THE ENTIRE CITY? POVERTY!!! EDUCATION IS THE GREATEST ANTI-POVERTY WEAPON EVER

12 TODAY S QUESTION? Does Education Help Reduce Poverty?

13 However, students from low-income households are more likely to struggle with engagement in school.

14 78% 18% 39% 12% 8% 10% RPS VA avg. RPS VA avg. RPS VA avg.

15 WHY DOES EDUCATION MATTER TO THE ENTIRE CITY? REDUCES CRIME REDUCES HEALTHCARE ISSUES & COST INCREASES PROPERTY VALUES SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR CITY & REGION ONE OF THE BIGGEST STICKS AGAINST POVERTY

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