Poverty and Homelessness Factors: Education

Those with higher degrees of education are less likely to be in poverty – but access to education is not simple or easy. “Children from low-income families may have 600 fewer words in their vocabulary by age 3, a gap that grows to as many as 4,000 words by age 7. These word gaps directly affect literacy levels and reading achievement. There is substantial evidence that children who do not read at grade level by 7 or 8 years of age are much more likely to struggle academically. Both high school graduation rates and participation in postsecondary education opportunities are correlated with early literacy levels. Hence, attention to and investments in early childhood education are generally viewed as an important way to reduce disparities in education.” However, given that public school funding is often tied to community income levels the result is, once again, a stunning lack of resources for children who grow up in low-income communities?

Education is a necessity priced as a luxury. With many low-income schools being stripped of electives and up-to-date textbooks, how can we expect the next generation to thrive? With so many Americans taking out loans for higher education, trapping them in debt, how can their children break the cycle??

These are important questions Imagine LA works hard to answer. That’s why 99% of our school-aged children are enrolled in school and, if applicable, are on a postsecondary pathway.100% of our families with children are also offered developmental assessment & access to appropriate services.??

Learn more about our Economic Mobility Pathways at https://www.imaginela.org/blog/emp

To see the stats on education and poverty, visit, https://poverty.ucdavis.edu/faq/how-does-level-education-relate-poverty