The impact of Common Core Standards on low-income students

Some people have never experienced poverty, but they have seen others experience financial troubles. More often than people would like to think, money issues can affect children at school. According to the Southern Education Foundation, data shows that 51 percent of the nation's public school children are a part of low-income families. Getting a good education for low-income students can be difficult because stress from home can impact their grades, and if kids have to move frequently as their parents find jobs, they can often struggle with school classes.

The implementation of the Common Core State Standards is one aspect of education that could help improve low-income students' success. With grade-specific Standards implemented in each state, kids who move are more likely to pick up where they left off with their previous school, StateImpact, a reporting project of NPR, noted.

Another benefit of CCSS for low-income students is that it's main goal is to prepare students for college and future careers. According to a study by ACT cited by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 95 percent of low-income students want to go to college, but only 59 percent of them actually enroll after high school. With the State Standards in place, schools begin preparing all students for college and career expectations right away by providing them with a challenging curriculum that matches up with college- and career-readiness Standards.

What teachers can do
Aside from receiving help from standardized-testing practices, low-income students can also use assistance from teachers. Worrying about a home situation can cause students to develop a negative outlook on life, and studies suggest that a sense of hopelessness for the future is associated with low socioeconomic status, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development noted.

A way in which teachers can counteract this mindset is by assuring students that they can achieve a higher education if they desire one. Providing students specific feedback on assignments with encouragement on their progress will help students focus in on areas where they need improvement and keep a positive attitude.

Another strategy for helping struggling students is to focus on vocabulary activities. ASCD points out that low-income situations often produce children with smaller vocabularies, which can cause kids to struggle academically. By working vocabulary rituals and games into class time, teachers can help improve overall student terminology.

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