A recent study by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (published in the Sept. 21 Monroe Times) served as a reminder that children are suffering, too, in these economic hard times.
The WCIJ's report showed that nearly 4 in 10 (37.6 percent) Wisconsin elementary students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches during the 2008-09 school year. The percentage of low-income elementary students has climbed each year in the past decade. It more than doubled in 47 of 411 public school districts.
The study also pointed out that the problem isn't just an urban one. Since 2000, more than 90 percent of growth in low-income elementary students happened outside of Milwaukee, the study found. A look at the local numbers shows it's happening here, too.
While local school district percentages of low-income students remain below the state average, they're growing at a disconcerting rate. In Monroe, 35.8 percent of elementary students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches last school year. That's up nearly 2 percentage points from two years ago, and up from 23.2 percent in 2000. In the Black Hawk school district, 34.8 percent of students were eligible last year, and in Juda it was 30.2 percent.
Children everywhere are being affected by the current recession and an economy that has seen the income gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" widen at an unacceptable pace in the past decade.
This growing problem has an impact on our schools.
"Children who come from impoverished backgrounds, especially if they become poor because their parents are losing their jobs ... that creates more stress on a family, more dysfunction in a family," said state school superintendent Tony Evers. "Sometimes in these economic times the schools are the best refuges ... it's one of the places where we need to make sure we nurture kids well when their families are hurt by job loss."
That can translate into extra attention, and additional resources, being devoted to help low-income students succeed in the classroom. The percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches is only likely to rise in the near future. Unfortunately, funding for schools isn't likely to be rising along with it.
Wisconsin schools are facing a 3 percent overall cut in general state aid as a result of the latest biennial budget. Some of the rural districts being impacted most by the rise in the low-income student population will be impacted even more. As the Times reported on Aug. 8, districts like Black Hawk ($332,000) and Darlington ($266,000) will be receiving significantly less money in state aid annually as a result of the state budget.
"This puts a burden on local school districts," Black Hawk Superintendent Charles McNulty told the Times.
Addressing the needs of students arriving at school from a home facing financial hardships must be a priority - for lawmakers, school boards, teachers and community groups. The WCIJ's study should serve as a rallying cry.
The WCIJ's report showed that nearly 4 in 10 (37.6 percent) Wisconsin elementary students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches during the 2008-09 school year. The percentage of low-income elementary students has climbed each year in the past decade. It more than doubled in 47 of 411 public school districts.
The study also pointed out that the problem isn't just an urban one. Since 2000, more than 90 percent of growth in low-income elementary students happened outside of Milwaukee, the study found. A look at the local numbers shows it's happening here, too.
While local school district percentages of low-income students remain below the state average, they're growing at a disconcerting rate. In Monroe, 35.8 percent of elementary students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches last school year. That's up nearly 2 percentage points from two years ago, and up from 23.2 percent in 2000. In the Black Hawk school district, 34.8 percent of students were eligible last year, and in Juda it was 30.2 percent.
Children everywhere are being affected by the current recession and an economy that has seen the income gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" widen at an unacceptable pace in the past decade.
This growing problem has an impact on our schools.
"Children who come from impoverished backgrounds, especially if they become poor because their parents are losing their jobs ... that creates more stress on a family, more dysfunction in a family," said state school superintendent Tony Evers. "Sometimes in these economic times the schools are the best refuges ... it's one of the places where we need to make sure we nurture kids well when their families are hurt by job loss."
That can translate into extra attention, and additional resources, being devoted to help low-income students succeed in the classroom. The percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches is only likely to rise in the near future. Unfortunately, funding for schools isn't likely to be rising along with it.
Wisconsin schools are facing a 3 percent overall cut in general state aid as a result of the latest biennial budget. Some of the rural districts being impacted most by the rise in the low-income student population will be impacted even more. As the Times reported on Aug. 8, districts like Black Hawk ($332,000) and Darlington ($266,000) will be receiving significantly less money in state aid annually as a result of the state budget.
"This puts a burden on local school districts," Black Hawk Superintendent Charles McNulty told the Times.
Addressing the needs of students arriving at school from a home facing financial hardships must be a priority - for lawmakers, school boards, teachers and community groups. The WCIJ's study should serve as a rallying cry.
