Lifelong Effects of Poverty

Abstract

Poverty in the United States impacts children in public schools. In reviewing the literature on poverty, several themes emerged. The themes included: the struggle to define poverty in the United States, characteristics of families in poverty, the impact of poverty on school and lifelong effects of poverty on children. Additionally, a personal story of a public school administrator who grew up in poverty is shared. This includes how the impact of that experience still impacts the way she thinks about poverty and interacts with families from poverty.