Poverty Is NOT a Learning Disability
Equalizing Opportunities for Low SES Students
- Tish Howard - Washington Mill Elementary School
- Sandy Grogan Dresser - SGD Consulting
- Dennis R. Dunklee - Emeritus, George Mason University, Virginia, USA
"This book is the perfect guide for those administrators and teachers who are truly interested in equalizing educational opportunities at all levels."
—Rebecca S. Compton, Professor of Elementary Education
East Central University
Proven strategies for increasing the academic performance of students with low school-readiness skills!
Children of low socioeconomic status often enter school with low school-readiness skills, leading them to be misidentified as learning disabled. Educators in Grades K–12 can allocate resources for special education services more effectively and meet the needs of low SES students by preventing students from being placed in the wrong program and by providing readiness supports.
Offering an in-depth look at schools that have realized effective results in remarkable time frames, the authors challenge educators and parents to consider how low expectations can affect student achievement—and emphasize optimism as a necessary tenet of schools' day-to-day teaching/learning programs and school-community relationships. This resource provides:
- Training resources for teaching low SES students
- Assessment tools for identifying learning needs
- Strategies for building relationships of trust and collaboration throughout the school community
- Data charts that illustrate the increase in student achievement from schoolwide initiatives
- A bibliography and glossary of pertinent research and terminology
With these strategies and tools, schools can meet the developmental and environmental needs of their most vulnerable students and watch student achievement and confidence soar!
"This book is more than well-researched theory. This is a lifelong study in practical experience that proves once again that the value of building relationships within a community is vital to success."
"An excellent book. This book embodies a powerful message that covers all the necessary steps to help transform individual mind-sets regarding poverty and learning disabilities.”
"The issues with special education are rarely addressed because many educators themselves do not feel qualified to tackle the concerns. This book allows the reader to see that there is a need to reform special education and to give a hard look at what we are doing and to begin making a change not only for special education, but for all students, so that as educators we lead them on the road to success."
"This book is the perfect guide for those administrators and teachers who are truly interested in equalizing educational opportunities at all levels."
