Poverty Is NOT a Learning Disability

Equalizing Opportunities for Low SES Students

Tish Howard, Sandy Grogan Dresser, Dennis R. Dunklee, Lizette Y. Howard, Sandy G. Dresser, Dennis R. Dunklee

• Publisher: Corwin
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781412969048
• eBook ISBN: 9781452273310
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education Administration

"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!

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• About the Authors
• Dedication
• Introduction
• 1. The Changing Realities of America’s Public Education: Foundational Facts and Implications
• 2. The Unfortunate Link Between Low Socioeconomic Status and Learning Disabilities
• 3. Teaching Strategies and Techniques Proven to Work With Low SES Children
• 4. The Importance of Strong School-Home Relationships in Educating Low SES Children
• 5. How Strong School-Business Relationships Can Benefit Low SES Students
• 6. The Role Networking Can Play in the Effective Education of Low SES Students
• 7. Managing Change Successfully
• 8. Selecting the Right People
• 9. Identifying the Core and Individual Competencies That Promote the Most Successful Learning Environment
• 10. Identifying Expectations and Managing Performance
• 11. A Proven Approach to Improving Educational Opportunities for Low SES Children
• 12. Summary and Conclusions
• References