It has been said many times that a child is hungry or sick will struggle to learn and succeed in school. This is true for children who fall into the achievement gap as well.

Low-income and minority students are more likely to struggle with hunger and incomplete nutrition. Children who are hungry will struggle to concentrate in class. Also they will be more likely to be sick or slowed down developmentally because a child’s body depends on adequate nutrition to function and grow.

These children constantly play catch up when it comes to their health and development. Low-income and minority children are more likely to be born with low-birth weights, which can lead to learning disabilities and continuing health problems.

Low-income families are more likely to live in housing that has both lead and mercury in the environment. Studies have shown that lead can contribute to violence, shorter attention spans, and decreased tested IQ scores in children.

Without the necessary care for these problems, a child will have a harder time succeeding in school.

Resource: “Parsing the Achievement Gap II”