In the school

Schools can, and should, do more to support low-income students. While teachers can create classrooms that are safe for students from all walks of life, a school that is safe and welcoming for students living in poverty will have a far greater impact. Schools have more resources (financial and physical) than a single classroom teacher, so advocating for supports that will elevate the experience of students in poverty is essential to being an anti-poverty ally on a larger scale.

Suggestions for improving the school community for low-income students and families:

• Drop-in space for parents

• Free, family events to foster positive relationships with the school

• Free after-school programs such as cooking, sports, craft courses and mentorship programs

Low-income students may also have physical and emotional needs that are not able to be fully met outside of school. Suggestions for school-based programs to advocate for that address these inequities include:

• Having a school nurse to assist families with health concerns

• More school counsellors for emotional and behavioural support

• A quiet space for students to take a break

• A school-wide meal program that does not stigmatize or single out low-income students

Learning needs of students in poverty are different as well. Suggestions for reducing the learning gap between higher-income students and lower-income students include:

• A homework club to help reduce learning gaps (or a no homework policy)

• Cultural support to help create culturally-meaningful education for all students

• More funding for field trips and adjustments to the subsidy process to make it more accessible and less shameful for low-income families