Sizing Up Our Schools
Socioeconomic Factors of Education
CATHY BONNSTETTER
Here in the Mountain State , at the end of the school day , more children than ever are stepping off the school bus and into chaos or poverty at home that impacts their learning . In fact , in a hypothetical classroom of 30 West Virginia children , five would have been born exposed to drugs , seven would live in poverty and 18 would be insured by Medicaid . One of the 30 would be uninsured . Ten of these children would live in a home where their parents lack secure employment , according to 2022 West Virginia KIDS COUNT survey data . State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt says the county schools are where the poverty buck stops .
“ In many of our communities , the schools are the last pillar of stability because so many areas have struggled with the opioid crisis and poverty for years ,” Blatt says . “ No one understands the impact of socioeconomic disparities like our educators who see it every day in our classrooms .”
According to West Virginia Department of Education ( WVDE ) statistics , 51.3 % of the state ’ s children are eco - nomically disadvantaged ; 6,142 of the 250,049 enrolled students across the state are in foster care and 13,530 are homeless . For many of these children , school is where the building blocks of well-being must be found .
Post COVID-19 pandemic , the state ’ s leaders and educators are peeling away at the layers of a complex mission with focused initiatives and passionate resolve to make life better for children in the Mountain State .
“ The West Virginia Department of Education and our counties make sure children are fed and that their basic needs are met so teaching can occur ,” Blatt says .
The initiatives are rooted in statistical data , much of which is provided by the annual WV KIDS COUNT survey .
“ Knowledge is power ,” says Tricia Kingery , WV KIDS COUNT executive director . “ KIDS COUNT data launches conversations on the most pressing issues facing children and families across the state and creates opportunities to prioritize the needs of children in policy and investment decisions .”
52
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE