Poverty’s Impact on the
Students of Watsonville
Mario Alvarez
Mason Wong
Carlos Anaya
Nancy Ramirez
Elizabeth Roblero
Gilberto Reyes
Wayne Jensen
Hector Rodriguez
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Poverty & Education –
Presentation Outline
Executive Summary
Needs Analysis
Solution Descriptions
Solution Choice
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Executive Summary
By: Hector Rodriguez
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Project Goal
To collect information and data about:
– Poverty’s impact on the students of
Watsonville
To describe a solution that will address:
– The effects that poverty has in student’s
performance in school
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Research Questions
How does poverty effect student’s
educational experience?
What can be done to alleviate the negative
effects of poverty?
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Responsibilities
Team Leaders
Hector Rodriguez
Wayne Jensen
Needs Statement
Mario Alvarez
Mason Wong
Carlos Anaya
Solutions Statement
Nancy Ramirez
Elizabeth Roblero
FallGilberto
2004 SemesterReyes
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Data Collection
 Surveyed 165 people
 48% were students
 34% were parents
 16% were social workers
 Surveys distributed to and collected from:
 Salud para la Gente
 Salvation Army
 CareerWorks and EDD
 Cabrillo College, Watsonville High School
 Talking to individual and businesses
 La Plazita Downtown Watsonville
 Farmer’s Market
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The Need:
How poverty affects people in
Watsonville
Mario Alvarez
Carlos Anaya
Mason Wong
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Background
Surveyed 165 people
Ethnicity / Language
– 89% Latino and Spanish as their first language
– 6% Asian
Gender
– 67% are female
– 33% are male
Information on Households
–
–
–
42% were members of families with low-incomes
64% had both parents employed
61% surveyed had parents with education level below high school
Family
– 48% were students
– 34% were parentsFall 2004 Semester - Digital Bridge
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What is the need (1)
Families need financial assistance
–
–
–
68% surveyed had over 5 people in the household
7% surveyed had over 10 people in the household
64% of the families had annual income below $25,000
Families need support services
– 45% of the households have 5 or more kids that are
school age
– 86% of the parents are interested in their children’s
studies
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What is the need (2)
Students need educational support
– 59% surveyed had parents with educational level
below high school
– 77% of students surveyed have problems with
homework
– 59% social service providers indicated that
schools don’t provide adequate materials
– 55% of students have language challenges and
health issues
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When is the need evident
Need is evident when students:
don’t have school materials
drop out of school
feel discriminated against because of their low economic
status
engage in gang activities
need help with homework and have no help available
– Parents don’t have enough education or English skills to help
families lack the “basics”
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– food, shelter, medical careAcademy
and money
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Why does this need occur (1)
This occurs because of:
Employment need:
– Students drop out of school to work and help to support
their family
– Parents may not have skills for better employment
opportunities
– Shortage of opportunities for livable-wage jobs to support
a family
– Many people live in the same household
few of them are employed
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Why does this need occur (2)
This occurs because of:
Youth center needs:
– Not providing enough programs and resources for
students
– There is a shortage of youth centers
Lack of school materials which prevent students
from school success
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Evidence of problem
Annual Income Level
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
$35,000 +
20%
30%
$25,000 - $35,000
17%
35%
$15,000 - $25,000
22%
40%
$0 - $15,000
42%
45%
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$0 - $15,000
$15,000 - $25,000
$25,000 - $35,000
Over $35,000
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Evidence of problem
Educational Level
30%
25%
5%
Primary
3%
10%
No School
0%
15%
Secondary
20%
20%
College Diploma
2%
35%
College
39%
High School
38%
40%
No School
Primary
Secondary
High School
College
College Diploma
0%
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Evidence of problem
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
85%
77%
74%
73%
64%
59%
54%
50%
45%
student
parent
worker
29%
17%
me
o
H
rk
wo
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in
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i
on
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What are the benefits of meeting the need
Benefits include:
Increase in high school graduation rates
Reduced need for public assistance
Enhanced self-esteem as a result of self-reliance
Families are prepared to send their children to college
Educated parents take more interest in their children’s
education
Parents become better financial role models for their
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Consequences of not meeting the need.
Consequences include:
Increasing number of students dropping-out of school
Rising gang membership
Lowering attendance in college
Maintaining poverty
Enabling discrimination
Increasing homelessness
Lowering possibilities of obtaining a well-paying job
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What do low-income families require
They require:
Resources
Increased learning and educational opportunities
More social interaction and emotional support
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The Solution
Gilberto Reyes
Nancy Ramirez
Elizabeth Roblero
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Three recommended solutions
Provide:
Resources to families
Social interaction and emotional support
Learning and educational opportunities
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Solution 1: Resources to Families
Financial support
 Food programs
 Health services
 Teen pregnancy programs
 Shelter programs
 Inform people about programs/ education
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Solution 1: Resources to Families
continued
Housing and utilities referral programs
 Low-income housing support

Utility payment programs

Help with low-income loans

Discount real estate services
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Sol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional Support
Field Trips
 Learning experiences
 Meeting new people
 Exposed to new environment
 Stress reduction
 Tension release
 Inspiration
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Sol. 2: Social Interaction and Emotional Support
continued
Employment programs that offer support
 Emotional support for young mothers
 Baby sitting services
 Sports outing to relive stress
 Money management support programs
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Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities
Guest speaker covering following topics:
 Supporting children’s needs in school
 How to overcome the poverty barrier
 Career employment opportunities
leadership training
management training
high-growth careers
educational requirements for high-paying careers
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Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities
continued
Role models in society and the
community
Family counseling and education
• Parental training
• Financial education
Handling credit
• Non-violent communication
• Stress reduction
• Gang Rehabilitation
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Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities
continued
Tutoring programs
•
•
•
•
Student encouragement and motivation
Skills improvement
Language improvement
Career counseling
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Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities
continued
Teach Tolerance
•
•
•
•
•
Cultural differences
Language differences
Physical challenges
Learning disabilities
Sexual diversity
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Solution 3: Learning & Educational Opportunities
continued
Provide Literacy Workshops
• Basic skills improvement
• Career counseling
• Science projects
• Environmental education
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Criteria for Selecting Solution (1)
Literacy Improvement
Communication between Parents & Students
Social Interaction
Learning Experience
Community Integration
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Criteria for Selecting Solution (2)
Help Youth Academically
Accessible Programs for the Community
Job Opportunities
Health Benefits
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Criteria Table
Provide
Resources
Learning &
Education
Opportunities
Social &
Emotional
Support
Literacy
improvement
X
XXX
XX
Communication
between
Parents &
Students
X
XX
XXX
Social
Interaction
X
XXX
XXX
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Criteria Table continued
Provide
Resources
Learning &
Education
Opportunities
Social &
Emotional
Support
Learning
Experience
XX
XXX
XXX
Community
Integration
XXX
XXX
XXX
XX
XXX
XXX
Help Youth
Academically
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Criteria Table continued
Provide
Resources
Learning &
Education
Opportunities
Social &
Emotional
Support
Accessible
Programs for
the Community
XXX
XXX
XXX
Job
Opportunities
XXX
XX
XX
XX
X
XX
Health Benefits
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THE SOLUTION WE CHOSE…
Social & Emotional
Support
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Goals of Solution
Bring parents & students together to promote
communication
Help students feel better at school
•
•
Reduce stress
Prevent students from dropping out of school
Provide a good learning experience
•
Encourage & motivate them
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Solution Outcomes
 Reduce the number of students dropping out of
school
•
Encourage students to go to college
 Increase social integration
 Improve student performance in school
 Prepare students for better jobs
 Increase self-esteem
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Solution Outcomes continued
Create educational interest in students
Keep kids off the street
Help kids have fun while they are learning
Encourage kids to be creative by working on
projects
Build self-esteem and confidence in themselves
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