Have you heard about SB 132 out of the Tennessee Senate by State Senator Campfield? Under this bill, children who do not "maintain satisfactory academic progress" and are of families receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families-- i.e. Welfare), those families will receive a 30% reduction in the amount of money received each month. Children who drop out or do not maintain passing grades and test scores in secondary schools will therefore cause their family to lose money until they rectify the situation in the classroom (Tennessee Senate, 2013).
Let us think about this for a moment. Research has concluded that students struggling in poverty situations are more likely to perform poorly in the classroom. Qualifying for the national reduced or free lunch program is an indicator of poverty which also signifies TANF eligibility and labels a student as "at-risk" within the school system by state law. Therefore, students whose families receive TANF have already been identified as being "at-risk" of low performance, dropping out, and needing extra assistance. For Communities In Schools, the leading national drop out prevention program in schools across the country (for which I intern), being a recipient of free or reduced lunch, and therefore also the students benefiting from Welfare, are eligible for case management services in order to create a protective barrier against the risk factors that are working against this student. All this to say, these kids are already expected to struggle in school.
According to this Tennessee Senator, the solution to poor kids failing at school: increase the poverty.
Let me also note that Tennessee only disperses up to $189/month per TANF family, far less monthly payments than many other states. A 30% reduction in payment brings that already low assistance down to a mere $132.30.
I hope by now you are seeing the glaring problem here with this bill proposed by Campfield. While I agree that academic performance and drop out needs the attention of the nation: lawmakers, funders, educators, districts; discriminating against children in poverty and putting these families at increased risk is far from the solution. It is a myth that only the economically disadvantaged struggle in school, so why are only these families targeted by this legislation?
Children in poverty are also at an increased risk for abuse and neglect. By increasing the stress and crisis experienced by families, the state is increasing the risk of domestic violence (which includes child abuse) (CDC, 2012). Children also struggle with developing a sense of self and confidence, this system will undermine these efforts and instead has the potential to fill children with shame and guilt. A 12 year old failing mathematics is to blame for the electricity being turned off, a 15 year old failing biology is the reason why siblings do not have enough food to eat. How is this the solution to poor academics?
Tennessee has 1,784 schools, of which 58.6% are economically disadvantaged and 55.4% are Title 1 (poor academic outcomes). The high school drop out rate in the state is between 4.3 - 6.9% while the 2012 attendance rate was 93.5%. At grades K-8, the 2012 attendance rate was 95.5% with a 98.4% grade promotion rate (Tennessee Dept. of Education, 2012). Clearly over the majority of schools struggle with poverty and poor academics, but children are coming to school and being passed on to the next grades. After one year working at a severely economically disadvantaged high school with students in crisis on the brink of giving up-- the education system needs an overhaul. However increasing the poverty and crisis of families when a child does not perform is counter-intuitive and counterproductive.
Campfield stated in an interview that he just expects kids can do their ABC's and 1-2-3's, yet this bill targets secondary education where the course work becomes more challenging than a PBS after-school special. Often times, the course work becomes more challenging than what parents with low education attainment themselves are able to assist with after school. These families need help, they need real help. This bill feeds into the false yet sweeping stereotype that adults on welfare are bottom feeders with no motivation and drug habits. This bill targets the poorest families of our nation and penalizes them for outcomes that are highly associated with the situation they are in in the first place. This bill seeks to punish the poor while letting the failing children of higher income brackets continue without harsh financial repercussion. Perhaps you believe that since these families are receiving a "government hand out" the least that can be expected is a stellar report card? All of our children in public school receive a "government hand out": their government, tax dollar paid, free education. Yet all of the children in Tennessee are not facing increased stressful consequences when they take their first exam next fall. Never has education been a qualifying or disqualifying factor for health and human service benefits from the government, the two should not begin a relationship now.
Campfield and the Tennessee Senate need to consult the literature and the research on poverty, education, abuse, and child welfare. The National Association of Social Workers of Tennessee needs to rise up to protect these children and families. This bill has already passed through several committees and has a scary, yet real chance of being enacted this coming July. While creating great publicity and an increased awareness of a failing academic system, this publicity stunt (if passed) will come with serious detriments to the people of Tennessee who already live in a system of oppression, social injustice, and discrimination.
Where is the common sense, compassion, and research informed policy decisions? If enacted, this bill will be another example of how "No Child Left Behind" is a false promise.
References for your futher reading:
TN SB 132: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/108/Bill/SB0132.pdf
Poverty and Education Outcomes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528798/
Risk Factors of Child Maltreatment: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childmaltreatment/riskprotectivefactors.html
TN Education Stats: http://edu.reportcard.state.tn.us/pls/apex/f?p=200:50:3245095726394371::NO
