State education officials want to make sure schools are prepared to deal with rising poverty rates among students and their families.
As the troubled economy claims more jobs in Wisconsin, Mary Maronek with the Department of Public Instruction says schools could see an increase in the number of families dealing with poverty. For many, she says this may be the first time they find themselves in a difficult situation.
Maronek says DPI has prepared a resource list for public schools across the state that offers advice and possible strategies for helping struggling families. She says creating programs such as clothing and food drives could help them get through a rough patch.
Maronek says they also want to make sure schools can point families towards online resources that can help them, such as legal advice or community education programs.