When school comes home: How low-income families are adapting to distance learning

School campus closures due to COVID-19 forced transition to remote learning in March 2020, which continues in Fall 2020. Remote learning measures presents multiple challenges for low-income, minority families, and these families have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis. We sought to understand the challenges they faced, including the lack of Internet access and devices, digital skills and lack of appropriate learning space at home.

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Family Conditions and the Accessibility of Online Education: The Digital Divide and Mediating Factors

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158590 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8590

Author(s):

Jiafeng Gu

Keyword(s):

Online Education ◽

Digital Divide ◽

Low Income ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Internet Access ◽

Broadband Internet ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

This study is an exploration of the digital divide between urban and rural areas, and it was conducted to assess the impact of the minimum living guarantee system on online education in China. The results of the research showed that 83.38% of students in low-income families have been able to participate in online education at home during the pandemic, while 16.62% of students in low-income families have been unable to do so. The absence of computers, smartphones, and broadband Internet access in low-income households reduces the likelihood of children being able to participate in online education at home. In terms of accessing online education at home, students from urban areas have obvious advantages over those from rural ones, and students from minimum living guarantee families have obvious advantages over those from marginal minimum living guarantee ones. This study also showed that the presence of online education-related amenities, including computers, smartphones, and Internet access, mediates the relationship between the subsistence allowance system, Hukou, and accessibility of online education. To address this issue, this paper includes suggestions for bridging the digital divide in online education.

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The perceptions of female breadwinner parents regarding their children’s distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

Education and Information Technologies ◽

10.1007/s10639-021-10812-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hibah Khalid Aladsani

Keyword(s):

Distance Learning ◽

Focus Group ◽

Low Income ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Technological Support ◽

Educationally Disadvantaged ◽

Face To Face Learning ◽

Low Income Families

AbstractCovid-19 has affected the everyday educational lives of students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Parents who are living in low-income and disadvantaged communities are probably more likely than others to have been affected by the pandemic in relation to their children’s distance learning. This study focused on the perceptions, predictions, and suggestions of female breadwinner parents from low-income families regarding their children’s distance learning. Data were collected from 12 mothers who participated in a three-stage focus group study. The data from the focus group discussions were thematically analyzed into three categories: (1) financial issues, (2) social and cultural issues, and (3) educational issues. Additionally, the findings presented the breadwinners’ general and technological reasons for their predictions for enhancing education in the future if schools return to face-to-face learning or pursue a blended learning approach. The breadwinners suggested three approaches to teaching and learning for the following academic year. The findings of this study may be useful in the development of educational policies and training programs to provide essential social and technological support to low-income families to address their needs in the online learning environment and to improve digital equity for low-income families who are likely to be educationally disadvantaged.

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Medicaid, Low-Income Families, and Reimbursement

Pediatric News ◽

10.1016/s0031-398x(06)71583-1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (12) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

BRYAN FINE

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Low Income Families

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Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000210 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (5-6) ◽

pp. 244-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. Karp ◽

Gary Wong ◽

Marguerite Orsi

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Energy Content ◽

Food Selection ◽

The United States ◽

United States Department ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Caloric Density ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

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