Children's Health

What It Is

There is a growing base of research indicating that children’s health issues are tied to educational achievement. Physical and mental health affect how well children—especially children living in poverty—learn. According to the Economic Policy Institute, children from low-income households generally have poorer vision, poorer oral hygiene, poorer nutrition, higher incidences of asthma and lead poisoning, and more exposure to smoke than other children. They also have less access to health care, so these children often miss school for minor problems that might be treated in other children right away. Poor vision and dental problems often result in discomfort that can affect children’s concentration in the classroom. They also receive inadequate treatment compared to other children with the same problems, such as asthma or diabetes.

Why It Matters

Successful learning requires a child who is healthy, fully engaged, and motivated. Given the link between economic status and health, this means that closing the achievement gap will take more than just focusing on academics. We must address the health issues of all children if we are serious about eliminating the gap.

What We Do

Because much of SEDL’s work focuses on children in poverty, our work often connects to issues related to children’s health. SEDL works indirectly to help inform policymakers, researchers, and the public on such issues. We also help researchers learn how to better disseminate their findings and how to have others use those findings.