ABSTRACT
Children who live in poverty are more likely than others to experience educational difficulties that place them at risk for school failure. Recognizing this relationship between poverty and academic performance, the federal government has passed several important pieces of legislation designed to address the educational needs of poor students. Through an analysis of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994, this chapter traces the evolution and impact of federal policies implemented to improve the academic performance of students placed at risk. In so doing, it examines both the challenges and the opportunities inherent in federal support to schools serving poor and at-risk youths.
