More programs for poor students in Wisconsin

from the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen

The programs that schools give to poor students are increasing in the US. From lunches to breakfasts to supplies. this article profiles a program in Wisconsin. - Kale

By TERRI PEDERSON

Beaver Dam Unified School District students who qualify for free and reduced lunches during the school year will also qualify for free school supplies this year.

"We know that the number of people living in poverty and low-income conditions has doubled over the last eight years in the district according to federal guidelines," BDUSD Superintendent Don Childs said. "We're approaching a 40 percent poverty rate for families with school-age children."

At the elementary school level, counting first- through fifth-graders, there are 447 students who qualify for free and reduced lunches. There are 250 pupils at Beaver Dam Middle School and 270 at Beaver Dam High School.

"At the middle school, we're approaching 40 percent poverty," Childs said. "The high school has doubled from 14 percent to almost 30 percent over the last couple of years."

Parents of students participating in the free and reduced lunch programs fill out a form provided by the school district at the beginning of the year. The size and income level for families are used to determine if students qualify for free or reduced lunch prices.

A family of two would have to make less than $18,200 to qualify for a free lunch or $25,900 to qualify for a reduced lunch.

For each additional family member, the yearly income levels goes up $4,680 for free lunches and $6,600 for reduced lunches.

The form also lists the income level as monthly, bi-weekly and weekly.

Childs said there are many reasons for the higher levels of students being eligible for the program including: a low average wage per job in the county and a turnover in the community where families with lower incomes have moved into the area.

The need in the district led Childs to contact Clothes For Kids about a campaign to provide school supplies for every child who qualifies for free or reduced lunches. Clothes For Kids for the past several years has provided school supplies for needy families.

Most of the students in the district who qualify for the program are already known by the school district because they filled out the forms last year. Those families will be getting a letter that they will need to bring in to pick up the school supplies. Others, such as kindergartners and new students to the district, will have to fill out a form as soon as possible to qualify for the program.

The district will have people available to help fill out the forms during the registration or screening process for new students.

The district has already sent out letters to local service organizations and the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce will be contacting its members to help out in buying the school supplies, Childs said. Private citizens are also welcomed to help.

Link to full article. May expire in future.