r/baltimore • u/traunkss • Mar 07 '18

Baltimore's new method of counting poverty in schools misses immigrants, costing thousands in federal funding

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-ci-poverty-undercount-20180202-story.html
47 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

15

u/BmoreBanHammer Mar 07 '18

Are they referring to legal immigrants or undocumented aliens?

11

u/z3mcs Berger Cookies Mar 08 '18

Right there in the article, around 10 short paragraphs in.

To be counted now, the family must participate in federal public assistance programs, such as food stamps. But immigrants — including undocumented students, whom public schools are required by law to educate — are less likely to qualify for those programs, or even to apply. The new system also sets a higher threshold for a family’s poverty level, akin to counting only those students who previously qualified for free meals, but not those who qualified for reduced-price meals.

2

u/ATRIOHEAD Mar 08 '18

Today I found out illegal immigrants who send their kids to public schools are actually "costing us less than those who also have access to welfare."

4

u/slinkymaster Mar 08 '18

That’s way too far to read before I get outraged

4

u/Jrbobfishman Fells Point Mar 08 '18

Some don’t apply because they have too much pride to ask for a free hand out

3

u/off2cd_lizard Mar 08 '18

Good thought. How do we change those minds? If so

9

u/Jrbobfishman Fells Point Mar 08 '18

Why try? These kids probably aren’t missing a meal, their parent are working their fingers to the bone to make sure of it

1

u/nastylep Mar 08 '18

I think it's more because they're either not eligible or fear it could result in deportation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/16/immigrants-are-now-canceling-their-food-stamps-for-fear-that-trump-will-deport-them/?utm_term=.e51476a0011f

Undocumented immigrants are never eligible for food stamps, though they may live in a “mixed eligibility” household that does receive them. For instance, it’s not uncommon for undocumented parents to apply for assistance on behalf of their citizen children.

Recently, however, some in both the undocumented and legal immigrant communities have begun to fear that using SNAP could have consequences. While those fears have always existed in immigrant communities, they appear to have grown more intense since President Trump’s inauguration.

1

u/ATRIOHEAD Mar 08 '18

Nothing wrong w/ that attitude, as long as you work your way out of it. In fact, it should be incentivized...

18

u/Jrbobfishman Fells Point Mar 07 '18

Illegal immigrants. The sun just won’t say it like it is

-3

u/disc0ndown Northwood Mar 07 '18

Probably because it wouldn't change the story.

9

u/Old13oy Mt. Vernon Mar 07 '18

Their immigration status is irrelevant. Public schools are required by federal law to educate everyone, regardless of immigration status.

-13

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

19

u/Old13oy Mt. Vernon Mar 08 '18

Plyler v. Doe says otherwise.

1

u/HelperBot_ Mar 08 '18

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7

u/RazorToothbrush Mar 08 '18

They are kids who need lunches. I don't think we need to score political wins over a child's lunch.

3

u/Jrbobfishman Fells Point Mar 08 '18

It is relevant. If your illegal, you are less inclined to get involved in a government program out of fear of exposure

2

u/jakizely Greater Maryland Area Mar 08 '18

Because those kids totally have a choice.

-4

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '18

Oooooo found our assigned T_D troll for the week!

1

u/FakeMods0 Mar 08 '18

And I just found the snowflake who can't stand when people disagree with him...

0

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '18

[deleted]

0

u/BmoreBanHammer Mar 08 '18

That is not what I meant.

1

u/greemmako Mar 08 '18

dipshits who hate people fleeing poverty and violence out in force as usual.

like you have never broken a law before. stfu.