The Weekly Connect 11/03/25

The 74: Survey: Nearly Half of Families with Young Kids Struggling to Meet Basic Needs
New data from the Stanford Center on Early Childhood found that almost half (49%) of American families with children under six years old report being unable to access basic needs. Due to financial hardships, families cannot afford food, housing, and child care. The percentage of families experiencing hardships is 13 points higher than the last research released in June and is among the highest recorded since the research began in 2020. Since the pandemic, at least a quarter of families share that they cannot afford necessities. Caregivers with financial hardships are likely to experience emotional distress, such as increased rates of anxiety and depression. These stresses often affect children; three out of four parents shared that their kids also have poor mental health symptoms. Families report having to skip meals to afford food for their children and are concerned about the rising costs of diapers, infant formula, and utilities.

American Enterprise Institute: Why Were You Absent? Students’ Reasons for Missing School Before and After the Pandemic
Researchers compared why students were chronically absent—defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—before and after the pandemic. Data was analyzed from Rhode Island students in grades three through 12 between the 2017-2024 school years. The main reasons that students missed school pre- and post-pandemic were due to illness, lack of sleep, disengagement, or safety concerns. Absences due to illness rose in 2024 compared to 2020, with rates increasing between 2.4-3.6 percentage points depending on grade level. The likelihood of missing school due to lack of sleep increased post-pandemic, particularly among elementary and middle school students and students in lower-performing schools. Third-grade students were the most likely to report missing school due to feelings of disengagement. Safety-related concerns, such as those due to acts of bullying or rumors, have increased slightly since the pandemic. 

Chalkbeat: Virtual Tutoring is Here to Stay. New Research Points to Ways to Make it Better. 
Two research studies from Stanford University’s National Student Support Accelerator investigated the benefits and drawbacks of virtual tutoring. After the pandemic, virtual tutoring continues to be used by school districts because it is cheaper, easier to schedule, and providers can support students outside of their immediate geographic area. Researchers measured tutoring sessions to assess the literacy skills of young children. The first study measured the time spent on topics during virtual tutoring sessions and found that 19% of the tutoring time was lost to disruptions, including technological issues and distracted students. The second study focused on the relationship between the tutor and tutee. While tutors spent more time talking in the session when working with two students, only 21% of their speech was individualized instruction, compared to 65% of the time during one-on-one sessions. These findings indicate that while virtual tutoring can be effective, schools should provide a dedicated space for students to meet without disruptions and have an adult present to help with any issues. 

The Hechinger Report: ‘The Clock is Ticking’: Shutdown Imperils Food, Child Care for Many 
On November 1, families and children lost access to education and nutrition programs due to the government shutdown. Head Start, which serves 58,400 children across the country, did not receive its annual funding at the start of November, though some states are not impacted if they are on a different financing cycle. Families did not receive money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the first of the month. The $300 million in emergency funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was also depleted. Many lawmakers have advocated for alternative funding sources for food assistance programs and will pay to keep WIC going in their states. Head Start may use local money to fund its programs on a temporary basis. These changes will impact low-income families who rely on government assistance for food, child care, and essential items. *This is a developing story.*

Chalkbeat: NYC is Piloting Free Child Care for Kids Ages 2 and Under. These Neighborhoods Get Priority. 
New York City will open 240 free child care seats for children ages two and under, regardless of family income level. The funding is part of a $10 million pilot initiative to create a system of care for children and families in the city. Seats are subsidized for up to 10 hours a day throughout the year, which differs from other programs that only provide funding during the school year. The program will prioritize high-needs neighborhoods, which are designated based on poverty rates, the number of eligible children not already enrolled in programs, and families who fall slightly above the income level to qualify for city-subsidized programs. Previously, free child care seats were given to families who made below 85% of the state median income. The city had difficulty filling the spots and, thus, had over 4,100 unfilled seats, likely due to the intensive application process. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open in January. 

K-12 Dive: Educators Push for Virtual Schooling in Response to ICE Raids
School officials are pushing to increase virtual schooling options for students concerned about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who are stationed in schools. In January, the Trump administration changed a policy that prohibited ICE agents from entering school grounds without a judicial warrant. This school year, several people were arrested on or near school grounds in Chicago. Families and educators have created initiatives to ensure students feel safe attending school, through school patrols, walking school buses, and neighborhood watches. However, students are concerned about walking to and from school, and educators hope to increase virtual schooling opportunities for these students. To create a remote learning policy, the Illinois governor would need to declare a state of emergency. New York State and Los Angeles, California, created similar opportunities for students to attend school virtually. A report released in July found that uncertainty surrounding immigration policies causes chronic anxiety in students, and federal immigration policy is linked to absenteeism, classroom disengagement, and heightened emotional distress. 

AP News: Mobile College and Career Planning Services Offered to Students in Mississippi Delta
Schools in the Mississippi Delta are receiving free college and career planning services through a 17-foot truck equipped with private offices. The Get2College Mobile Center serves rural and underserved areas that traditionally face barriers to college admissions. The new space is the fourth in the state and its first mobile center. The mobile center is available for students outside of regular school hours, which is especially helpful for parents who cannot make meetings during the school day. The truck is parked at church events, apartment complexes, and football games. Because the majority of high schools in the area have one or two school counselors to serve all students, counselors from the mobile center work as a team to provide additional support and act as invested adults in students’ progress. A mobile center’s counselor shared, “It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort… Those students need way more than that one person pulling the load.” 
See also: More First-Generation Students in Texas are Applying for College