Ramona Edelin: Invest In Our Most Vulnerable Students

Here in the District of Columbia and across the nation, we have upended normal life to combat the coronavirus — insisting on social distancing, for instance, and transferring learning from school to home, much of it online. This should not lead us, however, to give any less thought to the plight of at-risk students in our city, which is still sharply divided by race and class.

In a dated definition that takes account of students’ material circumstances but not socio-emotional challenges, the District government defines “at-risk” as applying to those who are homeless, are in foster care, qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or — in the case of high school students — are over-aged and under-credited students………….………………