What should educators understand about the impact of financial struggles on students?

The understanding that financial struggles can affect students' ability to concentrate and learn is crucial because these challenges can create significant stress in their lives. When students are preoccupied with worries about basic needs—such as food, housing, and safety—this stress can hinder their cognitive functions, leading to difficulties in focusing during lessons and comprehending material. Financial hardships often bring about anxiety and emotional distress, diverting students' attention away from their studies and impacting their overall academic performance. By recognizing this, educators can adopt strategies to support these students better, such as providing a more supportive classroom environment or connecting them with resources that can alleviate some of their stressors.