For millions of families across the U.S., the back-to-school season isn’t just a time for excitement—it’s a time for difficult choices. In 2023, families with school-aged children spent an average of $890 on back-to-school essentials — a record high that left many parents and guardians scrambling to afford basic supplies. When budgets are tight, simple necessities like pencils, notebooks, and backpacks become luxuries. Clothing, often the first expense cut when money is tight, further amplifies the burden.
This challenge, known as clothing insecurity, is a growing but often overlooked crisis with far-reaching consequences for children’s education. Kids without proper school supplies or appropriate clothing often avoid going to school altogether, which sets off a dangerous chain of events.
Clothing Insecurity and Its Impact on Education
Research reveals three of the top 10 reasons children miss school are related to clothing insecurity or a lack of school supplies. The inability to dress appropriately for school or afford basic tools can lead to chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10 percent of the school year. This issue has nearly doubled since 2019, with millions more students now classified as chronically absent. For these students, missing school often means missing out on the opportunity to stay on track academically, increasing the likelihood of dropping out.
The consequences are sobering. Every year a student is chronically absent, their odds of dropping out nearly double. And dropping out of high school doesn’t just affect future job prospects — it’s tied to poorer health outcomes, higher rates of involvement with the criminal justice system, and significantly lower lifetime earnings.
But the barriers don’t stop there. Irregular school attendance affects students in other, more immediate ways: missing school puts students at risk of falling behind in subjects like reading and math, particularly in the critical early years. By third grade, students who frequently miss school are far less likely to read at grade level, a key indicator of future academic success. When children miss out on these early building blocks, the chances of catching up later diminish drastically.
Bridging the Gap with Community Support
This past summer, as part of its Ready for Learning initiative, Cradles to Crayons took on these challenges head-on, helping to ensure that 105,000 Chicagoland students returned to school equipped with the needed supplies. The effort marked the largest free backpack distribution in the region, and for many of the families who received them, these backpacks — filled with essentials like notebooks, pencils, and crayons — were more than just tools for learning. They were symbols of relief and possibility.
For families already grappling with rising costs of living, receiving these backpacks meant one less financial burden to shoulder. It was a step toward ensuring their children could start the school year on equal footing with their peers.
“When children have the essential school supplies, they are poised for academic success – without these necessities, the long-term effects can be devastating,” said Dawn Melchiorre, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Chicago. “Our Ready for Learning initiative ensures that a lack of backpacks, school supplies, and clothing essentials are not one more barrier to successful student participation at school.”
Clothing Insecurity: A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
Clothing insecurity continues to affect students year-round, making programs like Cradles to Crayons essential in addressing both the short-term and long-term challenges. Teachers often report that students without clean, appropriate clothing are more likely to skip school out of embarrassment or discomfort, further worsening absenteeism rates.
The organization’s Ready for Learning initiative provided backpacks, clothing, and hygiene essentials to ensure that students felt prepared from head to toe. This focus on providing comprehensive support to students recognizes that education is about more than just books and supplies — it’s also about the confidence that comes with feeling secure, comfortable, and equipped to participate fully.
For some students, the distribution of new shoes or a winter coat can mean the difference between walking to school and staying home. A pilot program conducted by Cradles to Crayons in Boston found that students who received clothing and supplies before the school year saw marked improvements in attendance and academic participation. Providing children with what they need can have long-lasting effects on their ability to succeed in school.
The Road Ahead: Tackling Systemic Barriers
While the success of Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for Learning initiative is commendable, it underscores a larger, ongoing issue: many families are still grappling with systemic financial pressures that make it difficult to meet their children’s basic needs. Even with the recent backpack distribution, millions of children nationwide continue to face clothing insecurity and other financial barriers to education.
The work that organizations like Cradles to Crayons are doing is part of the solution, but it also highlights the need for broader, systemic changes to support families in need. Whether through policy changes that address income inequality or community-driven initiatives that provide direct relief, the need to support students’ basic needs remains critical.
For now, the 105,000 Chicagoland students who received backpacks this year have a little less to worry about. They can walk into their classrooms equipped with the necessary supplies to succeed. And while that won’t solve every challenge they face, it’s a meaningful step toward closing the gap and ensuring every child has a fair shot at education.
As families, educators, and communities work together to address these barriers, the impact of programs like Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for Learning is clear: when we invest in providing the basics, we’re not just giving children supplies — we’re giving them a chance at a brighter future.
Join The Un-Gala To Keep Kids Warm This Winter
On November 9, Cradles to Crayons will host its annual Un-Gala Event at The Giving Factory. This combination of fundraiser and service event brings together volunteers to organize and pack winter essentials, including hats, gloves, coats, scarves, and more, to keep kids around Chicago warm in the winter.
This year’s goal is to serve 50,000 local children, and Cradles to Crayons needs everyone’s help to make it happen. Visit the official Cradles to Crayon 2024 Un-Gala event page to donate.
How to Help
Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for Learning Initiative is still accepting donations! A $13 donation provides a backpack full of supplies to a student who needs them to have a successful year! You can make a one-time donation or choose a monthly or yearly option to help keep students stocked with essential supplies throughout the school year.
