Accurately measuring the family incomes of students is essential to allocating school resources that meet the educational needs of all students, particularly the needs of students from low-income
families. With the onset of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, the need to accurately assess the financial condition of families who are suffering a loss of income and employment has taken on new and urgent importance. Under the current circumstances, it is very likely that poverty
rates in the United States will reach their highest levels in 50 years. The dramatic downturn in revenue associated with the COVID-19 crisis has had and will continue to have an impact on the ability of low-income families to provide for their children. Public school districts are experiencing a significant loss of funding, making them more dependent on federal dollars to meet children’s needs. Measuring student socioeconomic status (SES) accurately is essential if schools educating students from low-income and impoverished families are to receive the funds they need to offer quality education to those students furthest from opportunity.