A full stomach and clear mind are prerequisites for learning. Many children who live in poverty have neither. And the number of children who might be considered "food challenged" is growing at an alarming rate. This economic reality translates into ever-growing challenges for the public education system, which already struggles to provide all the services that many low-income children need to achieve academic success. Physical ailments such as anemia, asthma, and lead poisoning can impair cognitive functioning, often go undiagnosed and untreated. Many poor children must also cope with environmental stresses that impact their schooling. In addition, homeless students face the greatest challenges for they lack the basic securities that allow for them to concentrate on their studies during and after the school day. This article discusses some facts about the effects of poverty on students' academic success and what school districts should do to deliver quality instruction through high-quality teachers.