As kids pack their backpacks for the school year, too many will carry more than school supplies — they’ll carry the weight of the economic stress of their parents and the adults around them. Whether it’s a parent, a grandparent, a child-care worker or a teacher, many of the adults who nurture our children are struggling to make ends meet.

Millions live in households that lack adequate food, housing, clothing and other basic needs. Nearly 1.5 million children experience homelessness, and almost 14 million live in homes that experience food insecurity. This instability spills into the classroom, affecting not only children’s attendance, learning, behavior and opportunity, but ultimately the health of our economy and our society.

While many factors contribute to a struggling education system — including an increasingly underfunded school system and frayed social safety net — we cannot ignore the economic pressures facing the adults whom children depend on every day. Good jobs that offer stability, fair pay and dignity are not just important for workers — they are essential for children’s success and for building a future where all kids can thrive.

Wages are obviously an important part of child well-being. Families with higher incomes are able to provide better nutrition, health care, safer housing and more access to enriching activities outside of the home and school. Children living in households below the poverty line, on the other hand, have worse cognitive development and educational outcomes. Lower socioeconomic status for children can also contribute to poorer long-term health outcomes too.

According to the Current Population Survey, over 10 million households with children have an income of less than $50,000 annually, with about 5 million making less than $30,000. Single........

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