INAJHEY LOMONGO

: This study presented a meta-synthesis on the negative effects of poverty on academic achievement among children with special needs in the Philippines. It utilized 15 of the initial 400 studies from 2013–2021 that screened using the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Constant comparison and the use of Clark and Braune’s six-step thematic analysis revealed seven themes: developmental delays; chronic stress; poor educational performance and attainment; disruptive behavior and attention deficits; lower expectations of the society; less involvement of the parents in children’s special needs education; dropping out of school. The negative effects of poverty on academic achievement among children with special needs in the Philippines emerged as the meta-theme of the study. Studies revealed that poverty significantly impacts children with disabilities in terms of development, academic achievement, and school attendance. As a result, it recommended that an intervention program, such as positive behavior intervention, student monitoring/higher student engagement, and parenting services, be provided to mitigate the effects of poverty on the academic achievement of children with disabilities.