Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., is an American educator and author best known for her book A Framework for Understanding Poverty and her work on the culture of poverty and its relation to education. She holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Illinois, and is the founder of aha! Process, Inc., a company that informs schools, companies and other organizations about poverty.
Dr. Payne's book, which has sold over one million copies, deals heavily with the concept of "hidden rules", characteristics that a member of one of the three main social classes (upper, middle and lower) possesses that makes communicating and relating to members of the other classes difficult.
Paul Gorski, an assistant professor at Hamline University, is openly critical of Dr. Payne's work, stating that her research is based on stereotypes and accusing her of classism. He also believes the educational field accepted her ideas too readily, without the proper critical analysis.