This paper will present and question some theoretical aspects of the concept of “new” educational needs, trying to contextualize them within current educational challenges emerging in diverse learning environments. In this direction, the paper will draw both on theoretical perspectives and on issues emerging from empirical researches, such as those carried out by organizations such as Save the Children and Caritas Italiana. On the one hand, as an example of how new theoretical frameworks can affect the way in which “new” educational needs can be conceptualized, the paper will present some key aspects of Amartya Sen’s and Martha Nussbaum’s idea of “human capabilities”. The paper will try to suggest how such an idea can help us to reframe educational interventions, building on people’s strengths. On the other hand, the paper will shortly present some aspects of the indicators used by Save the Children in order to map situations of educational poverty. The paper will try to highlight how, in such a perspective, in order to fight educational poverty, researchers and educators have not only to focus on educational needs, but also to build on the resources of diverse communities.
