Schools Help Kids Catch Up, But Wealthier Children Still Pull Ahead

A recent study found that schools narrow academic achievement gaps between low-income and wealthier children, but the gaps remain due to unequal investments in children outside of school. The study, which tracked 77 kinds of investments in children from birth to age 18, found that the gap in total resources between the richest and poorest children is cut in half when children enter elementary school. However, wealthier children still receive more resources that help them pull ahead, such as music lessons and sports. The study also found that low-income students and students of color are more likely to have newer, less experienced teachers. The researchers suggest that equal spending is not enough to close the achievement gaps, and that more needs to be done to address the unequal investments in children outside of school. The study's findings have implications for education policy and highlight the need for targeted interventions to support low-income and minority students.