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Authors

Kate Bradley

Publication Date

9-1-2022

Keywords

achievement gap, poverty, public school, socioeconomic status

Volume

2022

Abstract

Impoverished children are severely disadvantaged before even reaching adulthood. In public schools, lower-income children are significantly less likely to succeed than their wealthier classmates. Poverty affects a child's brain development, inhibiting their ability to learn and understand. In addition, lower income students go to schools with insufficient funding and resources: quality teachers or the lack thereof increase the inability to provide for these students adequately. The achievement gap affects students by increasing dropout rates. It involves the nation by costing the US nearly $700 billion annually. Even more grave than the financial consequences is the loss of every student-each with untold potential. Fortunately, something is being done. Early childhood education has proven to equip students with the tools before entering a public school. Each attempt to help a student, no matter what stage of education they're at, can help close the achievement gap.

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