Restoring Opportunity: The Crisis of Inequality and the Challenge for American Education

Session Type: Invited Session

Abstract

This interactive session demonstrates how five common building blocks of strategically targeted interventions and supports can help schools significantly improve the life chances of low-income children; surfaces the challenges of implementing policies and practices to support these building blocks; and provides participants with an opportunity to engage in facilitated discussion with others about the ideas presented.

Increases in family income inequality have reduced opportunities for children from low-income families to obtain the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing U.S. economy. Interventions in the domains of early childhood, elementary school, high schools, and family supports have proven effective in increasing the life chances of low-income children. In Restoring Opportunity, Murnane and Duncan describe the building blocks for making such interventions part of the life experiences of more low-income children. This session will feature videos from three of the schools highlighted in the book and remarks from leaders in those schools.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Diana E. Hess, Spencer Foundation

Participants

• Marina Boni, Boston Public Schools

• Greg Duncan, University of California - Irvine

• Richard J. Murnane, Harvard University

• Merilee Valentino, Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice