The Background A growing body of research indicates that the strength of a person’s social network and community connections – their social capital – plays a role in their lifetime economic trajectory. In 2022, research published by Raj Chetty and colleagues in the journal Nature honed in on the importance of social connections across economic […]
The Background In October 2022, economists from Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research found that recent learning losses in K-12 students’ math attainment “would represent a 1.6 percent decline in present value of lifetime earnings for the average K-12 student (or $19,400), totaling $900 billion for the 48 million students enrolled in public schools […]
The Background Postsecondary education is education, occupational training, or skills development that occurs after obtaining a high school diploma or GED and that results in a certification, diploma, or degree. Postsecondary education plays an important role in economic mobility. In general, greater levels of postsecondary credential attainment correspond to increased individual lifetime earnings. Expanding the […]
The Background School attendance is a necessary ingredient for educational attainment. When students of any age are chronically absent – missing approximately 10% or more of school days – they may have difficulty learning to read, transitioning between grades, or graduating high school. Chronic absenteeism can be related to truancy, which only accounts for unexcused […]
The Background Mental health problems are common in the United States, with nearly 1 in 5 children and adolescents diagnosed with a mental illness. Yet only 20% of those with a mental illness receive care from a specialized care provider for mental health. This risk of untreated mental disorders is even greater for children residing […]