How to Narrow the Education Gap and Expand Prosperity

Mar 16, 2015

by John Mullin, CEO, Enlearn

Itā€™s not surprising that the educational achievement gap between the poorest and wealthiest children in the United States has grave consequences.

ButĀ in a new studyĀ from the Washington Center for Equitable GrowthĀ we learn what this gap costs in terms of lost economic growth and tax revenue.

The analysis focuses on three scenarios:

  • In the first scenario, the report examines the consequences of raising the educational achievement of U.S. children so that it matches, instead of lags behind, the average of the 34 economically advanced nations who are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
  • In the second scenario, the report assesses the consequences of raising the achievement of U.S. children to match that of Canadian children.
  • And, in the third scenario, the report explains the consequences of completely closing educational achievement gaps between U.S. children from lower and higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

The resulting numbers are striking:

  • Under scenario one, the inflation-adjusted size of the U.S. economy in 2050 would be 1.7 percent, or $678 billion, larger. The cumulative increase in real GDP (after factoring in inflation) between 2015 and 2050 would amount to $2.5 trillion in present value. And the lifetime earnings of children from the bottom three quartiles of socioeconomic status would increase by an additional 4.3 percent.
  • Under scenario two, the inflation-adjusted size of the U.S. economy in 2050 would be 6.7 percent, or $2.7 trillion, larger. The cumulative increase in GDP between 2015 and 2050 would amount to nearly $10 trillion in present value. And the lifetime earnings of children from the bottom three quartiles of socioeconomic status would increase from 8.5 percent to 11.5 percent.
  • And, under scenario three, the inflation-adjusted size of the U.S. economy in 2050 would be 10 percent, or $4 trillion, larger. The cumulative increase in GDP between 2015 and 2050 would amount to nearly $15 trillion in present value. And the lifetime earnings of children from the bottom three quartiles of socioeconomic status would increase from 9.3 percent to 22 percent.

These are powerful and profound macro outcomes.

But the question is ā€“ How do we achieve them? How do we actually close the education gap? What can we do today, with the teachers and systems we now have in place?

Here are some quick thoughts:

Put our best teachers and principals in the schools with the kids who need them most.Ā Thereā€™s lots of adult opposition to this, but if we designed a system around the needs of the kids, first and foremost, this would be an obvious start.

Second, provide teachers and students with real-time formative data on how they’re doing in the moment. This data would be actionable, and it would always be available.Ā We have to eliminate the gaps in time between a student’s misunderstanding or struggle with a concept and the teacher’s awareness of the need for help on a special concept.Ā A side benefit here would be a decreasing need for testing, because itā€™s embedded in the process.

Third, adjust next steps for students, based on the real-time formative data I touched on above. More specifically, determine the next best action for each student after looking carefully at the teacher and the curriculum. I mention the curriculum because thereā€™s no reason that it can’t be smart, adaptive to the student’s need and responsive to the teacher’s decision to adjust or change course for the student, student group or whole class.Ā The bottom line is that we need to use data to continuously drive differentiation of content and instruction. But we also need to remember that data doesnā€™t replace the teacher, it enhances teaching.

Fourth, I wouldnā€™t spend another dime on professional development conferences, seminars or pep-talk / rah-rah sessions for teachers.Ā They just don’t change practice. Instead, Iā€™d invest all this money in sustainable coaching models that allow for practice, feedback (including data review), refinement and more practice.

Fifth, I would initiate and implement early childhood education programs. Thereā€™s a good reason that many policy makers are currently pushing for this ā€“ a significant education gap exists before Day One of kindergarten. Some kids are behind, before theyā€™ve even started, and the gap only widens over time. If we can narrow the distance prior to kindergarten, we can expand opportunity and prosperity throughout our society.