The Economics of Equity in K-12 Education: Connecting Financial Investments with Effective Programming

This book emphasizes the importance of empowering learners with new knowledge, skills, and ability to become more effective and influential in society. The United States ranks 25th in the overall poverty gap between people in poverty and affluent people and 26th in the poverty gap for children born into poverty and children from affluent families. The American educational system must focus on implementing programs that equip children with multidimensional human capital to be upwardly mobile. This book recommends a systems-level approach to the American education system, with a focus on the underlying incentives and governance of educational programming initiatives. It will be essential to state and local entities to make systemic recommendations to practitioners, college professors, and researchers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

This book serves as a valuable resource for American education stakeholders, shedding light on the critical importance of empowering our learners with new knowledge, skills, and abilities to help them become more effective and influential in society. The United States ranks 25th on the list of OECD countries in terms of the overall poverty gap between people in poverty and affluent individuals, and 26th in terms of the poverty gap for children born into poverty and children from affluent families. In the face of new educational funding measures at the federal, state, and local levels, it is imperative for the American educational system to prioritize implementing programs that equip children with multidimensional human capital, enabling them to thrive in an era of rapid technological change characterized by the expansion of automation and artificial intelligence. These goals have long been recognized, and we believe that now is an opportune time to articulate and commit to the transmission of human capital for children, as well as identify the practices that best promote it.

This book aims to provide recommendations for educational programming that should be prioritized for investment, with a focus on mitigating the opportunity gap and increasing human capital. The pandemics have had a profound impact on educational opportunities, leading to a decrease in educational opportunities that may have long-term consequences for the American workforce. According to projections, a higher number of students is projected to be below grade level in skilled areas, a phenomenon that is expected to begin manifesting in 2025. Simply increasing funding without ensuring its effective use will have limited impact on improving outcomes. Indeed, expenditures per student have roughly tripled since 1960, highlighting the need for a more strategic and systems-level approach to education.

In conclusion, this book serves as a timely and important contribution to the discourse on education in the United States. By highlighting the importance of empowering learners with new knowledge, skills, and abilities, and by advocating for a systems-level approach to education, it provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders alike. The time is now to invest in educational programming that will equip our children with the human capital they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538168998