Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This book makes recommendations for investing in specific educational programming that have shown potential in mitigating the opportunity gap and increasing human capital. Despite decades of increased state and federal funding for education, student outcomes have largely deteriorated: reading and writing capabilities have not improved, and the emerging workforce is less prepared to handle the increasingly complex demands of the future. These aggregate trends, however, mask substantial differences across different demographic brackets, including race and socio-economic income. Some scholars and commentators have responded to these patterns by advocating for a broad suite of equity and inclusion policies. While the details of such policies vary greatly, an understanding of how people accumulate skills and cultivate their abilities--also known as "human capital"--is paramount. Absent such an understanding, policies may treat a symptom without addressing the root cause, making them ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst. Without deeply considering the underlying incentives and governance of educational programming initiatives, the authors argue that simply increasing funding alone will not solve the skills gap and declining outcomes among learners. This book presents the latest research on the economics of K-12 education with a focus on human capital and practical recommendations for state and local policymakers and educators to advance the human capital of their students and overall populations. In particular, the book explains that questions of equity are best addressed by first studying questions around skill formation. This handbook will be essential to state and local governments and educational leaders to make systemic recommendations to practitioners, college professors, and researchers, to dramatically repair the economic support bolstering K-12 schools today.
Synopsis
Despite decades of increased state and federal funding for education, student outcomes have largely deteriorated: according to the 2022 NAEP exam results, reading and math capabilities hit a thirty-year low. The emerging workforce is less prepared to handle the increasingly complex demands of the future, which is likely to accelerate income inequality and stifle our nation's economic and social competitiveness. Presenting the latest research on the economics of K-12 education, this book makes recommendations about specific educational programming that have shown potential in mitigating the opportunity gap, focusing on human capital and practical recommendations for state and local policy makers and educational leaders.
Synopsis
The first complete resource on US educational programing to examine the research evidence for efficacy of education programs, and quantify the economic value of these programs for the US economy, so that federal, state, and local governments can invest their resources wisely.