Income Disparity Spells Doom in Education

The latest research on the relationship between income and educational success is extraordinarily troubling. Troubling because the data indicates the gap between the rich and poor is widening while recent studies reveal a strong correlation between wealth, or lack thereof, and the degree of success in education.

The data is stunning. Sean Reardon of Stanford University reports that the gap in standardized test scores for students from low income family compared to those of high income families has grown by a staggering 40% since the 1960's.

In another study, researchers at the University of Michigan, reported that, relative to college completion, the imbalance between poor and rich has grown by nearly 50% since the late 1980's. It is a known fact that college completion is a huge predictor when it comes to success in the world of work.

The bottom line is this...income inequality exists and is growing! Sadly, the lower ones income, the less successful one will be in school; elementary, high school and college. Going a step further, less academic success will surely result in obtaining a job that likely won't pay very well. The result; poverty will perpetuate poverty. A sad, sad cycle.

The above studies, as reported by the Friday, Feb. 10th edition of the New York Times paints a pretty grim future when it comes to lower income people getting a decent education. The trend looks anything but bright and that's one of the reasons Schools Count Corp works to help areas that suffer from the effects of poverty.

Dick