The Dynamics of Opportunity in America : Evidence and Perspectives / edited by Irwin Kirsch, Henry Braun.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kirsch, Irwin, Editor.

Contributor:

Kirsch, Irwin., Editor.

Braun, Henry, Editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Education and state.

Political planning.

Economic policy.

Knowledge, Sociology of.

Labor economics.

Educational Policy and Politics.

Public Policy.

Economic Policy.

Sociology of Knowledge and Discourse.

Labor Economics.

Local Subjects:

Educational Policy and Politics.

Public Policy.

Economic Policy.

Sociology of Knowledge and Discourse.

Labor Economics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XXVIII, 489 pages) : colour illusutrations, charts.

Edition:

1st ed. 2016.

Place of Publication:

2016.

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2016.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Across the country, our children are beginning life from very different starting points. Some have aspirations and believe they can be achieved. For too many others, aspirations are tempered, if not dashed, by the sobering realities of everyday life. These different starting points place children on distinctly different trajectories of growth and development, ultimately leading to vastly different adult outcomes. How did we get to a place where circumstances of birth have become so determinative? And what must we do, within communities and across our country, to better equalize opportunity for more Americans – both young and old? The editors of this volume contend that if, as a nation, we do nothing, then we will continue to drift apart, placing an unsustainable strain on the nation’s social fabric and the character of its democracy. Consequently, understanding the dynamics governing the distribution and transmission of opportunity – and transforming this understanding into policies and programs – is critical for not only the life outcomes of individual Americans and their children, but also the country as a whole. The goal of Educational Testing Service’s Opportunity in America initiative is to explore these powerful dynamics and to describe and convey them in a way that advances the national conversation about why we must take action – and how best to do so. This volume contains 14 chapters, including an epilogue, written by leaders from a range of fields including education, economics, demography, and political science. Collectively, they not only illuminate key aspects of the problem but also offer suggestions of what policies, programs, and changes in practices could begin to reverse the trends we are seeing. Written in an engaging style, this volume constitutes an essential foundation for informed discussion and strategic analysis.

Contents:

Dedication

Preface

Editors' Note

Table of Contents

About the Editors and Contributors

List of Figures

List of Tables

1. Introduction: Opportunity in America – Setting the Stage

PART I: Understanding Where We Are Today

PART II: The Labor Market

PART III: Education and Opportunity.-PART IV: Politics and the Road Ahead

PART V: Seeking Inclusive Prosperity

Appendix: Members of the Opportunity in America Advisory Panel

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

CC BY-NC

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9783319259918

3319259911

OCLC:

951668365