Test Scores, Students and Learning
Our overall scores are unspectacular because
of our high rate of child poverty.
Published in the Wall Street Journal, July 24,
2014.
When
researchers control for the effect of poverty, American scores on international
tests are at the top of the world. Our overall scores are unspectacular because
of our high rate of child poverty. The U.S. has the second highest level of
child poverty among all 34 economically advanced countries. In some big city
public school districts, the poverty rate is over 80%. Poverty means poor
nutrition, inadequate health care and lack of access to books, among other
things. All of these profoundly impact school performance. This is compelling evidence that the problem is poverty, not teachers, teacher unions or schools of education. This is also compelling evidence that we should be protecting students from the effects of poverty, not investing in the Common Core.
Stephen Krashen
Posted at: http://tinyurl.com/pn594dr
Second highest level of child poverty? Is this a relative measure (defined bottom x% in each country?) or an absolute measure of poverty, considering all income and transfer payments?
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