The Opportunity Equation | Eric Schwarz | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Eric Schwarz, founder of Citizen Schools, discusses the growing achievement gap between low-income and upper-income students and the need for innovative solutions to provide equal opportunities in education.

Transcript

STEVEN ROTHSTEIN: Welcome, everybody. It's my great pleasure to introduce Eric, recently from Citizen Schools. I met Eric about five or six years ago. And there were two things that really stood out. I was there at Citizen Schools because we had several volunteers from Google who had really engaged with the program and was very excited. And I was t... Read More

Key Insights

• 😘 The achievement gap between low-income and upper-income students has doubled over the past 50 years, leading to significant consequences for individuals and the economy.
• ↘️ Poverty is not the sole cause of the achievement gap; with the right resources and support, low-income students can succeed academically.
• 📪 The key to closing the achievement gap lies in providing low-income students with the same opportunities and resources as their upper-income peers, including access to mentors, extracurricular activities, and longer learning days.
• 🧑‍🎓 Citizen Schools has successfully implemented its Expanded Learning Time program in schools across the country, resulting in improved student performance and a narrowing of the achievement gap.
• 👨‍🏫 Schools like the Edwards Middle School and Orchard Gardens have experienced remarkable turnarounds after implementing the Citizen Schools model, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the two main factors causing the achievement gap?

The two main factors are the growing economic gap and poverty, as well as the lack of leadership and learning opportunities provided to low-income students.

Q: What is the impact of the achievement gap on individuals and the economy?

The growing achievement gap has significant consequences for individuals, with college graduates earning twice as much as high school graduates. It also imposes a 3-5% permanent recession on the economy, as low-income individuals are unable to contribute to the workforce at the same level as their middle-income peers.

Q: How has Citizen Schools helped bridge the achievement gap?

Citizen Schools provides low-income students with opportunities for mentorship, extracurricular activities, and longer learning days through its Expanded Learning Time program. This comprehensive approach has resulted in significant improvements in student performance and a narrowing of the achievement gap.

Q: What are some success stories of schools that have implemented the Citizen Schools model?

Schools like the Edwards Middle School and Orchard Gardens have experienced remarkable turnarounds after implementing expanded learning time and Citizen Schools programs. These schools have seen significant improvements in student performance and overall school culture.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The achievement gap between low-income and upper-income students has dramatically increased over the past 50 years, leading to significant consequences for individuals and the economy.

• Poverty is not the sole cause of the achievement gap; with the right resources and support, low-income students can succeed academically.

• The key to closing the achievement gap lies in providing low-income students with the same opportunities and resources as their upper-income peers, including access to mentors, extracurricular activities, and longer learning days.