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College Expectations Among Young Children: The Potential Role Of Savings, William Elliott Iii, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Suzanne Johnson, Signe Peterson
College Expectations Among Young Children: The Potential Role Of Savings, William Elliott Iii, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Lissa Johnson, Suzanne Johnson, Signe Peterson
Center for Social Development Research
For many young people, especially minority and low-income children, attending college is a genuinely desired but elusive goal. This paper explores young children’s perceptions and expectations about attending college and potential influences on their formation. Conducted as part of a four-year study of a school-based saving for college program, this paper uses qualitative evidence from interviews with 60 children in second grade, and surveys with their parents. Findings suggest most of the young children in the study have a general understanding of college and have begun the process of choosing higher education. Further, the perception that saving is a way …
The Achievement Gap From A Capabilities And Asset Perspective, William Elliott Iii, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden
The Achievement Gap From A Capabilities And Asset Perspective, William Elliott Iii, Margaret Sherrard Sherraden
Center for Social Development Research
Current explanations for the achievement gap do not fully explain why high-achieving poor and minority children perceive of college as being out of reach. This paper reviews perspectives on the achievement gap and proposes a model that incorporates a capabilities and assets approach. The uneven playing field created by unequal distribution of assets sustains educational advantage and high expectations for college among children from families with assets, while dampening expectations for college among poor and minority children. As a possible avenue to closing the gap, we suggest that increasing poor and minority children’s capability for financing college may increase educational …