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"Our intense focus on achievement gaps needs to be combined with an equally intense focus on opportunity gaps. The status quo of test-based accountability reform needs to give way to new, evidence-based approaches dedicated to building the capacity to accomplish accountability goals." This article by The Washington Post talks about how the opportunity gap is very large in the United States of America. It is the opinion of the author of the article that the opportunity gap needs to be reduced.

This article isn't only telling about about opportunity gaps, it gives ideas of how we can fix or improve the problem.  It tells about the strengths, weaknesses, and other areas of improvement that the education system has and tells about the struggles some areas have. PrivateRead LaterCache Recent Tags: Savecancel "

This article isn't only telling about about opportunity gaps, it gives ideas of how we can fix or improve the problem.  It tells about the strengths, weaknesses, and other areas of improvement that the education system has and tells about the struggles some areas have. PrivateRead LaterCache Recent Tags: Savecancel "

"In particular, we have failed to build capacity or increase opportunities to learn." This sentence is a good example of why people feel so strongly about fixing opportunity gaps in education and supports their claims that some kids have an unfair disadvantage. Education, in years past, has been thought of as the equalizer, giving opportunities to learn to all kids, no matter their background. Today, people argue that children do not receive the same benefits as a reflection of many issues, not just teaching staff. While in many cases I agree that America is facing an opportunity gap in education driven by child poverty as well as economic and family struggles, I feel that people neglect to notice the strides we have made in education. In Henrico, for example, kids have a chance to attend a high school with a specific 'specialty center' in which the curriculum revolves around a more definitive subject, prepping them for future job or college opportunities. This is something that would never have been available years ago. This article directly relates to my opinion on the discussion question, but in some ways, contradicts it. I do not agree that we have failed to increase opportunities to learn, for instance. The main idea behind this article was that child poverty and poor teaching was the root of opportunity gaps in education. I feel that this is a poor reflection of our school systems because of the many programs we have created to further the education of our children.

"The old Gaps 1.0 conversation simply cannot get us to where we need to go. Children learn when they have opportunities to learn. When denied those opportunities, they fall behind, and we get the devastating achievement gaps. But when they are provided with rich opportunities to learn, they thrive, and the achievement gaps close." In this article, it states that children learn when they have opportunities to learn. They fall behind when denied those opportunities, but when they are provided with rich opportunities, they learn well, and there is no education gap. Although, as of now, the country has failed to increase these opportunities to learn, creating an education gap.

"In particular, we have failed to build capacity or increase opportunities to learn.   Our intense focus on achievement gaps needs to be combined with an equally intense focus on opportunity gaps. The status quo of test-based accountability reform needs to give way to new, evidence-based approaches dedicated to building the capacity to accomplish accountability goals." This article is about how America is not putting their focus on the right issues when it comes to education. Instead of focusing on closing achievement gaps, America should start turning their gaze on how opportunity gaps are influencing the lives of students all over the country.

"Our intense focus on achievement gaps needs to be combined with an equally intense focus on opportunity gaps. The status quo of test-based accountability reform needs to give way to new, evidence-based approaches dedicated to building the capacity to accomplish accountability goals."

There has been race and gender inequality in the past. It was thought, education was "equal". It's not. The good news is we are getting closer, each day, to closing the gap.

This article explains how income inequality has increased between poor and rich people in the past 40 years. This article gives graphs and facts about how income inequality has increased over the past 40 years and is growing at an alarming rate.

"the gap between the rich and everyone else, has been growing markedly, by every major statistical measure, for some 30 years" This describes the growing gap between income of the lower class and the upper class. This can help you picture why this is becoming such a big problem.

"Between the end of World War II and the late 1970s, incomes in the United States were becoming more equal. In other words, incomes at the bottom were rising faster than those at the top. Since the late 1970s, this trend has reversed." Ever since World War II, the income gap has increased. For instance, as of 2012, 22% of the Pre-Tax income of all of the United States goes to the top 1% of household incomes. This shows imbalance between the incomes of these people and the incomes of people closer to the median.

"Between 1979 and 2012, the top 5 percent of American families saw their real incomes increase 74.9 percent, according to Census data. Over the same period, the lowest-income fifth saw a decrease in real income of 12.1 percent. This sharply contrasts with the 1947-79 period, when all income groups saw similar income gains, with the lowest income group actually seeing the largest gains." This article talks about how in the early and mid 20th century, all income groups had about the same amount of income gains, but in recent times, the top percent have a higher income gain than the bottom percent whose real income seems to be decreasing. This article uses graphs and charts to support its claims.

"Between 1979 and 2012, the top 5 percent of American families saw their real incomes increase 74.9 percent, according to Census data. Over the same period, the lowest-income fifth saw a decrease in real income of 12.1 percent. This sharply contrasts with the 1947-79 period, when all income groups saw similar income gains, with the lowest income group actually seeing the largest gains." After world war 2 income from the lower class started to rise more than the upper class making the gap between upper and middle class lower as income averaged out. However around the 1970s the upper class's income has started to increase more than the lower class's income leaving a wider income gap.

"Between the end of World War II and the late 1970s, incomes in the United States were becoming more equal. In other words, incomes at the bottom were rising faster than those at the top. Since the late 1970s, this trend has reversed." This article states that those of higher class are beginning to receive and higher and faster income. Before, the lower class were gaining more income faster than the upper class, making incomes equal. It shows that since the late 1970s, the incomes are becoming more unequal

"Between the end of World War II and the late 1970s, incomes in the United States were becoming more equal. In other words, incomes at the bottom were rising faster than those at the top. Since the late 1970s, this trend has reversed." This website gives lots of information about how, when and why income inequality occurs in America. It also has graphs that allow the reader to better understand the problem and it changes American economic classes

"Between the end of World War II and the late 1970s, incomes in the United States were becoming more equal. In other words, incomes at the bottom were rising faster than those at the top. Since the late 1970s, this trend has reversed." This website gives lots of information about how, when and why income inequality occurs in America. It also has graphs that allow the reader to better understand the problem and it changes American economic classes

This article talks about how it is not colleges, but K-12 education that creates an opportunity gap. If everyone had equal education all through their lives, then there would be more equal opportunities. 

"America faces an opportunity gap. Those born in the bottom ranks have difficulty moving up. Although the United States has long thought of itself as a meritocracy, a place where anyone who gets an education and works hard can make it, the facts tell a somewhat different story. Children born into the top fifth of the income distribution have about twice as much of a chance of becoming middle class or better in their adult years as those born into the bottom fifth (Isaacs, Sawhill, & Haskins, 2008)." This article highlights the opportunity gap in education in America. It shows the different problems within the issue and what the lower class are struggling with in order to get the education they deserve. Also within the article, it lists possible solutions to solving the problem.

Children born into the top fifth of American income have almost twice the change of becoming a middle class or better citizen. Current solutions to solve the opportunity gap are not working. 54% of students drop out of community college before even getting a degree.

It is more difficult for lower-income children to be successful because they are unlikely to get a high level education.  But those born into high income have a better chance of becoming middle class or higher because they are more likely to get a high level education or a degree. 

It is more difficult for lower-income children to be successful because they are unlikely to get a high level education.  But those born into high income have a better chance of becoming middle class or higher because they are more likely to get a high level education or a degree.