Why Enrichment Matters

According to a Chicago Tribune op-ed, written by Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane, co-editors of Whither Opportunity: Rising Inequality, Schools and Children’s Life Chances, “Between birth and age 6, children from high-income families spend an average of 1,300 more hours than children from low-income families in “novel” places—other than at home or school, or in the care of another parent or a day care facility.  This matters, because when children are asked to read science and social studies texts in the upper elementary school grades, background knowledge is critical to comprehension and academic success.”