Walking Back Urbanization?
Once again, 2020 is reminding us that schools often impact the economic vitality of a community and, in turn, real estate markets. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the growing number of NYC families moving their children to private schools or “out of town schools,” and enrollment data seems to tell a similar story. It’s no surprise that there’s frustration with the chaos and openings/closings that happened this fall.
Families, who can afford private schools or a move across districts, will leave if they believe they will receive better service elsewhere. The WSJ explained that this suburbia flocking may even upend a decade-long urbanization trend. Considering these changes, a serious question should be, “what happens to the children whose families can’t give them a better opportunity?” Raj Chetty might have an answer.
In a recent podcast, Harvard Economist, Raj Chetty, described a new discovery in his neighborhood success data. He tracked students who tested at a “genius” level in the 3rd grade, and then he followed what happened to them over time. Children who lived in neighborhoods with more economic opportunity ultimately used their giftedness productively. But more interesting to Chetty were the “lost geniuses'' - children who had scored very high as 3rd graders but who seemed to disappear. What was the common denominator for these children? They lived in lower-income neighborhoods with less opportunity.
During the pandemic, there has been a lot of discussion about education gaps, but there hasn’t been enough discussion about what could happen if families had funding that empowered them to take control of their children’s education.
Parents are struggling with fears about their children's futures right now, and parents are too often trying to take control by moving away. It’s the only control they feel like they have, but moving out financially stratifies our communities even further. But what if families stuck in a dysfunctioning system were set free by the opportunity to choose a different schooling organization or environment? Or what if families who decided to stay in lower-income communities were rewarded with scholarships? Would fewer poor geniuses be left behind and lost?
There is model legislation out there to implement this type of empowerment. Let’s get to work.
Dear Readers,
We will be taking a break from the blog during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. We are so grateful you keep up with us through the blog! We’ll be back in your inbox in January.
Happy Holidays,
The EEE Team