The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap

How four sources of variance conspire to create a permanent U.S. recession & why there is hope that things can change for the better, especially

here in California.Dr. Derek S. Mitchell, CEO

Partners in School InnovationOctober 2010

PartnersSI Mission

To enable public schools in high-poverty communities – serving primarily students of color and English language learners – to achieve educational equity through school-based reform.

What do we do?• Support reform in 20 schools in San Jose, San

Francisco and Oakland• Work only in schools with concentrations of

low academic performance, poverty and African-American, Latino and English language learners.

• Work as an equity strategy for our partner districts in that we serve to intensify support for schools that need it most.

Hosted an Event to Share McKinsey Data More Broadly

• McKinsey Report: The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap came to the following conclusions:

International Gap: Math & Science

System Gap Between States: 8th Grade Math

State Gap Continued: 8th Grade Math

State Gap Continued: 8th Grade Math

US Income Gap: Math & Reading

US Racial Gap: Math & Reading

At What Cost, These Gaps…• There are well-documented relationships

between under-achievement and:– Increased dropout rates (5.5X less likely to graduate)– Low lifelong earnings (earn about 1 Million less dollars)– Low access to healthcare (3.5X more likely to die of

preventable diseases)– Increased teen pregnancy (3X more likely for young

women)– Increased presence in Juvenile Justice System: (2.5X more

likely for poor white males, 6X more likely for poor black males.)

– …

But what about…• The loss of competitive advantage.• The value of essentially wasted human capital.• The national wealth that a more educated

citizenry would mean…

OECD Estimates Over the Lifetime of Generation Born in 2010

What Happens in Schools Matter: Two-year CST English / Language Arts Gains: PartnersSI Schools vs. State and Districts

2008-2010

OUSD

Brookfi

eld

New H.

SFUSD

Chavez

Fairm

ount

Webster

SJUSD

Almaden

Empire G

. CA0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%

11.4%13.4%

23.2%

5.4%

14.6%

18.3%19.7%

8.1%10.3%

11.4%

7.5%

CST ELA Comparisons (All Students, % P/A growth 2008-2010)

• Money Matters: We can increase investment in the education of our children.

What Can Be Done: Investment Matters

• Just in case you’re wondering how our other investments fare against national norms.

What Can Be Done: Investment Matters

Data Sources• Economic Analysis– McKinsey & Company– US Department of Labor

Statistics– US Bureau of Economic

Analysis– UC Census Bureau – Organizational for intern

ational Co-Operation and Development

• Performance Analysis• National Assessment of

Educational Progress (NAEP)

• National Center for Educational Statistics

• Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

• National Education Association

For More Information

Derek Mitchelldmitchell@partnersinschools.orgChief Executive OfficerPartners in School Innovation1060 Tennessee Street, 2nd FloorSan Francisco, CA. 94107415.824.6196 x109