Making Education Work for the Poor

William Elliott, PhD, MSW, Professor and Director, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion (AEDI), School of Social Work, University of Michigan.Melinda Lewis, MSW, Associate Professor of Practice, School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas; Assistant Director, Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion (AEDI).

"In their new book, Elliott and Lewis propose the implementation of Opportunity Investment Accounts, a significant policy solution to build financial wealth and security for low-income families. Their research puts an end to the debate as to whether educational opportunity and success in life depends more on innate ability and effort than income. They illustrate that wealth is the determinant that stimulates economic prosperity and social inclusion for all.They show that low-income, economically disadvantaged students come to education with strong ability and aspirations, but without the resources and educational support they need, too often failing toreach their academic and societal potential. This book is a call to action for our nation to enact policies and programs that build wealth equality for all to deliver on the promise of the American Dream in the 21st century." -Martha Kanter, EdD, former U.S. Under Secretary of Education"Making Education Work for the Poor makes a bold contribution to the literature that focuses on the realities of opportunity in America and how wealth inequality is the primary driver of our economic challenges. The book ties this analysis to the promise of the American Dream, explaining how this promise not only animates our economic growth, but is the bedrock of democracy and civic engagement. It provides a vivid description of the profoundconsequences created by the failure of too many Americans to even believe, let alone achieve, the American Dream. Finally, the text grounds visionary and ambitious policy solutions in both economic and sociologicaldata. This is a truly ambitious book that addresses the unprecedented political, economic, and social challenges that we are facing with a methodology and message that millions should hear." -Andrea Levere, MBA, President, Prosperity Now

• Preface Introduction Chapter One: Going to School in Unequal America Chapter Two: The Battle to Define Life Chances and the Distributional Consequences of the Current Education and Economic Systems in America Chapter Three: Effort Appears Inadequate in the Modern World: Our Identities Are Shaped by Our Real Life Chances Chapter Four: Moving from the Status Quo to a 21st Century Financial Aid System Chapter Five: Children's Savings Accounts' Influence on the Opportunity Pipeline Chapter Six: Toward an Equitable Opportunity Pipeline: The Creation of a Uniquely American Proposal for the 21st Century Chapter Seven: Conclusion: The American Dream Needs a Wealth Agenda Appendix A: Descriptions of Some Children's Savings Account (CSA) Programs in the FieldReferences