I entered the classroom with the naive notion that all challenges to public education in property poor districts stemmed from challenges relating to segregation and funding. School funding certainly represents an obstacle to public education, but no amount of funding will prove adequate in closing the opportunity gap and fostering long-term school improvement until parents, schools, and business leaders stand in solidarity against poverty. At IDEA, I noticed a common trend among students who most successfully capitalized on the opportunities the schools offered. Many of these students had attended Head Start or similar programs that not only promoted educational attainment among low-income children, but also empowered community members by offering a variety of free classes such as finance, community organizing and parenting. While IDEA attempted to restore agency to students through college preparatory programs, I found Head Start affected more long-term change simply because of its focus on uniting community members under a common
I entered the classroom with the naive notion that all challenges to public education in property poor districts stemmed from challenges relating to segregation and funding. School funding certainly represents an obstacle to public education, but no amount of funding will prove adequate in closing the opportunity gap and fostering long-term school improvement until parents, schools, and business leaders stand in solidarity against poverty. At IDEA, I noticed a common trend among students who most successfully capitalized on the opportunities the schools offered. Many of these students had attended Head Start or similar programs that not only promoted educational attainment among low-income children, but also empowered community members by offering a variety of free classes such as finance, community organizing and parenting. While IDEA attempted to restore agency to students through college preparatory programs, I found Head Start affected more long-term change simply because of its focus on uniting community members under a common