Enrichment Opportunity
Education extends beyond the classroom.
In 1972, wealthy parents spent 4.2 times as much as low-income parents on their children. More than thirty years later, they spend 6.7 times as much. All parents want to be able to pay for enrichment experiences for their children, including music lessons, coding classes, and summer camps, but many lack the means to make this a reality.
Enrichment programs and activities help students excel.
Research shows that music and art lessons can develop tolerance and empathy; museum and theatre trips can boost academic achievement and overall well-being; and participation in sports can boost self-confidence and teamwork. For advanced students, access to enrichment opportunities, such as a summer science camp, have been shown to increase the likelihood that they will innovate later in life.
Enrichment access can help our brightest succeed.
Making enrichment access a reality can pay dividends. A study by Opportunity Insights found that students with high mathematical ability were more likely to innovate later in life if they were exposed to innovation during their K-12 careers. This includes participating in enrichment activities.
The parental "arms race" is real. And it matters.
The wealthiest parents are spending more and more on their children’s educational enrichment, and the gap is growing. This chart shows this concerning trend (based on Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Enrichment Expenditures on Children, Top vs. Bottom Income Quintiles, 1972-2006 (in 1980 USD)
Calculations based on Consumer Expenditure Surveys, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Enrichment access is needed to level the playing field for college.
With more and more colleges and universities deciding to eliminate the use of standardized tests to determine who will enter their first-year classes, bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds need to be able to show that they are “well-rounded” – a term that is highly correlated with income. Enrichment access provides these students the ability to compete with their wealthier peers, especially for seats at the country’s most prestigious institutions.