Framing the WHY:

Why we must ENGAGE

Research tells us that the path to the workforce begins in the middle grades. For example, 8th grade students who believe that their desired career requires a college education are more likely to complete college, and students who express interest in a STEM career at this age are more likely to graduate with a STEM degree (Bedsworth, Colby, and Doctor 2006; Tai et al. 2006). On the other hand, students who go off track in middle school often struggle to recover; 6th grade students who attended school less than 80% of the time, received a poor final behavior mark, or failed math or English had less than a 25% chance of graduating from high school (Balfanz 2009). By focusing on middle school, we capitalize on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on high school graduation and college matriculation, while building their skills and networks so that they can reach those goals.

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We have schools a mile apart with 11% low income students versus 99% low income students. The median wealth of single white men under the age of 35 is 14.6 times greater than that of single Black men, and 224.2 times greater than that of single Black women. While high school graduation rates have increased, there is still a 28% difference between those that are white and their black counterparts. Generations of systemic challenges have created too few of our nation's children the opportunity to thrive.  The future work landscape in the United States is uncharted with opportunities that will demand new talents and skills. Yet, the majority of our students lack the opportunities and networks needed to thrive in this shifting landscape. 

 

While specific, intersectional breakdowns matching that exact format (single, demographic, and under 35) are not published on a standard basis in every annual Federal Reserve update, the broad data shows that the gap has actually widened in absolute terms. 

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The overall trend from the most recent Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances shows:

• Overall Household Disparity: The median wealth for a typical White household is $285,000, compared to $44,900 for a typical Black household.

• The Relative Gap: Black households currently hold about 15 cents for every dollar of wealth held by White households, which is roughly the same proportional ratio as 2019.

• The Absolute Gap: Because White household wealth grew much faster in total dollars during the pandemic recovery, the absolute dollar gap between the median White and Black family grew by nearly $50,000. 

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So while individual net worths rose across the board, since 2019, the structural gap between the groups remains heavily skewed.

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