Restoring Opportunity

In this landmark volume, Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane lay out a meticulously researched case showing how--in a time of spiraling inequality--strategically targeted interventions and supports can help schools significantly improve the life chances of low-income children. A crowning contribution from two leading economists in the field of education, Restoring Opportunity is a passionate call to action on behalf of the young people on whom our nation's future depends. "Duncan and Murnane provide a no-nonsense view of the growing educational gap between the haves and the have-nots in America. They also scour the landscape to find promising solutions that provide hope for better outcomes in the future. This is a thoughtful book that should be read with the care it merits." -- Joel Klein, CEO of Amplify, and former chancellor, New York City Department of Education "This thorough examination of our public school system provides a clear picture of some of the toughest challenges--particularly those facing low-income students--and the directions in which we need to go to fix them. This book should be on the desk of every educator and policy maker in America so we can begin to change the odds for all of America's children." -- Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO, Harlem Children's Zone "Anyone who cares about improving schools should read this book. Duncan and Murnane offer detailed case studies of effective programs to improve schools that can boost the life chances of disadvantaged children. The authors present a careful analysis, grounded in economics and education, of the ways to make better schooling available to all of the nation's low-income children." -- David K. Cohen, John Dewey Collegiate Professor of Education and professor of public policy, University of Michigan Greg J. Duncan is a distinguished professor in the Department of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Richard J. Murnane is the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.