James J. Heckman
The American Family in Black &amp; White: A Post-Racial Strategy for Improving Skills to Promote Equality
American Bar Foundation|American Academy of Arts and Sciences
contemporary america racial gaps achievement primarily due gaps skills skill gaps emerge early children enter school families major producers skills inequality performance school strongly linked inequality family environments schools little reduce enlarge gaps skills present children enter school parenting matters true measure child advantage disadvantage quality parenting received growing fraction american children across race ethnic groups raised dysfunctional families investment early lives children disadvantaged families help close achievement gaps america currently relies much schools adolescent remediation strategies solve problems start preschool years policy prevent rather remediate voluntary culturally sensitive support parenting politically economically palatable strategy addresses problems common racial ethnic groups