Michael Wald: Education and Parenting Policies Needed for Poorest 20%

Stanford University Professor of Law Michael Wald notes that poverty is a core factor impacting school success, noting that the 20% of students not likely to graduate high school tend to be among the poorest in the United States. Wald argues that poverty generates a range of stressful circumstances that distract parents from providing the stimulating home life that promotes academic success. For these families, a coherent system of services is required—one that works with the parents as well as the students. Wald observes that programs that work only with the child don't help the parents who are deeply struggling.

This interview followed Wald's SCOPE Brown Bag Lecture: "Improving Educational Outcomes By Improving Parenting" on December 9, 2013.