If there’s one thing that’s clear from the reams of polling data gathered this election cycle, it’s that American voters are concerned about social mobility. Two thirds of Americans believe that it will be harder for them to achieve the American dream than it was for their parents, and even more believe it will be harder still for their own children.

The data on social mobility in the U.S. are startling.  Children born in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution have a 4 in 10 chance of remaining there in adulthood.

What role can schools play in putting more low-income children on the path toward success, and what would schools need to do differently in order to do a better job?

In this episode of the EdNext podcast, Marty West sits down with Mike Petrilli, author of a new book, Education for Upward Mobility, that addresses these questions.

The EdNext Podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and here every Wednesday.

—Education Next