THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Board on Children, Youth, and Families
Committee on Exploring the Opportunity Gap for Young Children from Birth to Age Eight
*****
Congressional Briefing
Thursday May 11, 2023 –12:30 p.m.
via Zoom
on
Closing the Opportunity Gap for Young Children
This new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies and describes the causes, costs, and effects of the opportunity gap in young children and explores how disparities in access to quality educational experiences, health care, and positive developmental experiences from birth through age eight intersect with key academic, health, and economic outcomes. The report identifies drivers of these gaps in three key domains—education, mental health, and physical health—and offers recommendations for policy makers for addressing these gaps so that all children in the United States have the opportunity to thrive. In addition, the report offers a detailed set of recommendations for policy makers, practitioners, community organizations, and philanthropic organizations to reduce opportunity gaps in education, health, and social-emotional development.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on May 16, 2023 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.