We can change who we are. We can improve ourselves in various ways, and we can give ourselves possibilities.

My family life is a deep source of satisfaction.

Schooling after the second grade plays only a minor role in creating or reducing gaps.

Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve grasped the truth.

Schools should look behind classroom doors and determine the factors that contribute to the kinds of interactions between teachers and students that promote student achievement.

Early intervention programs enrich adverse family environments. The largest effects of the early intervention programs are on noncognitive traits. Now, what do I mean by that? I mean perseverance, motivation, self-esteem, and hard work.

Early investment in the lives of disadvantaged children will help reduce inequality, in both the short and the long run.