Disproportionately higher numbers of America’s most disadvantaged children grow up without the skills needed to thrive. Along lines of income, race and ethnicity, and geography, inequality in education persists. In a country where highly competent and skilled workers are valued, low levels of performance among the most disadvantaged create long-term gaps that reinforce the systems of power already in place. 

Further, social domains - families, neighborhoods, communities - have direct effects on what and how much children learn. Children growing up in low-income neighborhoods, for example, are much more likely to experience repeated stress that inhibits cognitive development. Rising income inequality in the United States over the past five decades has widened the disparities between rich and poor families and neighborhoods, exacerbating the differences between schools and, therefore, opportunities for students. 

Here in Philadelphia, the achievement gap continues to grow. Many Philadelphia communities lack sufficient high-quality early childhood education options; the gaps in achievement between low- and middle-income students begin early in their educations, becoming insurmountable by the fifth grade (PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development). 
 

At GiftEd Philly, we understand that there can be no one solution that will ensure every child has access to the same opportunities for learning and growth; yet, we seek to position ourselves as leaders in the field of private tutoring, a method of instruction historically closed off from most in underserved communities and schools.

Every child deserves access to a knowledgeable, engaged, and caring educator, and at GiftEd Philly our mission is to deliver on that promise, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Private tutoring can help any student, of any age, and every ability. Solving problems in educational inequality is multidimensional and requires leadership in worlds outside of education, too; at GiftEd Philly, we believe access to expert tutors who are talented at creating alliances with students and families is a worthy first step.