Jeanne Brooks-Gunn is the Virginia
and Leonard Marx Professor of Child Development at Teachers College
and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.
Professor Brooks-Gunn brings a rich background as a developmental
psychologist to the Center, specializing in policy-oriented research
that focuses on family and community influences on the development
of young children. Her research centers on designing and evaluating
interventions and policies aimed at enhancing the well-being of
children living in poverty.
Dr. Brookes-Gunn discussed what is
known about social-economic and ethnic gaps in school readiness. The
size of the gaps in achievement and behavior problems for different
groups were documented. Economic, health, parenting, and
child care conditions that underlie these gaps was discussed,
with an eye toward how much changes in each condition are likely to
reduce the readiness gaps. Finally, policies and programs that
address each condition were reviewed to examine their effectiveness
in reducing the gap. Recommendations for health, educational, and
economic policy followed.
Lecture Handouts
