Abstract

Schools are one of the most influential contexts for children’s development in our society. By the time they graduate from high school, children and adolescents will have spent more time in schools than any other social institution outside their home and community. Schools not only influence children’s acquisition of knowledge and skills, but also provide an important context for their social and emotional growth. From the way schools are organized to the instructional and social processes that occur within and outside classrooms, children’s daily experiences at school affect their behavior, beliefs, and well-being. Additionally, the cumulative effects of children’s schooling experiences strongly contribute to their lives as adults, including future educational opportunities, career choices, and lifetime earnings.