The Weekly Connect 4/21/2026

Nature Communications: Disparities in Childhood Human Capital Investments in the United States

Using ten nationally representative surveys of participants in the United States, researchers from the University of Maryland examined public, private, and family time investments in children. Examples of investments include government-provided or family-obtained services, such as health care, food assistance, education, and transportation. The average cost of all investments for a child from birth to age 18 is $502,152. Children from higher-income households receive around $86,000 more in total investments compared to children from lower-income households. Similarly, white children receive more investments throughout their lives compared to their peers. The largest funding disparities occur for children between birth and age five, mostly due to differences in affordable housing and child care. Investment differences narrow at six years old when children can attend public school. Therefore, the researchers suggest that federal policy should focus on reducing inequalities in early childhood investments.  

American Enterprise Institute: An Extra Point for Attendance: The Impact of High School Varsity Athletics on Absenteeism

The American Enterprise Institute examined attendance records and varsity sports participation for students in Indiana. Research has shown that athletes are more engaged in school, have fewer disciplinary issues, stronger relationships, and higher grades. About 23% of students played a varsity sport. Compared to their non-varsity-playing peers, these students were more likely to be white, male, from rural schools, pay full price for school meals, and have better math scores. Non-varsity athletes had a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.9%, while varsity athletes had a rate of 10%. Varsity athletes also had better attendance during their sports season and were less likely to be chronically absent. Students who played more than one sport during the school year had even lower chronic absenteeism rates. The research highlights that while not all students would be able to or benefit from varsity sports, expanding varsity sports opportunities for students could further improve their attendance rates. See also: As Climate Change Threatens Student Athlete Safety, States Try to Adapt 

Afterschool Alliance: Uncertain Times for Afterschool Programs: Concerns Over Sustainability, Students’ Well-being, and Federal Actions Top of Mind

A new survey released by Afterschool Alliance found that afterschool program providers are increasingly concerned about funding, program sustainability, and young people’s well-being. Program providers offer a variety of programs for students, including homework help, STEM learning opportunities, physical activity, and food services. In the past year, community organizations were impacted by the government shutdown and federal budget cuts, which had consequences for families receiving financial assistance. 

Over three-quarters of providers are concerned about hiring staff for their programs. Nine in ten after-school program providers worry about students’ mental health, food access, and academic performance. Additionally, 85% of providers are concerned that children who would benefit the most from after-school programs are unable to access them. Survey respondents noted that their programs help students connect with their peers, develop communication and critical thinking skills, experience leadership opportunities, and receive family support services. 

K-12 Dive: How the Education Department Will Prioritize AI in Awarding Grants 

The U.S. Department issued its final rule on AI priorities and definitions to inform school districts and colleges that will apply for the agency’s grant programs. The new priorities include expanding AI and computer science offerings in schools and teacher training programs, offering dual-enrollment opportunities for students to earn college credits or industry credentials in AI, and using AI to support learner differences through personalized instruction. This policy comes at the same time as many states and school districts are creating their own guidelines for using AI in the classroom. The initial proposed rule in July was criticized by education advocates who were concerned that funding for the AI education initiatives would take away money from other essential education programs, and argued that it should instead come from a separate funding stream. The new rule will go into effect on May 13. See also: First Grants Announced Under Labor Dept Elementary and Secondary Ed Partnership 

WYFI: Governor to Tap $200M for Frozen Child Care Voucher Program, Enroll 14K Kids from Waitlist

Indiana’s Governor Mike Braun announced a new proposal to incorporate $200 million of additional funds into a program to support low-income families paying for child care. The money would be diverted from an account that covered shortfalls at other agencies. The funding would pay for 14,000 children to receive vouchers through the state’s Child Care and Development Fund. Currently, there are 35,000 children on the waitlist, and the vouchers would prioritize those in foster care. There will be no changes to reduced reimbursement rates for children who are currently enrolled in the program. Without the additional funds, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration would not have been able to issue new vouchers until 2027. The proposal will create a stopgap for families to receive support before a new state budget is created next year. It also further supports a new law that allows the state to use the Financial Responsibility and Opportunity Growth Fund to help pay for child care vouchers.

Chalkbeat: How Dubious High School Credentials Like Ladder Safety are Boosting Pennsylvania’s Graduation Rate

Starting with the Class of 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education introduced new graduation requirements to support students who struggle with standardized testing. One Bright Ray Community High School in Philadelphia developed a new graduation pathway, which has been adopted by other schools in the district. In addition to passing their classes, students must present three pieces of “evidence” that they are ready to graduate, which can include earning industry-recognized credentials, receiving a certain score on standardized tests, or enrolling in a pre-apprenticeship program. Educators have noticed students obtaining easy credentials to fulfill the requirement, such as ladder safety, which might have little relevance to their lives after graduation. The course is popular because it is quick to complete and free; since high schools do not receive additional funding for students to earn credentials, students also have limited options for high-quality courses to take, especially in lower-income school districts. While graduation rates have improved since 2023 in Pennsylvania, students’ math and reading test scores have declined. 

K-12 Dive: How Mentoring Programs Spur Student Success in a New York District

Baldwin Union Free School District in New York has run a faculty-to-student mentoring program for the past 25 years. In the 2024-25 school year, the school also added a new mentoring initiative. The Peer2Peer Path Program pairs underclassmen and upperclassmen together. The 40 mentor-mentee pairs were chosen based on the students’ common interests. These initiatives focus on supporting students academically and social-emotionally, as well as providing opportunities for them to think about post-secondary interests with a peer who is only a few years older than them. The superintendent noted the program aims at supporting students with “challenges that students face, such as social media and a greater sense of loneliness.” It also improves students’ self-confidence and self-esteem, and leads them to be more civically engaged—one aspect of the program is that faculty and students complete a service project together.