After you read this chapter, you should be able to

7.1 Argue how America’s view of immigrants and assimilation shifted from the “melting pot” metaphor to “cultural pluralism” and its implications for American education.
7.2 Critique how the American public schools became a major socializing agent for generations of children.
7.3 Support the view that family socioeconomic status influences U.S. students’ skills, social capital, outlooks, and opportunities.
7.4 Assess the contradictory roles of American public schools, how these appear in practice, and their implications for the social mobility and the achievement/opportunity gap.
7.5 Describe the poverty factors that can adversely affect a child’s school success.
7.6 Assess how residential and school segregation and school integration impact students’ academic achievement and life outcomes.
7.7 Identify and discuss the school factors and practices that contribute to the achievement/opportunity gap.
7.8 Identify and describe the school factors and practices that can reduce the achievement/opportunity gap.