Early Childhood Education and Tracking
International research indicates two aspects as important influence factors for equality of opportunity: early childhood education and age of tracking. In international comparisons, encompassing high-quality systems of early childhood education are associated with higher equality of opportunity for children from different social backgrounds. Shifting educational investments into early childhood could generally improve both equity and efficiency of an education system. In addition, later tracking of students into different types of schools is associated with greater equality of opportunity.
Here you can learn more about my research on this topic.
Two of my academic papers on the topic are:
Education Policy and Equality of Opportunity (with G. Schütz and H.W. Ursprung). Kyklos 61 (2): 279-308, 2008
Does Educational Tracking Affect Performance and Inequality? Differences-in-Differences Evidence across Countries (with E.A. Hanushek). Economic Journal 116 (510): C63-C76, 2006
An overview article:
Efficiency and Equity of European Education and Training Policies. International Tax and Public Finance 15 (2): 199-230, 2008