10/06/2026
Earning potential determined at age 11 !?!?!?
Research links stronger math skills in childhood to higher earnings at 30, more than equal gains in reading, health, or relationships. The biggest payoff? Around age 11. 4th and 5th grade.
And only 1 in 8 elementary teacher prep programs adequately prepares teachers to teach math.
The most important math years. The least-prepared adults. Not their fault, but it is our responsibility.
Everybody can be brought along. And it starts with the adults. 🤎
Sources: OECD PISA 2025 · Urban Institute (2024) · NCTQ via Center for American Progress · Learning Policy Institute (2026)
• PISA math and the 1-in-8 stat: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-evidence-based-strategies-to-improve-u-s-k-12-math-achievement-in-wake-of-2025-pisa-results/
• Urban Institute math and earnings
report:https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/Comparing_the_Long-Term_Impacts_of_Different_Child_Well-Being_Improvements.pdf