Robin Jacob, U-M Youth Policy Lab founder and associate professor, discusses the creation of “High 5s,” a math enrichment program developed to help close the achievement gap. Jacob notes that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for development, and many learning opportunities often lag for those in low-income households. The faculty expert highlights that the program makes math exciting, encouraging positive feelings toward the subject, ultimately increasing kindergartners’ math performance by 15%.
