We know that right now, during the first three years of life, a child born into a low-income

family hears 30 million fewer words than a child born into a well-off family.

It's been nearly two decades since we learned about the word gap.

That's right, the word gap.

By the end of the age of three, children who are born into poverty will have heard 30

million fewer words than their more affluent peers.

For decades, this finding has shaped how teachers and policymakers approach child development.

Let's find new ways to deliver a world-class education to our children.

Bridge the word gap and put more young people on a path to success.

You're listening to Code Switch.

I'm Shrine Madisol Miraji, Jeans on Vacation.

On this episode, we're talking all about the so-called 30 million word gap.

The study done in the early 90s that found that kids growing up in poverty hear 30 million

fewer words at home.

By the time there are three, then kids whose parents are quote unquote professional class.

It was huge.

I mean, it was the kind of thing that NPR does like dozens of stories on.

And you know, it was on television.

It was cited more than 8,000 times.

That's Anya Kaminets.

She's an NPR education correspondent.

And before he left, Jean talked to her all about the super popular study.

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