What does the Matthew effect refer to in education?

The Matthew effect in education captures the phenomenon where students who have early advantages in literacy and reading skills tend to continue to excel, while those who struggle in these areas often fall further behind. This concept draws its name from a biblical verse that suggests those who have the most resources or opportunities will gain even more, while those with fewer resources will lose more. In literacy, this translates to proficient readers having access to more books and opportunities for practice, while struggling readers may not receive the support they need, thus widening the gap in their reading abilities over time.

This understanding highlights the importance of early interventions and equitable access to resources in educational settings to help prevent the widening of this gap. The other choices do not accurately describe the Matthew effect; they refer instead to various instructional or assessment strategies that, while valuable, do not capture the broader socioeconomic implications of literacy development as described by the Matthew effect.