In recent years, the deep structural challenges facing boys and men in America—in education, employment, mental health, and family life—have received increased attention from policymakers. Governors and state agency leaders have launched various initiatives to support male economic, educational, and mental well-being, signaling a potential turning point in public discourse. Yet awareness alone is insufficient: These programs need rigorous evidence and informed policy to sustain their impact.
This volume contributes to scholarship on K–12 education, a field where gender gaps are stark, measurable, and actionable. Boys consistently trail girls in reading and behavioral outcomes, with consequences that continue into adulthood. Contributors from multiple disciplines diagnose systemic issues in boys’ education, explore the underlying mechanisms behind them, and identify strategies for intervention. The hope is that addressing disparities between boys’ and girls’ academic and behavioral development will improve outcomes for students of all genders.
Additional content: Richard V. Reeves previews the volume for its impact in a guest post for the AAPSS’s blog
