The ‘Success Sequence’ Goes to School

Family-life classes in Tennessee will focus on work and marriage

By Patrick T. Brown. He is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Excerpts:

"In the latest National Association of Educational Progress, red states such as Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee outperformed blue bastions such as Oregon, California and Maine."

"Young adults who graduate from high school, work full-time and avoid having children outside marriage are more likely to thrive across many social and economic measures than those who don’t. Proponents call this path the “success sequence.”"

"Among Americans who spend at least half the year working or looking for work, the share officially classified as “in poverty” is only 4%." 

"A 2023 poll of parents across five Sun Belt states found high levels of support for teaching students about the sequence in public schools."