"The central motivation for this book is imagining an alternative to the student loan program that better aligns with America's belief that effort and ability should be the deciding factors in determining economic differences. It positions postsecondary education properly as the central lever by which American children can secure for themselves promising futures, and it supports analysis of the extent to which current policy interventions facilitate these mechanisms, or not."-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Two paths, one dream -- Education is still our best hope -- The student loan program has an equity problem -- Evidence of a paradigm in crisis -- Delayed dreams -- Can't see the forest for the trees -- Assets provide a launching pad for economic mobility -- Children's savings accounts : the next evolution in financial aid -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Methods.