There are many educational programs and practices that separate students from their social
network in school or class. For example, school busing programs and policies that enhance school
choice in order to increase school productivity (by introducing competition among schools) often
detach students from their childhood social network.1 Other policies that often lead to students being
separated from their friends include educational reforms that redesign school zones or catchment
areas, programs which expand student access to high-performing schools, or reassigning students
when they advance to a higher grade in primary school.2 Social and welfare programs, such as the US
Moving to Opportunity, also detach though voluntarily children from their childhood social
environment.
3 The consequences of such social detachment are usually not taken into account in
policy making circles4
, even though it is well documented in the sociology and psychology literature
that students' social networks are important for their academic performances and overall development
(Wentzel 1993, Roseth et al. 2008).
5