The “Back to School” edition of This American Life focused on the traditional ways that we measure ability and intelligence in American schools, focusing on cognitive skills — what we generally consider to be conventional “book smarts.” Our current education system emphasizes these kinds of skills and measures them primarily through standardized testing.

However, there is a growing body of research that suggests that “non-cognitive skills” — qualities like tenacity, resilience, impulse control —  have a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Studies also show that poverty- and family-related stress can affect brain development, and inhibit the development of these non-cognitive skills.

Essentially, a child with a difficult home life could have a really challenging time learning, because of the actual biology of their brain.

Give it a listen, it’s fascinating stuff.