The future impacts of poverty result in reduced lifetime earnings, poorer health and limited future opportunities. Societal impacts resulting from a poorly educated population include increased healthcare costs, lower productivity growth, and increased rates of criminal offending (Boston, 2013). Michael and Dwyer (2008) argue that in the future economy there will be even fewer job opportunities for people with limited education. This assertion poses additional difficulties for those suffering from poverty, especially when research indicates that those affected by poverty are more likely to leave school with little or no academic achievement (Michael & Dwyer, 2008). Research from further studies shows that large percentages of children born into disadvantaged families do not enjoy high levels of educational success (Boston, 2013). Children suffering the effects of poverty also have fewer prospects of achieving higher academic aspirations due to the strong belief that university studies are reserved for those from middle-class families (Thrupp, 2006). Michael & Dwyer's (2008) report concludes that completing an education is clearly the best protection against long-term poverty. However, educational economist Helen Ladd (2012) suggests this