The role of learning environment in education has been researched by educational policy experts for years.  This question also goes back to the nature vs. nurture debate.  Inclusion, being taught in the same high quality learning environment, is essential for equal schooling.  For example, No Child Left Behind provides that students with special needs be taught in a least restrictive environment (LRE).  
 
Furthermore, parents want their children to go to the best schools, because they feel that a positive learning environment hugely affects their children’s learning.  Many parents seek alternative schooling environments for their children.  The “types of schools” section on Education.com shows the many choices parents have when considering what school environment they want for their children:
http://www.education.com/topic/types-of-schools/
 
Contemplating the role environment plays in education can seem never ending, but doing so makes us rethink how the school can provide the best learning situation for its students.
 
Best,
 
Hayley

Hi Loddie1, I am glad to know that you are so concerned about the role environment plays in education. You are right to say that they are many social variables to factor in when it comes to trying to find out if environment plays a role in education. There have many studies on the impact of different variables on education, but every study has a different answer. One factor that you might be interested in learning more about would be social economic status and its role in education. I think that social economic status has a large impact on academic achievement. You can learn more information on it by reading “The Nation’s Report Card” by clicking on the link below. The Nation’s Report Card includes assessment measures on different subjects. One measure was how children eligible for free/reduced lunch did on the subject tests compared to children that were not eligible. I think SES, as well as the other factors that you mentioned, need to be studied more so they can be there can be conclusive answers which will be needed to get more funding so that factors that create a negative impact on education can be addressed and fixed.

Very interesting and thanks Rj for the link.