One factor that has increased the intelligence of children over generations is the importance of schooling and education.  A study conducted by Ashenfelter and Rouse (2000), stated that schooling increases the intellectual development of children and therefore contributes to the intelligence of even those children with the lowest ability levels.  Because of these studies, opportunities for children to realize their genetic potential for intelligence has become greater than those of their parents.  This in turn, has caused the mean IQ levels to rise, as a larger percentage of the population is receiving education up to, and usually beyond the grade 12 level. 

            There are now programs aimed towards improving the social environments of disadvantaged children so that they are provided with the same opportunity as all other children.  Programs such as Head Start make the social environment of disadvantaged children more favorable to intellectual development and thus help the children reach their ultimate potential for intelligence.