Family Strategies for Rural-to-Urban Migrant Children Under the Points-Based Admission Policy in China

Family factors significantly influence rural-to-urban migrant children’s educational opportunities within the framework of education policies. In this research, we examined rural-to-urban migrant families’ strategies for the urban education of their children in the context of China’s points-based admission policy. We investigated how family capital and willingness to participate impact their children’s access to educational opportunities. The results reveal that the points-based admission policy prioritizes “ability first” while allowing for diverse indicators that accommodate various types of rural-to-urban migrant families. In the points-based admission process, different family types adopt distinct strategies, including the “capital transformation” strategy of high-capital–high-willingness families; the “quit voluntarily” strategy of high-capital–low-willingness families; the “try one’s best” strategy of low-capital–high-willingness families; and the “let nature take its course” strategy of low-capital–low-willingness families. The admission policy based on allocating points favors rural-to-urban migrant children from families with high capital. Nevertheless, those from families with low capital are not entirely excluded from educational opportunities in other locations. These families possess a strong capacity for action, propelled by their eagerness to engage. Within the framework of educational policies, the amalgamation of family capital and willingness to participate serves as the driving force behind rural-to-urban migrant children’s access to educational prospects, with educational expectations serving a regulatory function. Exploring the family strategies for rural-to-urban migrant children’s urban education can enhance educational policies for this demographic and offer valuable recommendations for their sustainable development.