“An Investigation of the Relations Between School Concentrations of Student Risk-Factors and Student Educational Well-Being” was recently published in Educational Researcher. The study identifies several risks factors – low maternal education, inadequate prenatal care, homelessness, and maltreatment – in order to determine the relationship between these variables and educational outcomes. It utilizes administrative data to follow a cohort of third grade students in a large urban school district. Findings indicate that concentrations of poverty and race do not significantly affect the reading and attendance levels of students, but they show that in classrooms with high percentages of children who experience these risk factors, all students, even those who do not have the risk factors, are negatively affected. This study identifies the schools themselves and community collaborations as areas to implement better school performance. Results demonstrate that utilizing IDS allows for a more extensive examination of issues such as educational achievement and can lead to better policy solutions.
For more information: http://edr.sagepub.com/content/43/1/25.abstract?rss=1