School Hopscotch: A Comprehensive Review of K–12 Student Mobility in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard O. Welsh

This article provides an integrative review of the extant literature on K–12 student mobility in the United States. Student mobility is a widespread phenomenon with significant policy implications. Changing schools is most prevalent among minority and low-income students in urban school districts. There is an ongoing debate about whether student mobility is helpful or harmful. Earlier research compared movers with nonmovers using cross-sectional data and did not always include controls for the students’ prior achievement and demographic characteristics. Studies in the past decade compared movers with themselves over time using longitudinal data and provided more convincing estimates. Overall, switching schools is associated with a negative impact on students’ educational outcomes; however, transferring to higher quality schools may offset and outweigh the transition costs of moving. Strong causal claims are elusive due to considerable data and methodological challenges and the inability to account for the motivating reasons for changing schools.

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-65
Author(s):  
Ilya Slavinski ◽  
Kimberly Spencer-Suarez

Over the last several decades, with the rise of mass incarceration in the United States and its steep costs, governments at the federal, state, and local levels have dramatically ramped up monetary punishment. Monetary sanctions are now the most common type of criminal penalty in the United States. The growth of fines, fees, and other legal financial obligations (LFOs), and the ensuing legal debt, reflect a shifting of the system’s costs onto its primarily low-income and indigent subjects. This study provides an exploration of previously underexamined ways in which monetary sanctions impose distinct burdens on the poor. Interviews with 121 defendants in Texas and New York, along with courtroom observations, demonstrate that criminal legal debt is particularly challenging for people with low incomes in three meaningful ways. First, systems set up to handle indigency claims do not adequately address the needs or complex individual circumstances of those who simply do not have the ability to pay. Oftentimes, alternatives are unavailable or statutorily prohibited. Second, the lack of alternatives to payment lead to compromising situations, which then compel indigent defendants to make difficult choices about how to allocate scant resources. Finally, being encumbered with fines and fees and participating in alternatives like community service comes with taxing time requirements that can prove uniquely challenging for those who are poor. These three findings lead us to propose a series of policy recommendations revolving around three key themes: (a) enhancement of indigency procedures, (b) equity in monetary sanctions, and (c) alleviating burdens by improving accessibility.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-39
Author(s):  
Marie-Rachelle Narcisse Jean-Louis ◽  
Holly C. Felix ◽  
Christopher R. Long ◽  
Emily S. English ◽  
Mary M. Bailey ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective Food insecurity is associated with a greater risk of depression among low-income adults in the United States. Members of food-insecure households have lower diet diversity than their food-secure counterparts. This study examined whether diet diversity moderates the association between food insecurity and depression. Design Multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine independent associations between food insecurity and depression, between diet diversity and depression, and the moderating effect of diet diversity in the food insecurity-depression link. Setting Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-14). Participants 2,636 low-income adults aged 18 years and older. Results There was a positive association between food insecurity and depression among low-income adults. Diet diversity was not associated with depression. Diet diversity had a moderating effect on the association between food insecurity and depression among low-income adults Conclusion Food insecurity is independently associated with depression among low-income adults in the United States. However, this association differs across levels of diet diversity. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the role diet diversity may play in the pathway between food insecurity and depression.


2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (10) ◽  
pp. 2385-2418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria M. Rodriguez ◽  
Lisceth Cruz

Background/Context The analysis contained in this article was commissioned by the Social Science Research Council's Transitions to College project. Although the historical context and contemporary issues associated with English learners (ELs) and undocumented immigrant students are in many ways distinct, the project team strongly believed that the college transition issues affecting these populations were increasingly salient in light of their rapid and continued growth throughout the United States. Purpose/Objective/Research Questions/Focus of Study The research questions guiding this analysis are: (1) What do we know and what do we need to know about the transition to college of EL and undocumented immigrant students? and (2) What are the resource and policy implications associated with the transition to college of these students? The chief purpose of this analysis is to synthesize the current research and thinking about the transitions to college of EL and undocumented immigrant students and to use the findings to develop a research agenda focused on emergent critical issues. The intent is to educate a research audience that is largely unfamiliar with the experiences of these unique populations and to inform future research directions. Research Design The analysis is situated within the broader context of immigrant educational attainment and integration in the United States. The two student populations are distinguished to delineate the particular college transition experiences of ELs versus undocumented students, while recognizing the overlaps that do exist. Thus, for each student population, the analysis synthesizes current literature and provides discussions of (a) student demographics for states and the United States, (b) student-level issues and factors, (c) K–12 issues and factors, (d) student agency, (e) postsecondary issues and factors, and (f) summary of critical challenges, barriers, and accomplishments relative to the college transition. The final element is a recommended research agenda developed from the issues revealed in this analysis. Findings/Results There is continued growth in the presence of EL and undocumented students, and this growth affects states with longstanding histories of immigrant presence, as well as states that have only recently had notable increases in these populations. Important to understanding the needs and potential of these two groups is that not all EL and undocumented students are new immigrants. Rather, many have only experienced education in the United States, having been born here or having arrived at a very young age with their families. From this analysis, it appears that English proficiency is as much a gatekeeping factor as it is a facilitative factor for EL and undocumented students in their successful college transitions. Unfortunately, because of the impact of poverty on these populations, the financial constraints of transitioning to college further compound the challenges already faced with regard to acquiring English and advanced subject matter proficiency. Two additional findings help to frame the college transition challenges of both EL and undocumented student populations: (1) There is a chasm between research-based best practices and the available human and material resources allocated in schools and colleges to support this objective, and (2) the role of the community college system is salient as a potential facilitative context, but one that is currently overburdened with multiple demands and shrinking resources. Conclusions/Recommendations The article presents an eight-point research agenda that addresses the challenges surfaced in the analysis. The points cover K–12 education, evaluations of the impact of legislation and programs, and postsecondary education, with the aim of improving the overall responsiveness of our educational institutions to the needs and strengths of our EL and undocumented student populations.


2009 ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Nobuo Akai ◽  
Masayo Hosio

Conventional approaches to fiscal decentralization suggest that decentralization lowers the power of redistribution, but recent theories argue that fiscal decentralization can work as a commitment device. The former effect is argued to cause an increase in inter-county inequality, while the latter suggests a decrease. This article first clarifies the relationship between fiscal decentralization and inter-county inequality by using cross-sectional data for the United States. Our result indicates that the achievement of autonomy by fiscal decentralization in poor (low-income) counties contributes to decreased inter-county inequality, but that this effect is not as large as the dominating adverse effect fiscal decentralization has on rich (highincome) counties.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Jacob Steinman ◽  
Athe Bambakidis

Purpose. Estimate the prevalence of and identify characteristics associated with religious congregations' collaboration with health agencies. Design. Cross-sectional analyses of self-report data from the National Congregations Study, a random sample of religious congregations generated from the 1998 General Social Survey. Setting. United States. Subjects. Key informants from 1236 congregations. Each respondent described a single congregation. Measures. Respondents provided open-ended descriptions of congregational programs. Researchers coded program descriptions by content (e.g., domestic violence) and whether the program involved collaboration with a secular agency. Other congregational characteristics (e.g., denomination) were measured by validated measures and linked census tract data. Results. Overall, 11.1% of congregations participated in faith-health collaboration (FHC). Logistic regression analyses found that FHC was more common among congregations with more members, with a small proportion of congregants under 35 years, and with a senior pastor with a graduate degree. Other effects were conditional; for instance, denominational differences varied depending on urban/suburban/rural location and the proportion of low-income members. Conclusion. This study provides the first national estimates of the prevalence of FHC. Such collaborative efforts may require different approaches in different areas. These results can help practitioners identify congregations that may be more willing to collaborate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S797-S798
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Rickenbach ◽  
Elizabeth H Rickenbach ◽  
Chih-Chien Huang ◽  
Jessica Y Allen ◽  
Kelly E Cichy

Abstract Cross-sectional studies reveal the health burden of grandparent caregiving. Still, longitudinal, research is needed to understand how grandparent caregiving compromises grandparents’ long-term health. Using three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), we examined sociodemographic factors, health and well-being outcomes between caregiving (CG) and non-caregiving (NCG) grandparents. By wave 3, 12.8% (n = 234) were CG. CG were younger, more likely female, and had lower income and education. MANCOVA adjusted for age, gender, education, and number of children revealed CG reported poorer physical and emotional well-being (e.g. higher depression, anxiety, lower life satisfaction, greater morbidity); CG were consistently less healthy than NCG across all three waves. Lower income and less healthy older adults are more likely to become grandparents, and they remain less healthy over time. Policies and resources to assist grandparents, particularly low-income and vulnerable older adults who are caring for grandchildren, are needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yhenneko J. Taylor ◽  
Victoria C. Scott ◽  
C. Danielle Connor

Background Despite legislation requiring break time and a private space to express milk, variations exist in accommodations for breastfeeding employees in the United States. Research Aims We aimed to describe employee and employer perceptions of and experiences with workplace lactation support in the United States and to identify research needed to inform workplace lactation support programs. Methods We searched Academic Search Complete, Business Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsycInfo for peer-reviewed articles published from 2009 to 2019 ( n = 1638). We included 27 articles. Studies were categorized into four non-exclusive themes: (a) employee perceptions of and experiences with workplace lactation support; (b) employer reports of workplace lactation support; (c) association between workplace lactation support and business outcomes; and (d) association between workplace lactation support and breastfeeding outcomes. Results Analyses of associations between lactation support at work and employee breastfeeding outcomes ( n = 14, 52%), and employee perceptions of and experiences with lactation support at work ( n = 14, 52%) were most common, followed by employer reports of lactation support ( n = 3, 11%) and associations between lactation support at work and job satisfaction ( n = 3, 11%). Results indicated that workplace lactation support varied by employer, and that employee perceptions of and experiences with workplace lactation support varied by demographic and employment characteristics. The use of cross-sectional designs, unvalidated instruments, and limited representation from women with low incomes and minorities were common study limitations. Conclusions More research is needed to learn about experiences of employers and low-income and minority women with workplace lactation support and associations with business-relevant outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Black ◽  
Richard E. Ferdig ◽  
April Fleetwood ◽  
Lindsay A. Thompson

BACKGROUND The United States public educational system encourages inclusion, integrating learners with different needs in the same classroom students, including those with chronic disability and illness. However, a small but significant number of students with chronic illnesses or disabilities may not be healthy enough to attend school in a traditional environment. Hospital homebound programs serve these children by providing educational instruction for those living with short-term and chronic disabilities in non-school settings. These programs are publicly supported, differing significantly from homeschooling where, traditionally, a child’s parent or guardian assumes responsibility for the delivery of educational services. The limited research exploring hospital homebound programs describes them as challenged, characterized by instructors who may lack the qualifications to teach critical core subject matters and teach with limited instructional time. As online learning continues to become more mainstream in the United States, it is important to explore the impact that the medium could have on students with differing needs. The flexibility afforded by online education may provide opportunities for learners with disability that necessitates absence from traditional learning environments. OBJECTIVE This study sought to describe how a subset of learners with disability, those with a hospital-homebound designation, perform in K-12 online classes, particularly as compared to non-hospital homebound counterparts. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was performed of all Florida Virtual School course enrollments from August 1, 2012, to July 31, 2018. Researchers analyzed 2,534-course enrollments associated with students who, at the time of their course enrollment, had hospital-homebound designation, and a comparison group of 5,470,591 enrollments from students without hospital-homebound status. RESULTS Hospital-homebound designed student academic performance was equivalent to their non-hospital homebound counterparts (P = .05 - .28). But, hospital-homebound course enrollments were 26% more likely to result in a withdrawal prior to grade generation (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Hospital-homebound students represent a population under-served by many education systems, including online education. The results of this study provided evidence that when they can remain enrolled, hospital-homebound learners experience equivalent academic outcomes in online learning environments. These findings suggest that healthcare professionals should be made aware of the potentially equivalent outcomes for their patients, and virtual schools should seek to identify and create supports for these students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia Thao ◽  
Irán Barrera ◽  
Uyen (Sophie) Nguyen

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a major public health concern in the United States as childhood trauma can lead to long-term health and mental health consequences. They disproportionally affect low-income children of diverse backgrounds; however, parent education can potentially reduce ACEs among low-income young children. This study aims to examine whether parents’ perceptions toward ACEs changed after exposure to ACEsrelated infographic education. In this study, we identified three main themes across the focus group interviews that highlight the importance of ACEs-related educational intervention. Following the ACEs-related education, our study found that the vast majority of participants’ attitudes toward and perceptions of ACEs changed from normalizing ACEs to acknowledging and accepting the consequences of ACEs; the participants also reported feeling empowered to prevent the cycle of ACEs. More importantly, the participants recognized that ACEs could cause long-term traumatic damage to the exposed child’s health outcomes, and they felt empowered to seek resources for ACEs-related interventions. These findings shed positive light on the significance of educating parents on ACEs, which should be considered for policy implications and program interventions to prevent child maltreatment in the United States. We propose an intervention model using the health literacy and educational empowerment frameworks along with other policy recommendations that highlight the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate services for diverse families living in low-income housing communities.


Author(s):  
Neeraj Bhandari ◽  
Kavita Batra ◽  
Soumya Upadhyay ◽  
Christopher Cochran

The resilience of the healthcare industry, often considered recession-proof, is being tested by the COVID-19 induced reductions in physical mobility and restrictions on elective and non-emergent medical procedures. We assess early COVID-19 effects on the dynamics of decline and recovery in healthcare labor markets in the United States. Descriptive analyses with monthly cross-sectional data on unemployment rates, employment, labor market entry/exit, and weekly work hours among healthcare workers in each healthcare industry and occupation, using the Current Population Survey from July 2019−2020 were performed. We found that unemployment rates increased dramatically for all healthcare industries, with the strongest early impacts on dentists’ offices (41.3%), outpatient centers (10.5%), physician offices (9.5%), and home health (7.8%). Lower paid workers such as technologists/technicians (10.5%) and healthcare aides (12.6%) were hit hardest and faced persistently high unemployment, while nurses (4%), physicians/surgeons (1.4%), and pharmacists (0.7%) were spared major disruptions. Unique economic vulnerabilities faced by low-income healthcare workers may need to be addressed to avoid serious disruptions from future events similar to COVID-19.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document