Child Maltreatment and School Performance

Abstract

This study compares a large random sample of maltreated children to smaller random comparison samples of the general school population and children receiving social services to investigate effects of abuse and neglect on school performance. With controls for diverse background factors, maltreated children display deficits relative to each comparison sample with respect to many school outcomes, including grades, test scores, and absences. In comparison with the deficits in school outcomes borne by children receiving social services, those associated with maltreatment, though statistically distinguishable, are substantively similar.