High School Graduation Rates Research Articles

Could minimum grading enhance high school graduation rates and cost-effectiveness across Arkansas?

High school graduation is a pivotal milestone that can shape students' future, offering them opportunities for higher education and gainful employment. Because research shows grade point averages and course failures to be predictive of high school graduation, it is important for students' life outcomes that their teachers assign them equitable grades. However, recent research has scrutinized how schools have traditionally graded students, calling for new approaches such as minimum grading. In this analysis, we simulate the economic impacts of implementing a minimum grading policy statewide during the ninth-grade year of the cohort of students who were in ninth grade in 2015-16 in Arkansas. On average, in Arkansas public schools, we estimate that minimum grading would affect about one (narrow bound) to 3% (broad bound) of students, increase cost-effectiveness by 6% (narrow bound) to 23% (broad bound), largely varying across districts, and have essentially no impact on the return on investment. The application of minimum grading shifted 1% of failing course grades to passing, thereby positioning 10% of previously failing students to pass. These findings suggest that minimum grading could serve as a cost-effective strategy to enhance graduation rates in districts with higher rates of affected students, without necessitating additional educational spending.

Association Between Institution ZIP Code Characteristics and NIH Funding.

Introduction. While racial NIH funding disparities have been identified, little is known about the link between community demographics of institutions and NIH funding. We sought to evaluate the association between institution zip code characteristics and NIH funding. Methods. We linked the 2011-2021 NIH RePORTER database to Census data. We calculated the funding to each institution and stratified institutions into funding quartiles. We defined out independent variables as institution ZIP code level race/ethnicity (White, Black, and Hispanic), and socioeconomic status (household income, high school graduation rate, and unemployment rate). We used ordinal regression models to evaluate the association between institution ZIP code characteristics and grant funding quartile. Results. We included 731,548 grants (US$271,495,839,744) from 3,971 ZIP codes. The funding amounts in millions of U.S. dollars for the funding quartiles were fourth - 0.25, third - 1.1, second - 3.8, first - 43.5. Using ordinal regression, we found an association between increasing unemployment rate (OR = 1.03 [1.02, 1.05]), increasing high school graduation rate (OR = 3.6 [1.6, 8.4]), decreasing proportion of White people (OR = 0.4 [0.3, 0.5]), increasing proportion of Black people (OR = 1.3 [0.9, 1.8]), and increasing proportion of Hispanic/Latine people (OR = 2.5 [1.7, 3.5]) and higher grant funding quartiles. We found no association between household income and grant funding quartile. Conclusion. We found ZIP code demographics to be inadequate for evaluating NIH funding disparities, and the association between institution ZIP code demographics and investigator demographics is unclear. To evaluate and improve grant funding disparities, better grant recipient data accessibility and transparency are needed.

As Youth Sport Coaches Take to the Sidelines, Important Pedagogical Practices to Remember

School-age children receive a myriad of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits from being involved in sport, as well as several academic benefits. Children who participate in sport are more likely to have a higher GPA, increased daily attendance, and greater high school graduation rates than their non-sport participating peers. Unfortunately, participation in sport is in decline. Although several factors are to blame for the downward trend, the overwhelming research consensus is that children do not perceive sport to be fun due to coach behaviors. To facilitate positive outcomes from participating in sport, practice settings need to include developmentally appropriate skill progressions and ample opportunities for all players to participate and contribute, as well as a team atmosphere that fosters player self-actualization. Sport coaches should utilize best practices for developing the motor skills (sport-related skills) of their athletes. Pedagogical topics covered in this article include: (1) task presentations of skills, (2) designing appropriate practice tasks, and (3) applying skills into the tactical setting.

The Social Determinants of Health and Athletic Trainer Availability in Indiana Secondary Schools.

The social determinants of health (SDOH) are circumstances under which individuals are born, work, and live that influence health outcomes. Previous researchers have examined 1 determinant of economic stability and found disparities in socioeconomic status and athletic trainer (AT) availability. To examine the SDOH characteristics of Indiana secondary schools and AT availability. Cross-sectional study. Database secondary analysis. A total of 426 secondary schools. All data were collected from publicly available databases. The independent variable was AT availability, and schools were classified as having a full-time AT, a part-time AT only, or no AT. The SDOH variables were gathered for each school (at the school and county levels). Data were summarized using measures of central tendencies, 1-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. School enrollment was larger in schools with greater AT availability (P< .001). The proportion of non-White students was greater in schools with more AT availability (P= .002). Greater AT availability was present in counties with higher graduation rates (P= .03). Post hoc comparisons revealed differences in graduation rates between schools with a part-time AT and those with no AT (P= .04). Schools with less AT availability were located in counties with a slightly higher percentage of the population uninsured (P= .02). Schools with greater AT availability were located in counties with a higher ratio of population to primary care physicians (P= .03). Schools with less AT availability were located in counties with a higher population experiencing severe housing problems (P= .02). No differences were found in AT availability based on the 3 social and community context variables (P> .05). Differences were noted in AT availability and SDOH characteristics at the secondary school level. We observed less AT availability where high school graduation rates and the population of primary care providers were lower. Strategies should be implemented to improve access to athletic health care in underresourced communities.

Individual and Neighborhood Level Predictors of Children’s Exposure to Residential Greenspace

Inequities in urban greenspace have been identified, though patterns by race and socioeconomic status vary across US settings. We estimated the magnitude of the relationship between a broad mixture of neighborhood-level factors and residential greenspace using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and compared predictive models of greenspace using only neighborhood-level, only individual-level, or multi-level predictors. Greenspace measures included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), tree canopy, and proximity of the nearest park, for residential locations in Shelby County, Tennessee of children in the CANDLE cohort. Neighborhood measures include socioeconomic and education resources, as well as racial composition and racial residential segregation. In this sample of 1012 mother–child dyads, neighborhood factors were associated with higher NDVI and tree canopy (0.021 unit higher NDVI [95% CI: 0.014, 0.028] per quintile increase in WQS index); homeownership rate, proximity of and enrollment at early childhood education centers, and racial composition, were highly weighted in the WQS index. In models constrained in the opposite direction (0.028 unit lower NDVI [95% CI: − 0.036, − 0.020]), high school graduation rate and teacher experience were highly weighted. In prediction models, adding individual-level predictors to the suite of neighborhood characteristics did not meaningfully improve prediction accuracy for greenspace measures. Our findings highlight disparities in greenspace for families by neighborhood socioeconomic and early education factors, and by race, suggesting several neighborhood indicators for consideration both as potential confounders in studies of greenspace and pediatric health as well as in the development of policies and programs to improve equity in greenspace access.

(364) Development of a Men’s Health Report Card for the State of Florida

Abstract Introduction Collecting regional health data that identifies causes of morbidity and mortality is imperative in order to guide the planning and implementation of programs and policies that will ultimately improve men’s health. Unintentional impact accidents are a major source of morbidity and mortality for young males across the United States. Other potentially reversible behaviors that have adverse behaviors that n’s health include smoking, vaping, and failing to undergo recommended cancer screenings. Corroborating this data on a regional level within our state of Florida, as well as understanding the prevalence of activities and behaviors that may adversely impact men’s health is important to build a strategy that reverses these trends. Objective The overarching goal was to develop a Men’s Health Report Card for the State of Florida which elucidated important health data that could be used to drive an evidence-based men’s health initiative for our state. In this study, we sought to evaluate the impact of accidental injuries on mortality and define specifics associated with those accidental injuries that may be used to mitigate the incidence of accidental deaths, Methods Data was obtained from various sources to develop a Men's Health Report Card for the State of Florida. The sources include the United States Census Bureau (USCB), the State Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDH). The demographic data obtained from the USCB includes information on the population size, age distribution, race, and ethnicity breakdown within Florida. FDH contributed health indicator data from multiple sources. This data includes information from death certificates, providing insight into the leading causes of death for men in Florida, including COVID-19 death reports specific to gender and age. USCB American Community Survey provides data on social determinants of health, such as high school graduation rates and income levels falling below the federal poverty guidelines. CDC National Center for Health Statistics Mortality in the United States Report provides data on life expectancy in Florida and the United States organized by race and sex. The data spanned from the years 2015 and 2018. Results Figure 1 highlights some of the important information that was gleaned with regard to the state of Men’s Health in Florida. On average, Floridian men had a 5- year shorter life expectancy at birth than their female counterparts. Leading causes of male deaths in our state include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lung disease, and cerebrovascular disease. The relative incidence of these sources of mortality is age dependent. It is notable that among young males, ages 18-54 years old, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide accounted for approximately 75% of male deaths. With respect to health behaviors: smoking and vaping, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, alcohol abuse, and not wearing a seat belt remain highly prevalent among Floridian males. Notable among the cancer screenings, 30% of Floridian men over 50 years have never had a colonoscopy and 40% of men 50 years and older have never had a serum PSA test. Finally, it is notable that 15% of Floridian males could not see a physician due to cost, and close to 20% had no healthcare insurance coverage. Conclusions The State of Florida Men’s Health Report card defines significant causes of morbidity and mortality for Floridian males. As can be seen in this report, many of the sources of morbidity and mortality arise from unhealthy lifestyle choices, which if addressed could potentially reverse some of these trends. Racial, ethnic, and geographic health disparities among Floridian males exist and will require further work in the future to remedy this situation. Disclosure No.

Do Economic Growth and Education Matter in Combating Human Trafficking? An Analysis of State Level Panel Data in the U.S.

Human trafficking, consisting of all forms of nonconsensual forced or lured labor, is a violation of human rights and has severe impacts on the affected individuals, families, and society. In this paper, we investigate the factors of economic development, educational attainment, and states that potentially influence human trafficking in the U.S. Using panel data of human trafficking reports from all fifty states and D.C. from 2016 to 2021, we obtain interesting results. First, economic development has a small but significant negative effect on human trafficking within states, implying that economic development helps to reduce human trafficking, although richer states have slightly more cases. Second, it is surprising that high school graduation rates have a positive rather than negative effect, implying that education correlates with more identified trafficking cases. A possible explanation is that education increases the population’s awareness of trafficking activities, leading to higher reporting rates. Last, some states reveal significant effects, indicating geographical differences in the country. These findings have important policy and social implications.

Maximizing Student Outcomes in Schools: Data-Driven Individualized Education Program Goals and Objectives Aligned to the Standards.

Federal and state laws require schools to be accountable for student performance on measures of academic achievement in literacy, mathematics, and science skills; monitor high school graduation rates; and track student growth and academic progression throughout the grade levels. Success on these measures gives students pathways to postsecondary options in the workforce, technical education, or college/university education. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can utilize existing data sources in the school in conjunction with their knowledge of diagnostics and treatment of cognition, language, and culture to maximize student outcomes beyond the therapy room and in the curriculum standards. This clinical focus article will review methods of data collection from existing sources in the students' grade level and academic content curriculum. Utilization of information and input from parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and others who support the student's academic endeavors will be discussed for Individualized Education Program Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance and goal development. Procedures for the SLP to collect independent data aligned to standards-based curriculum will be explored. Consideration will be given for utilizing data to develop future goals and objectives. The benefits of data collection for monitoring student progress and success in the grade-level or alternate standards will be highlighted through case examples. Techniques for classroom-based services, model lessons, coaching, and co-teaching will be presented. SLPs are recognized as specialized instructional support personnel who have unique knowledge and expertise for diagnosing and treating speech/language impairments (S/LI) disabilities. By understanding how they can use existing data and apply it to developing intervention plans, SLPs can ensure students with S/LI disabilities experience the maximum potential for outcomes in academic and functional success. Data-driven tools and methods aligned to the grade-level standards and curriculum are one of the most powerful tools in an SLP's toolbox. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24869592.

Abstract 12704: Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Incidence and Survival for Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the United States: A Report From the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES)

Introduction: Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) exist; however, pediatric OHCA incidence and survival outcomes among race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) are unknown. We evaluated the incidence and outcomes of pediatric OHCA among race, ethnicity, and SES, hypothesizing that Black and Hispanic children, and children from a lower SES, would have higher incidence rates and lower survival compared to White children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival database, analyzing nontraumatic OHCAs in children&lt;18 years old between 2015 and 2019. A previously validated SES risk score, incorporating race, ethnicity, household income, high school graduation rates, and unemployment rates, was developed on a scale from 0-4, with 4 indicating the highest-risk neighborhood. Results: Among 6945 OHCAs, 33% occurred in Black children, 11% in Hispanic children, 31% in White children, and 41% in the highest-risk neighborhood. Black children had the highest OHCA incidence (15.5 per 100,000 children) compared to White children (3.8 per 100,000 children) and Hispanic children (3.3 per 100,000 children) (p&lt;0.001). OHCA incidence was higher in high-risk neighborhoods (11.6 per 100,000) compared to low-risk neighborhoods (4.3 per 100,000) (p&lt;0.001). In multivariable analysis, Black children had lower odds of survival to hospital discharge (aOR 0.74, CI 0.59-0.92) and neurologically favorable survival (aOR 0.64, CI 0.50-0.82) compared to White children. Hispanic children did not have significantly worse survival outcomes compared to White children. Children from the lowest-risk neighborhoods had higher odds of survival to hospital discharge (aOR 1.45, CI 1.12-1.87) and neurologically favorable survival (aOR 1.65, CI 1.24-2.20) compared to children from the highest-risk neighborhoods. Conclusions: Significant racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities exist in pediatric OHCA. Black children have over four times the incidence of OHCA compared to White and Hispanic children and significantly worse survival outcomes. Children from low-risk neighborhoods have significantly better survival outcomes.

The market-level effects of charter schools on student outcomes: A national analysis of school districts

We study the total, market-level effects of charter schools, and their mechanisms, on a national level and across multiple outcomes. Using a generalized difference-in-differences method, we find that increasing the charter market share by 10 percentage points increases math and ELA elementary/middle test scores of the entire geographic district in which they locate by 0.01 standard deviations and increases the high school graduation rate by 1–2 percentage points. The effects are concentrated in larger, urban districts. The main mechanism appears to be the participant effect, though competitive effects are increasing in the participant effect and driven partly by the closure of low-performing traditional public schools. Causal interpretation of these findings is reinforced by analysis of potential endogeneity of charter school location and timing using placebo analysis and other methods. This study improves understanding of the array of charter mechanisms and their effects on multiple outcomes, on a national basis.

Penerapan K-Nearest Neighbor Untuk Klasifikasi Tingkat Kelulusan Pada Siswa Sma Negeri 11 Kota Bengkulu

Abstract-Bengkulu City 11 Public High School is one of the State Senior High Schools in Bengkulu City. The student's pass rate refers to the final score obtained for each subject, then calculates the average score to get the student's pass rating. So far, the school does not have an application that can help provide a predictive picture of student graduation. Where this needs to be done in order to evaluate the teaching and learning system so that students are able to face the final exam given The K-Nearest Neighbor application for classifying graduation rates for students at State Senior High School 11 Bengkulu City can help provide an informational description of the graduation rate for students at State High School 11 Bengkulu City and can provide information on the results of the classification results for high school graduation rates. State 11 City of Bengkulu. Based on the results of the tests that have been carried out, the functional application of the graduation rate classification of students at the Bengkulu City 11 State Senior High School is going well as expected.

Beyond Education Dollars: Does Social Safety Net Spending Affect High School Graduation Rates?

PurposeTo examine the relationship between social safety net (SSN) spending and high school graduation rates for all students, as well as students belonging to minoritized groups. Also, to determine whether public SSN investments and PK-12 education are independent. MethodsUsing Common Core Data and the State-by-State Spending on Kids data, we estimated the effects of per-child SSN spending on graduation rates over time (2010–2016) using two-way fixed effects. ResultsSSN spending positively impacts high school graduation rates, with slightly larger magnitudes for students belonging to minoritized groups. The effects of public investments in SSN health, and PK-12 education on high school graduation rates are independent. DiscussionOur results indicate that the positive effects of SSN spending on high school graduation rates are independent of any impacts associated with education spending, suggesting that these two types of public investments affect high school graduation through different pathways.

Gender differences in transdiagnostic domains and function of adults measured by DSM-5 assessment scales at the first clinical visit: a cohort study

BackgroundMeasurement-based care has been called for as best practice in psychiatric care and learning health systems and use of transdiagnostic measures was suggested as part of the DSM-5. Our objective is to examine gender differences in first visit socioeconomic, transdiagnostic, and functional characteristics of a dynamic, real-world measurement-based care cohort.MethodsTransdiagnostic, functional, and clinical measures were collected from 3,556 patients at first visit in an ambulatory psychiatric clinic. All patients were evaluated at the first visit by board-certified psychiatrists or licensed clinical psychologists. Demographic variables and clinical diagnoses were collected from the Electronic Medical Record. Self-report measures were collected that assessed transdiagnostic symptoms (DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-cutting Measure and Level 2 symptom scales), disability, alcohol use, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, depression, anxiety, mania, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and trauma exposure.ResultsMen and women did not differ in age, BMI, household income, high school graduation rate, race, or ethnicity, but women were more likely to be formerly married and less likely to have commercial insurance. Compared to men, women reported significantly higher overall psychopathology on the transdiagnostic Level 1 Cross-cutting measure and had higher depression, anxiety, sleep, anger, ADHD combined presentation, and suicidality severity. Women also had higher disability scores than men. However, men reported higher alcohol, tobacco and substance use, and more risky behavior than women. Trauma exposure differed significantly by gender; men reported more exposure to accidents, war-related trauma, serious accidents, and major disasters and women reported more unwanted sexual contact.ConclusionsThis cross-sectional study of a transdiagnostic, ecologically-valid real-word measurement-based care cohort demonstrates gender differences in socioeconomic factors, trauma exposure, transdiagnostic symptoms, and functioning.

Post-secondary funding and the educational attainment of indigenous students

This paper uses cutbacks to a post-secondary funding program for Indigenous peoples in Canada to understand how changes in the costs of higher education affect the educational attainment and labour market outcomes of Indigenous groups. I exploit exogenous variation in exposure to student aid across cohorts and ethnicities to show that increasing the costs of post-secondary education not only affects post-secondary attainment but can also lead to a sizable decrease in high school graduation rates. After reductions in targeted student aid in the late 1980s, high school graduation rates declined by five percentage points on Indian reserves. I suggest that this finding is consistent with a model of human capital acquisition in which the return to a high school degree is low. In this framework, some students complete high school in order to attend a post-secondary institution. When post-secondary education is no longer affordable, some students may no longer find it worthwhile to complete high school. In the long-run, the program cutbacks had lasting adverse effects on labour supply.

Competency Based Education Pilot in Illinois: Preliminary Findings

In this study we employed regression analysis and between-group matched pair design to analyze whether participation in a competency-based education pilot was associated with improved high school completion and postsecondary entry. Data were obtained for high schools participating in a CBE pilot program in Illinois. Results of the matched pair design showed that CBE participation was significantly associated with higher rates of high school graduation for seniors across all groups with differences significant overall (97.2% for CBE vs. 93.1% for non-CBE), for White students (97.2% vs. 92.7%), and for students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch (96.3% vs. 90.3%). Graduation rate for seniors was also higher for African American students and for Hispanic-Latinx students, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the matched pair design, CBE participation was not significantly associated with entry into college within 12 months of high school.

In Search of the Promised Land: County-Level Disadvantage and Low Birth Weight among Black Mothers of the Great Migration.

The Great Migration was a movement of roughly eight million Black Southerners relocating to the North and West from 1910 to 1980. Despite being one of the most significant mass internal migrations during the twentieth century, little is known about the health outcomes resulting from migration and whether migrators' destination choices were potential mechanisms. This study measured the association between destination county disadvantage and odds of low birth weight during the last decade of the Great Migration. We used the US Census from 1970 as well as the birth records of first-time Black mothers who migrated from the South collected through the National Center of Health Statistics from 1973 to 1980 (n = 154,145). We examined three measures of area-based opportunity: Black male high school graduation rate, Black poverty rate, and racialized economic residential segregation. We used multilevel logistic regression, where mothers were nested within US counties, to quantify the relationship between county disadvantage and low birth weight. After adjusting for individual risk and protective factors for infant health, there was no relationship between county opportunity measures and low birth weight among migrators. Although high socioeconomic opportunity is typically associated with protection of low birth weight, we did not see these outcomes in this study. These results may support that persistent racial discrimination encountered in the North inhibited infant health even as migrators experienced higher economic opportunity relative to the South.

Unpacking the Racial Gap: Helicobacter pylori Infection Clearance Among Different Racial Groups.

Introduction Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria causing chronic stomach infections, influenced by various factors, including host traits and bacterial virulence. It uses both urease-dependent and independent mechanisms to survive acidic gastric environments. Management entails diagnosis, treatment, and eradication verification. Combining drugs is key to overcoming resistance and ensuring bacteria elimination, thus preventing recurrence and complications. H. Pylori eradication mitigates gastric cancer risk and alleviates symptoms. Racial disparities persist despite declining H. pylori and gastric cancer incidence in the United States (US). African Americans (AA) have higher gastric cancer risks than non-Hispanic Whites. Addressing these disparities is crucial to protect high-risk populations. Methods This study retrospectively compiled H. pylori infection data from 2009 to 2022, categorized by race. Propensity score matching balanced initial group characteristics before analysis. Chi-squared and odds ratio tests were used on the cohort, with Kaplan Meier and Log Rank methods evaluating disease clearance in ethnic groups. Data were extracted from the Sunrise Electronic Medical Record software, including patient demographics, health details, and treatment specifics. Patients aged 18-65 with H. pylori infection at Nassau University Medical Center, who followed their treatment, were selected. Data were processed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and RStudio software. Results The study initially included 10,040 H. pylori-diagnosed patients, with 9,288 meeting the study's criteria after attrition. Predominantly female (64.7%), the cohort was racially diverse. A longer disease clearance time was noted among Hispanics (p=0.044). Binomial logistic regression analysis identified influential factors like high school graduation rates, poverty level income, and language proficiency on disease clearance. An odds ratio analysis further emphasized language barriers (HR 0.346, p=0.043) and education status (HR 0.756, p=0.025) as primary covariates impacting disease clearance, underlining the role of socio-economic factors and language proficiency in health outcomes. Conclusion The study highlights racial disparities in H. pylori clearance rates, particularly among Hispanics, necessitating culturally sensitive interventions. It advocates for improved diagnostics, increased healthcare access, and social determinants of health-focused initiatives. It identifies socio-economic status and language proficiency as key factors impacting health outcomes, calling for actions to bridge these disparities. Addressing these differences can decrease healthcare inequalities and economic burden, improving overall health outcomes and reducing costs associated with H. pylori clearance.

Creation and Validation of a New Socio-built Environment Index Measure of Opioid Overdose Risk for Use in Both Non-urban and Urban Settings.

A great deal of literature has examined features of the physical built environment as predictors of opioid overdose and other substance use-related outcomes. Other literature suggests that social characteristics of settings are important predictors of substance use outcomes. However, there is a dearth of literature simultaneously measuring both physical and social characteristics of settings in an effort to better predict opioid overdose. There is also a dearth of literature examining built environment as a predictor of overdose in non-urban settings. The present study presents a novel socio-built environment index measure of opioid overdose risk comprisedof indicators measuring both social and physical characteristics of settings - and developed for use in both urban and non-urban settings - and assesses its validity among 565 urban, suburban, and rural New Jersey municipalities. We found that this novel measure had good convergent validity, based on significant positive associations with a social vulnerability index and crime rates, and significant negative associations with a municipal revitalization index and high school graduation rates. The index measure had good discriminant validity, based on lack of association with three different racial isolation indices. Finally, our index measure had good health outcome-based criterion validity, based on significant positive associations with recent overdose mortality. There were no major differences between rural, suburban, and urban municipalities in validity analysis findings. This promising new socio-built environment risk index measure could improve ability to target and allocate resources to settings with the greatest risk, in order to improve their impact on overdose outcomes.

The Impact of Pediatric CKD on Educational and Employment Outcomes.

Pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk for neurocognitive deficits and academic underachievement. This population may be at risk for lower educational attainment and higher rates of unemployment; however, published data has focused on patients with advanced CKD and exist in isolation from assessment of neurocognition and kidney function. Data from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort study were used to characterize educational attainment and employment status in young adults with CKD. We utilized ratings of executive function as a predictor of future educational attainment and employment status. Linear regression models predicted the highest grade level completed. Logistic regression models predicted unemployment. 296 CKiD participants aged 18 years or older had available educational data. 220/296 had employment data. By age 22, 97% had completed high school and 48% completed 2+ years of college. Among those reporting employment status, 58% were part- or full-time employed, 22% were non-working students, and 20% were unemployed and/or receiving disability. In adjusted models, lower kidney function (p=0.02), worse executive function (p=0.02), and poor performance on achievement testing (p=0.004) predicted lower grade level completed relative to expectation for age. CKiD study patients appear to have a better high school graduation rates (97%) than the adjusted national high school graduation rate (86%). Conversely, roughly 20% of participants were unemployed or receiving disability at study follow-up. Tailored interventions may benefit CKD patients with lower kidneyfunction and/or executive function deficits to optimize educational/employment outcomes in adulthood.

Does state-mandated financial education reduce high school graduation rates?

Concerned about low levels of financial literacy among teens and the importance of their looming financial decisions as emerging adults, state policymakers have expanded high school personal finance graduation requirements. Did these added requirements create an additional barrier for students? Comparing students in states with and without standalone personal finance course requirements before and after the requirements went into place, I provide evidence that these requirements did not reduce graduation rates overall, by race, by gender, or by family income. Existing research quantifies improvements in debt and credit behaviors, and these findings suggest there are not simultaneous adverse effects overall or for at-risk students.