Low-income High School Students Research Articles

A Microscope Medley for High School Students

ABSTRACT Microscopy is crucial to much of biophysics. The variety of approaches to imaging exemplified by contemporary microscopes is remarkable, yet this breadth is generally unknown to students, limiting perceptions of biology, physics, and related fields and of potential career paths. We therefore created and implemented an outreach activity as part of a day camp that especially targeted low-income high school students. The students engaged with 3 very different microscopes: a simple transmitted light microscope; a light sheet fluorescence microscope; and a newly invented multicamera array microscope. With these instruments, we examined subjects such as transgenic zebrafish larvae with fluorescent immune cells, contrasting the various instruments’ capabilities, including resolution and field of view. Pre- and postactivity questions showed that the activity succeeded in expanding students’ understanding and appreciation of the varied aims and abilities of modern microscopes and moreover led to discussions of model organisms, biophysics, and science funding. Additional activities briefly illustrated the nature of digital images and mathematic manipulation. I describe here the activities and goals, as well as ways they can be generalized and implemented at other institutions with access to different sorts of imaging tools.

멘토링 장학 프로그램을 경험한 저소득층 고등학생의 진로개척역량 전이 양상과 심리·사회적 자본이 미치는 영향 분석

In order to explore the career development characteristics of low-income high school students, this study classified latent groups of career development competency of low-income high school students who participated in the mentoring scholarship project before and after participating in the scholarship program. In addition, the study examined transition pattern between the two latent groups at each time point and verified the impact on the classification of latent groups by inputting variables on the student's psychological and social capital as covariates. For this purpose, a latent transition analysis applying a 3-step approach was conducted using data from the mentoring dream scholarship project of the longitudinal data on educationally marginalized children and youth collected by the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation. As a result, the participants were categorized into two groups: a 'high achievement group' and a 'low achievement group' in common before and after participating in the scholarship project. In addition, students with higher self-efficacy, resilience, and social capital were more likely to belong to the 'high-achievement group'. In addition, after participating in the scholarship project, students with higher satisfaction with scholarship students are more likely to belong to the 'high achievement group'. Through this, educational implications for customized career education were discussed by exploring variables that affect the career development of low-income high school students.

Financial aid uncertainty and low-income students’ higher education preferences

Low-income students’ preferences for higher education might depend on the uncertainty of financial aid. Using a time discontinuity design, this paper exploits the unanticipated cancellation of a nationwide Colombian merit and need-based scholarship, called Ser Pilo Paga, to study its consequences on students’ preferences for higher education. Preferences are measured using a discrete choice experiment administrated to 949 low-income high school students in 2018. The findings reveal that the scholarship’s cancellation reduced higher education ambitions among low-income students due to the decreased interest in both financial aid and high-quality universities. The effects were particularly concentrated on income-eligible individuals who were more likely to obtain the scholarship, as their choices for financial aid and high-quality institutions declined by 15 to 50% of the baseline preference.

IMPROVING ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH PIP AND STUDENT’S MENTORSHIP: SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE EXPERIENCES IN LOMBOK

The low-income high school students culturally have had very challenging experiences to go to colleges or universities. As experienced by the participants, they tend to have more difficulties compared to the high-income school students. PIP (Program Indonesia Pintar) is financial aid in the form of cash, expanded access, and learning opportunities from the Indonesian government for students who come from low-income and vulnerable families to finance their education, to increase the number of education sustainability and to decrease the dropout rate from the primary school level to senior high school level in Indonesia. There are 31 students involved in this study which are 15 males and 16 females. These samples of the study were the recipients of the KIP-Kuliah, GenBi and campus scholarship from three universities in Indonesia. In collecting the information, the novice researcher did literature review and disseminated an online survey with open-ended questions to the scholarship recipients regarding their experiences before getting into and during study in the universities to provide evidence on the uses of PIP and the benefits of student’s mentorship. Besides, the researcher exploited sharp discontinuities in the program eligibility formula to identify and analyze the impact of the PIP and student mentorship for the low-income student outcomes at different level of study at the level of freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior at their universities.

The Moderating Effect of Age on Low-Income Students' Relationships With Mentors and Their Self-Efficacy Since COVID-19.

PurposesThis study investigates the moderating effect of age on the association between relationship with mentors and self-efficacy among low-income students.MethodsA total of 255 low-income middle and high school students participated. The PROCESS macro 3.4 for Statistical Product and Service Solutions was employed to test the moderating effect.ResultsQuality of relationship between mentors and mentees was positively associated with mentees' self-efficacy. Students' age significantly moderated the association between quality of the relationship with mentors and self-efficacy.DiscussionIt is important to expand mentorship programs for low-income students during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to foster high self-efficacy among adolescents. Recruitment of high quality mentors and additional factors that may be helpful to a good relationship between mentees and mentors, such as mentor training, mentor screening, and mentor-mentee matching, should be prioritized to improve self-efficacy among low-income students since COVID-19. Early opportunities for mentoring from high quality mentors is particularly important to increase self-efficacy among younger students such as middle school students.

Reimagining the pipeline: Saturday Academy at New York University College of Dentistry goes virtual.

This study describes and evaluates efforts to transition an established pre-dental pipeline program to a remote platform, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The semester-long pipeline program, Saturday Academy at New York University College of Dentistry, was conducted remotely through Zoom, and materials for hands-on, pre-clinical activities, were mailed to participants. Saturday Academy aims to educate underrepresented minority and low-income high school students about the college application process and the dental profession. After the program's completion, program applications and engagement data were analyzed. An anonymous online survey was administered to the high school student participants. The survey questions included topics about their interest in the profession of dentistry, satisfaction with the Saturday Academy programming, and program engagement. In its remote format, Saturday Academy had an average attendance of 87.8% at each session. All (60/60, 100%) of the high school student participants responded to the anonymous program satisfaction survey. Sixty-seven percent reported an interest in the profession of dentistry before participating in the program and 82% after participating in the program. Ninety-eight percent agreed with the statement "I enjoyed my experience participating in Saturday Academy." Additionally, 97% agreed with the statement "Saturday Academy's virtual programming was effective." There were no statistically significant differences in program satisfaction when data from the virtual program were compared to 2 years of in-person program satisfaction data. Challenges to fulfilling the missions of dental institutions in response to the coronavirus pandemic impact service and recruitment efforts, in addition to formal dental education. Transitioning pipeline programming efforts, with hands-on components, to a remote format is possible and was met with favorable engagement and responses from program participants.

Hungry for Success? Snap Timing, High-Stakes Exam Performance, and College Attendance

Monthly government transfer programs create cycles of consumption that track the timing of benefit receipt. In this paper, we exploit state-level variation in the staggered timing of nutritional assistance benefit issuance across households to analyze how this monthly cyclicality in food availability affects academic achievement. Using individual-level score data from a large national college admissions exam in the United States linked to national college enrollment data, we find that taking this high-stakes exam in the last two weeks of the SNAP benefit cycle reduces test scores and lowers the probability of attending a 4-year college for low-income high school students. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.

Abstract P158: Addressing Hypertension And Aging In Growing Pakistani Elderly San Joaquin Population

Introduction: San Joaquin Pakistani elderly population (SJPEP) face health problems due to poor nutritional habits, financial and emotional stress from loss of social status, loss of physical capabilities, loneliness, reduced income which can increase risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Pakistan is ranked as the 12th highest source country for immigration into the United States. SJ has a growing rate of at risk for hypertension elderly Pakistani immigrants who live with their full time working adult children. Objectives: Trainees conducted hypertension screenings at mosques located in the most medically served county, San Joaquin (SJ) to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness on hypertension, stress management, nutrition, exercise, and their implications in the Pakistani population. Methods: I trained medically ambitious low-income minority high school students to conduct blood pressure screenings and serve as a health technology coach for the Pakistani elderly population at mosques. Hypertension screenings, stress management guidance, nutrition, and heart health talks were conducted at SJ mosques with Imam (religious leader) for adult children and the elderly. Findings: -About 86% (128 of 149) of SJPEP felt financial and emotional stress in the last year -About 48% (71 of 149) of SJPEP are hypertensive -About 48% (71 of 149) of SJPEP are at risk for CVD -About 2% (3 of 149) of SJPEP reported daily physical exercise -About 22% (33 of 149) of SJPEP were encouraged to physically exercise -About 95% (141 of 149) of SJPEP eat more than 4 servings of red meat per week -About 94% (140 of 149) of SJPEP prefer rest over physical exercise -About 75% (111 of 149) of SJPEP felt dissatisfied by San Joaquin medical treatment Direct Outcomes: -Development of self-advocacy for health in the Pakistani elderly community -Improved patient-provider trust -Youth learned the value of empathy, multiculturalism, and service to disadvantaged communities through the program and volunteering -Adult children felt more confident in taking care of their elderly parents with nutrition and physical therapy -Program students are determined to pursue medicine and address community concerns in low-income minority groups and diversity of cultures

Abstract P188: Building A Pipeline To Address San Joaquin Health Inequity

Introduction: San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is the most underserved valley for health care with the lowest ratios of physicians for any region in California. For the last 40 years, SJV continues to face health inequity and disparities with not enough physicians to tend to the community. With a diverse community of low income and minority groups, the lack of physicians do not represent the workforce of SJV. Many of the talented youth who aspire to be physicians from SJV leave to bigger cities rather than coming back to enrich their vulnerable communities. Objectives: I created no cost pipeline medical programs (summer program, year long internships and online class) for SJV high school students to increase diversity in the medical profession, encourage underrepresented in medicine (URM) students to pursue medicine and come back to SJV to practice medicine in an effort to lower the patient provider gap. Methods: I trained and provided mentorship to medically ambitious low-income high school students in the programs to better understand SJV health inequity to instill a passion in them to come back after their medical education to practice medicine in SJV. Through the program, students learned about SJV health disparities and applied precision medicine to their own health inequity projects in SJV. Findings: -About 46% (33 of 72) of program participants were first generation -About 47% (34 of 72) of program participants identified as URM -About 65% (47 of 72) of program participants aspire to practice medicine in SJV -About 83% (60 of 72) of program participants feel that the pipeline program has helped them solidify their passion in medicine -About 100% (72 of 72) of program participants feel the program gave them guidance in health disparities, precision medicine, and applying design thinking concepts as a future leader in medicine Direct Outcomes: -Students were able to understanding community concerns beyond science and apply community activism through a precision medicine lens -Served as agents of change by directly communicating with physicians and understanding the need for more URM physicians -Students received mentorship and confidence to rise as first generation college students -Youth learned the value of service to disadvantaged communities

Abstract 401: Head to Heart: Mental Health as a Precursor for Heart Disease in San Joaquin Muslim Population

Introduction: Islamophobia affects the mental health of the large San Joaquin (SJ) Muslim population leading to psychological distress and mental health concerns which can further lead to High Blood Pressure (HBP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). SJ has a growing rate of Muslim immigrants who may be at risk for psychological distress and CVD. Objectives: Trainees conducted Kessler psychological distress tests, HBP and CVD screenings at mosques to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness about mental health, CVD and its implications in the Muslim population due to environmental racism in the most underserved county for health care, SJ. Methods: I trained medically ambitious low-income minority female high school students to conduct weekly Kessler psychological distress tests, blood pressure screenings and serve as a health technology coach. Each student monitored 2 hypertensive and psychological distressed patients of 40 hypertensive, psychological distressed, at risk for CVD and low-income Muslim residents. Kessler psychological distress tests and CVD screenings were conducted at all SJ mosques to spread awareness about mental health and heart health and track psychological distress and HBP in the Muslim community. Findings: -About 58% (304 of 527) of SJ Muslim population are at risk for CVD -About 42% (221 of 527) of SJ Muslim population are Stage 1 hypertensive -About 19% (98 of 527) of SJ Muslim population are Stage 2 hypertensive -About 61% (319 of 527) of SJ Muslim population are hypertensive and psycologically distressed Direct Outcomes: -Youth learned the value of empathy, multiculturalism and service to disadvantaged communities through the program and volunteering -Female empowerment and program students are determined to pursue medicine and address community concerns -Improved patient provider trust -Development of self advocacy for health in the Muslim communityIncreased awareness on CVD, HBP, and mental health among the Muslim communityIncreased participation of youth and females in an otherwise adult and male dominant environments (i.e. mosques) -Awareness, education among Muslim community for better heart and mental health -Better understanding in how to manage and seek referral for mental health concerns

A mixed-methods analysis of mechanisms to support college enrollment among low-income high school students.

A mixed-methods analysis of mechanisms to support college enrollment among low-income high school students.

Abstract P472: Addressing Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asian San Joaquin Population

Introduction: South Asians have a higher death rate than any other population for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high blood pressure (HBP). San Joaquin has a growing rate of South Asians immigrants who may be at risk for CVD. Objectives: Trainees conducted hypertension and CVD screenings at South Asians religious organizations to reduce the risk of CVD and spread awareness about the factors that lead to CVD and its implications in the South Asians population due to environmental racism in the most underserved county for health care, San Joaquin. Methods: I trained low-income minority high school students to conduct weekly blood pressure screenings and serve as a health technology coach by each student monitoring 2 hypertensive patients of 48 hypertensive or at risk hypertensive and low-income San Joaquin residents and constantly stressed, and at risk for CVD. CVD screenings were conducted at all San Joaquin gurdwaras and mosques to spread awareness about heart health and track hypertension in the South Asians community. Findings: -61.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are at risk for CVD -3.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are hypotensive -28.6% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 1 hypertensive -29.7% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin are Stage 2 hypertensive -38.3% of the South Asian population of San Joaquin have normal blood pressure but consume red meat more than 4 times a month Direct Outcomes of Events: -Development of self-advocacy in the South Asian community. Community members became activists for their own heart health. -Increased participation of youth, in an otherwise adult dominant environment (i.e. the mosques and gurdwaras). -Increased awareness of CVD, hypertension, hypotension, and periodontal disease (PD) among the South Asian community. -Increased participation by youth and adults on activities such as games, challenges and information booths dispensing awareness on CVD and PD. -Increased interaction between community members of different religions, creed, and socioeconomic backgrounds. -Awareness, education among the South Asian community for better heart and oral health -Diagnoses and referrals of suspected cases of hypertension and CVD -Improved patient-provider trust -San Joaquin high school students trained for community outreach events and determined to address CVD. -Youth learned the value of empathy, multiculturalism, and service to disadvantaged communities through the program and volunteering.

Supplemental Material for A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Mechanisms to Support College Enrollment Among Low-Income High School Students

Supplemental Material for A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Mechanisms to Support College Enrollment Among Low-Income High School Students

저소득가정 고등학생의 진로교육경험과 진로성숙도의 관계에서 자기효능감의 매개효과

이 연구는 저소득가정 고등학생의 진로교육경험이 진로성숙도에 미치는 영향 관계에서 자기 효능감의 매개효과를 검증하기 위하여 수행되었다. 이를 위해 한국교육고용패널(KEEP)Ⅱ 1차년도(2016년) 데이터의 저소득가정 고등학생 821명의 자료를 활용하였다. 진로교육경험은 간접진로활동과 직접체험활동으로 구분하여 구조방정식 모형 분석을 수행하였고, 매개효과 유의성 검증을 위한 부트스트래핑 분석을 실시하였다. 주요 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 간접진로활동과 진로성숙도의 관계에서 자기효능감이 부분매개효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 즉, 간접진로활동은 진로성숙도에 직접적으로, 그리고 자기효능감을 매개로 간접적으로도 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 둘째, 직접체험활동과 진로성숙도의 관계에서 자기효능감은 완전매개효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 즉, 직접체험활동은 자기효능감 향상에 영향을 미치고, 이를 통해 진로성숙도에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 위 결과를 바탕으로 진로교육경험이 저소득가정 고등학생의 자기효능감과 진로성숙도 발달에 유의미한 요인으로 작용함을 확인하였고, 자기효능감 요소를 보다 적극적으로 고려한 진로교육 지원이 필요함을 시사하였다. 또한, 학교 교육과정 내 진로교육 지원을 통해 저소득가정 고등학생의 자기효능감과 진로성숙도를 높이는 방안에 대한 제언을 제시하였다.

Targeting the Pipeline to a Diverse Dental Student Body: Saturday Academy at New York University College of Dentistry

Pipeline programs aim to increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in the dental profession. At New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD), two dental students initiated the development of a pipeline program for high school students called Saturday Academy. The purpose of the program is twofold: to mentor and coach underrepresented minority and low-income high school students through the college application process, and to expose them to the field of dentistry as a viable career option through both didactic and hands-on learning. The aim of this pilot study was to determine outcomes for the first five years (2013-17) of the Saturday Academy pipeline program at NYUCD with regard to the high school students' experience with the program and their career interests after high school graduation. Across five cohorts, a total of 82 students participated in Saturday Academy. A "where are you now?" survey sent to 72 participants who reported high school graduation years between 2013 and 2018 received a response rate of 76%. The survey results showed that all (100%) of the responding Saturday Academy participants had graduated from high school and were enrolled in college, and 71% were interested in health profession careers. Almost half (47%) of the students self-identified as being pre-dental, and 96% reported that Saturday Academy had increased their interest in the dental profession. These pilot results justified an expansion of Saturday Academy at NYUCD in both size and creation of an alumni outreach initiative. Other dental schools may benefit from the strategies used by this program in establishing or expanding their pipeline programs.

Development and Implementation of a Hands-on Surgical Pipeline Program for Low-Income High School Students

Students belonging to racial/ethnic minority groups continue to be underrepresented among medical school applicants, matriculates, and graduates.1 While existing pipeline programs for students who are underrepresented in medicine engage them in biomedicine at the undergraduate level, efforts to promote diversity in the medical workforce may be more effective during the years from kindergarten through 12th grade.2 We created a summer pipeline program focused on surgery, invited participation by students from low-income high schools, and queried students’ self-efficacy, interest, and perceived barriers in this convergent mixed-methods study. Our emphasis on surgery was intended to address the lower percentage of physicians from underrepresented groups in medical subspecialties.3,4,5

The near-peer mathematical mentoring cycle: studying the impact of outreach on high school students’ attitudes toward mathematics

ABSTRACTCollege students may be seen as near-peers to high school students and high school students are often able to see themselves in the college students who are but one step ahead. This nearness in maturity and educational level may place college students in a particularly powerful position when it comes to reaching out to high school students to promote higher education in math and science. In this study college students gave dynamic mathematics outreach presentations, MathShows, to minority and low-income high school students in a mid-sized public school district on the U.S. border with Mexico. The study investigated the impacts of this sort of outreach work on high school students’ attitudes towards mathematics using a mathematics attitudes survey. Results, obtained from N = 306 participants, showed statistically significant improvements in almost all components of mathematical attitudes, with less of an effect on the component of self-confidence in doing mathematics. Differences in impacts by specific student subgroups are all discussed.

Mismatches in Self-Reported and Meta-Perceived Ethnic Identification across the High School Years.

Ethnic identification (i.e., one's self-reported ethnicity) is a social construction and therefore subject to misperceptions by others. When adolescents' self-views and others' perceptions are not aligned, adolescents may experience adjustment challenges. The present study examined mismatches between adolescents' ethnic identification (i.e., self-reported ethnicity) and meta-perceptions (i.e., what ethnicity they believed their schoolmates presumed them to be), as well as longitudinal associations between mismatches and adjustment across the high school years. Participants (Mage = 14.5; 57% girls) were an ethnically diverse sample of 1151 low-income high school students who had participated in an earlier longitudinal study during middle school. Although ethnic identification was largely consistent across the high school years, many students (46%) experienced at least occasional mismatches between their self-reported ethnic identification and meta-perceptions, with students who ever identified as multiethnic experiencing more mismatches than their monoethnic counterparts. Experiencing a mismatch was associated with more depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and lower self-worth.

The Connector Study: A Strategy for Collecting Post-Graduation Data About Low-Income High School Students

ABSTRACTTracking low-income students after high school graduation presents significant problems for data collection. The Connector Study is an attempt to increase and enrich outcomes data in a longitudinal study of low-income graduates of a national network of innovative high schools by gathering alumni updates through telephone interviews with high school staff members who remain in touch with their former students. Approximately 2 years after they worked with groups of students in high school, these individuals were able to provide information about education, job, and personal outcomes for 96% of 563 graduates. The Connector Study strategy offers a feasible method for collecting quantifiable outcome measures for longitudinal studies. This method also provides information about student change and individual circumstances that is difficult to obtain from students themselves, and that goes beyond the basic outcome indicators available through federal and state student tracking systems.

Preparation for Meaningful Work and Life: Urban High School Youth's Reflections on Work-Based Learning 1 Year Post-Graduation.

The challenges confronted by low-income high school students throughout school and across the transition to higher education and employment are well-documented in the US and many other nations. Adopting a positive youth development perspective (Lerner et al., 2005), this study reports findings from interviews with 18 low-income, racially and ethnically diverse graduates of an urban Catholic high school in the US. The interviews were designed to shed light on the post-high school experiences of urban high school graduates and to understand how students construct meaning about the value of school and work-based learning (WBL) in their preparation for meaningful work and life. The interviews highlight the perceived value of the academic and non-cognitive preparation students experienced through high school and WBL in relation to the challenges they encountered along the pathway to post-high school success and decent work. Overall, the findings suggest the potential of WBL for low-income youth in facilitating access to resources that build academic and psychological/non-cognitive assets, while also illustrating the role of structural and contextual factors in shaping post-high school transitions and access to meaningful work and life opportunities.