Low Socioeconomic Status Students Research Articles

“We Make Our Own Rules Here”: Democratic Communities, Corporate Logics, and “No Excuses” Practices in a Charter School Management Organization

Recently, there has been growing debate over the managerial and leadership practices of expanding charter school networks, often referred to as Charter School Management Organizations (CMOs). CMOs—which typically serve low–socioeconomic status students of color—are deeply tied to education reform efforts in the United States. Many CMOs consistently promote the belief that education can and should borrow heavily from the “best practices” of corporate culture and many have unlimited resources to enact their vision of educational success, closely aligned with what has been called “no excuses” schooling. Research on the daily practices of leaders working in a CMO remains limited; we know very little of how corporate ideologies are enacted in schooling. Drawing on ethnographic vignettes, I explore the daily life in one school within a CMO network considering to what extent corporate practices de-democratize education, produce neoliberal subjectivities, and shape experiences with learning for disadvantaged populations.

Teachers' Sense of Meaning Associations With Teacher Performance and Graduates' Resilience: A Study of Schools Serving Students of Low Socio-Economic Status.

Adolescents from lower socio-economic status (SES) often experience distress in their personal life as well as at school. Moreover, their ability to overcome such difficulties and pave their path to a higher SES depends, to a certain extent, on their ability to develop resilience despite their disadvantaged background. Acknowledging the critical contribution of teachers to students’ development, in the present study, we focused on teachers as agents who may influence graduates’ resilience, and on their sense of meaning at work–a resource these teachers may draw upon to increase their performance and contribute to their disadvantaged students and to their relationships with them. Specifically, we postulated that teachers’ sense of meaning at work will be associated with teachers’ performance and that teachers’ relationships with their students would mediate this association, as they serve as the main vehicle through which teachers impact their students. We further suggested that teachers’ sense of meaning would have long-term effects on students’ coping abilities, reflected in school graduates’ resilience levels. The study comprised 857 participants, teachers and graduates, from 30 Arab vocational schools in Israel, comprising mainly low SES students. Teachers (N = 436) completed self-report measures of their sense of meaning at work, relationships with students, and performance. Furthermore, to reveal potential long-term effects of teachers’ sense of meaning at work, school graduates (N = 421) completed measures of their relationships with teachers and resilience. Analyses indicated a significant association of teachers’ sense of meaning with their performance, which was mediated by teachers’ reports of their relationships with students. Furthermore, teachers’ sense of meaning at work and graduates’ perceptions of their relationships with the teachers were both significantly associated with graduates’ resilience. The findings highlight teachers’ sense of meaning at work as a potential contributor to their performance, which may also contribute to students’ resilience in lower SES schools. They point to teachers’ sense of meaning as a potential resource for teachers of lower SES students and highlight the importance of nurturing and developing it in various programs and practices (e.g., teacher training, teacher development, organizational routines).

Examining the role of perceived prestige in the link between students’ subjective socioeconomic status and sense of belonging

Low socioeconomic status (SES) students have a lower sense of belonging to college than high-SES students. Due to the importance of sense of belonging in the college pathway, understanding the reason for this relation is particularly important. Here, we argue that in addition to having less access to resources, low-SES students in the college context also perceive themselves as having lower prestige than their high-SES counterparts. Thus, in the present research, we tested perceived prestige as a mediator of the link between subjective SES and sense of belonging to college. We conducted 3 studies in 2 different countries (USA and China), and these investigations provided evidence that the lower students’ subjective SES, the lower their self-attributed prestige, and that prestige mediated the relation between students’ subjective SES and their sense of belonging to college. The implications of these findings for understanding the collegiate experience of low-SES students are discussed.

Barriers to College and Health Care Careers Among US Students From a Rural Community.

Despite rural origin being a strong predictor of rural practice for health care professionals, rural students face educational barriers and are underrepresented in medical schools. The aim of this study was to identify rural high school students' perceived barriers to college and health-related careers and compare whether perceptions were similar based on gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and parental education. We performed a cross-sectional survey of all high school students from one rural Michigan community. The survey included 13 multiple-choice and 5 short-answer questions. We compared results using χ2 analysis and logistic regression. Free-text answers were grouped thematically and analyzed for patterns. Survey response rate was 97.1% (506/521); 45.3% (229/506) of students were contemplating health care careers. Rural females were more likely to plan on college (females 83.9%, males 75.6%, P=0.03) and to contemplate a health care career (females 64.1%, males 25.2%, P<0.01). Students of lower SES and those who would be first-generation college students were less likely to plan on college (SES: low 76.8%, high 84.7%, P=.04; parental college: yes 84.4%, no 72.0%, P<0.01), although they were equally likely as other students to consider a health care career. Gender and parental education were significant independent predictors of plans for college; female gender was the only significant predictor for health care interest. The most frequently reported barrier to post-high school education was financial, and for health care training, it was academic success. Rural students are interested in health-related careers. Addressing perceived academic and financial barriers for students from high-need rural communities may inform targeted interventions to increase the rural health care workforce.

Are university widening participation activities just-in-time or just-out-of-time? Exploring the (mis)alignment between the timing of widening participation activities and university decision-making among students from low socioeconomic backgrounds

When is the best time to engage high school students in widening participation (WP) activities? With qualitative data from 46 university students at six Australian universities who are from low socioeconomic status (LSES) backgrounds, this study explored WP’s timeliness. It was found that a) the timing of the decision to go to university can occur at any point in compulsory schooling; b) LSES students experienced the bulk of WP in senior high school, being the years after they have selected the university stream; c) students in the university stream were exposed to WP activities while those in the non-university stream were excluded; and d) participants recommended that WP should begin earlier and be concentrated in the lead up to the forced streaming decision that occurs in Year 10. Overall, earlier WP exposure that is synchronised with high school streaming processes would optimise WP activities aimed at increasing LSES university participation.

Computer-Assisted Instruction: Long-Term Effects on Early Literacy Skills of Low Socioeconomic Status Students

Computer-Assisted Instruction: Long-Term Effects on Early Literacy Skills of Low Socioeconomic Status Students

High English Literacy among Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds: Exploring the Challenges

As people agree that socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the contributing factors that hinders one’s literacy development, there are still students who come from low socioeconomic background yet are able to acquire high English literacy despite the presence of life stressors. This study examines the challenges faced by low SES students in acquiring high English literacy and the factors that help them to overcome those challenges. Three students aged fourteen to sixteen years old were chosen as the sample for this study through purposive sampling technique. A qualitative semi-structured interview was conducted to obtain in-depth information about the topic discussed. Three themes emerged which include individual, family and school that demonstrated the challenges faced by low SES students in acquiring high English literacy and the factors that helped them to overcome those challenges. In brief, the participants agreed that their internal motivation and hard work were the most important factors that kept them positive to fight against challenges and become highly literate in the English language.&#x0D; Keywords: Semi-structured interview, qualitative, socioeconomic status (SES), English literacy, motivation

Social Class, Human Capital, and Enrollment in STEM Subjects at Prestigious Universities: The Case of England

Scholars have shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) students are less likely to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and to attend prestigious universities. However, they have overlooked the intersection between subject choice (STEM or non-STEM) and institutional prestige. Analyzing data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, we found that when students from poorer neighborhoods or whose parents did not have a university degree studied STEM, they were more likely to attend nonprestigious institutions. Even when students from poorer neighborhoods were able to enroll prestigious universities, they were less likely to study STEM subjects than their peers. We discussed policy implications.

The role of English in developing countries

Research exploring the role of English in Pakistani education system usually focuses on the use of English as the medium of instruction. However, in this paper I argue that English language should also be discussed in the context of its indispensibility in social mobility and survival in Pakistan. In fact, English plays a number of crucial roles in some developing countries, of which Pakistan is one (Mansoor, 2003; Rahman, 2002). In Pakistan, English is one of the official languages and a prerequisite for professional jobs (Rahman, 2005). Because of its use in the domains of power, English can be seen as a source of self-improvement and as a means of career success (Mansoor, 2003; Rahman, 2002). Thus, the knowledge of English is a key indicator of social class and people consider it superior to other languages (Shamim, 2008). However, the use of English in education is one of the main sources of failure for many ordinary people (Bruthiaux, 2002). English is used as a control mechanism to play a gate-keeping role in access to higher education and key social positions (Coleman, 2010; Rahman, 2002). The imposition of English in education and its perceived prestige create additional problems for low socioeconomic status (SES) students who often have limited access to English.

Technology Problems and Student Achievement Gaps: A Validation and Extension of the Technology Maintenance Construct

How do physical digital inequalities persist as technology becomes commonplace? We consider this question using surveys and focus groups with U.S. college students, a group that has better than average connectivity. Findings from a 748-person nonrepresentative survey revealed that ownership and use of cellphones and laptops were nearly universal. However, roughly 20% of respondents had difficulty maintaining access to technology (e.g., broken hardware, data limits, connectivity problems, etc.). Students of lower socioeconomic status and students of color disproportionately experienced hardships, and reliance on poorly functioning laptops was associated with lower grade point averages. Focus group and open-ended data elaborate these findings. Findings quantitatively validate the technology maintenance construct, which proposes that as access to information and communication technology peaks, the digital divide is increasingly characterized by the (in)ability to maintain access. Data highlight overlooked nuances in digital access that may inform social disparities and the policies that may mitigate them.

Different pathways to student guidance in mainstream primary and secondary education: Results from a parent survey

ABSTRACTStudents of lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented in extramural support services and overrepresented in special education. This raises questions about their participation in other student guidance trajectories and the support they receive from the school during the student guidance process. Therefore, a quasi-representative sample of 4,005 parents of children aged 2.5–18 years in mainstream education in Flanders completed a survey. Logistic regression analyses indicate differences in initiation and type of student guidance program used, and in involvement of different persons during the referral process, in the disadvantage of students of lower socioeconomic status and ethnic minority groups.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Disparities in STEM Career Aspirations at the Intersection of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status

Analyzing the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), this study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal disparities in STEM career aspirations at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results indicated that female, Black, Hispanic, and low SES students were less likely to show, maintain, and develop an interest in STEM careers during high school years. Compared with White boys from higher SES background, girls from all racial/ethnic and SES groups, as well as Black and Hispanic boys from lower SES groups, consistently had lower rates of interest, persistence, and developing an interest in STEM fields.

Expansion and inequality of higher education in China: how likely would Chinese poor students get to success?

ABSTRACTThis article tests effectively maintained inequality theory against the case of China. Employing Chinese College Student Survey data from 2012, the study elaborates on the rationale and causes behind the expansion of higher education over the last two decades and the impact this has had on the system. Rather than empowering disadvantaged students, the findings show that the expansion of Chinese higher education fails to reduce the inequity in China, in particular in providing low socio-economic status students access to elite Chinese universities and obtaining good positions in the job market.

Alleviating or exacerbating disadvantage: does school attended mediate the association between family background and educational attainment?

ABSTRACTOpportunities for social mobility are generated by education systems designed to alleviate the effects of social origin by providing equality of opportunities and resources. The persistence of the strong association between socioeconomic status (SES) and child’s educational achievement and attainment suggests that social origin continues to play an integral role in the educational outcomes of successive generations of Australians. Sociologists draw on a range of theoretical perspectives to explain this association including Bourdieu’s cultural and social capital theories. Using data collected by the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth 2009 (LSAY09) project, I examine the associations between student SES, school SES and two outcome variables: Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) score and university enrolment. The results indicate that low SES students attending high SES schools perform better on PISA tests than low SES students attending low SES schools. After controlling for PISA score, low SES students were less likely than their high SES peers to enrol at university. Furthermore, students attending low SES schools were less likely than their peers attending high SES schools to enrol at university, net of their individual SES and their PISA scores.

Low-socioeconomic Status Students Organizing around Class on Campus

While scholars have developed stronger understandings of challenges facing low-socioeconomic status (SES) students, there has been very little examination of students’ advocacy on their own behalves. The last 10 years have seen a substantial and rapid increase in low-SES students organizing campus groups to provide safe space, activism, and/or education around class inequality at selective and highly selective colleges and universities. By utilizing literature on other student activist movements, I make two contributions. First, I extend the existing work on student activism to include a contemporary and growing movement around socioeconomic inequality that is—unlike many previous campus movements—largely operating independently of a broader, noncampus social movement. Second, I detail the challenges students face in seeking changes on their own campuses, which I argue are both specific to their roles as activists and also exacerbated, in many cases, by their positions as low-SES students. These findings, therefore, help to further illuminate the ways that socioeconomic inequality is maintained on college campuses over time and also to highlight a growing campus-based social movement.

Moderation of the effects of scientific inquiry activities on low SES students’ PISA 2015 science achievement by school teacher support and disciplinary climate in science classroom across gender

ABSTRACTScientific inquiry activities are considered as productive science instruction to improve students’ science learning and achievement. Supportive teacher-student relationships and positive disciplinary climate in the classroom are also two important factors that could facilitate student learning. This study investigates whether the association between the inquiry-based science activities and student science achievement varies by teacher support and disciplinary climate in science classrooms, particularly when taking into consideration of student gender difference and socioeconomic status (SES). This study performed regression analyses using Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong (B-S-J-G-China) students’ science performance and background survey data of 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Results showed that disciplinary climate, rather than teacher support, could moderate the association between inquiry-based science activities and student science achievement for both genders. Implications for instruction and further research were discussed as well.

Demographic Characteristics Related to Motor Skills in Children Aged 5-7 Years Old

Background: Motor skill is important to young children’s overall well-being. However, there has been a paucity of work examining the demographic characteristics on young children’ motor skill. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in motor skills across socio-economic status (SES) and grade levels in elementary school children. Method: Participants were 651 kindergarten to 2nd grade children (mean age = 6.2 ± 0.9 years; 305 girls, 346 boys) recruited from two low SES schools and another two high SES schools. Selected motor skill items were measured using the Test for Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition (TGMD-3) instrument. Data were collected once at each school during physical education class and recess period. A 4 × 3 × 2 × 2 Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) test was employed to examine the differences among grade, SES, ethnicity, and sex on TGMD-3 scores. Results: There were significant main effects for grade (Wilks’ lambda = 0.34, F (2, 1274) = 229.6, p &lt; 0.001) and SES (Wilks’ lambda = 0.70, F (2, 637) = 136.3, p &lt; 0.001). Follow-up tests revealed statistically significant differences between grades on locomotor, object control and overall TGMD-3, with the 2nd graders displaying highest mean scores, followed by 1st graders and kindergarteners. Follow-up tests suggested that high SES children displaying statistically significant higher mean scores than low SES students on all motor skill variables. Conclusion: Older children demonstrated higher motor competence levels, and those with high SES displayed higher motor skill levels than lower SES children.

Academic performance of low SES students at an Australian university satellite campus

ABSTRACTThe satellite university campus is becoming more prominent in Australia, and may consist of a large proportion of students of low socio-economic status (SES). Concurrently, there is a governmental target to increase the proportion of low SES students at university. However, there are concerns that students of low SES may be less successful at university, and accordingly, this study aimed to identify whether SES impacted on student success. Retrospective analysis was undertaken of satellite campus students to relate their SES and university entry rank to their academic results. There was no strong relationship between students’ entry rank and their results, nor was there a significant effect of SES on results. This demonstrates that students of low SES, and those of lower entry ranks, were successful in their first year. These results indicate that universities can recruit low SES students to meet governmental policy, without the concerns of increased failure rates.

Needs of students seeking careers in communication sciences and disorders and barriers to their success

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify the needs for and barriers to success of underrepresented students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders field and to determine factors linked to student persistence and academic achievement. MethodAn online survey was completed by 126 undergraduates pursuing graduate studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Data were subjected to Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. ResultsSurvey responses indicated that financial matters exerted the most influence on students’ preparation for and number of choices for graduate-school applications. However, socioeconomic status was associated with needed financial support for paying tuition and completing the admission process. In addition, students at lower socioeconomic status reported spending fewer hours studying for tests and earned lower grade-point averages than peers who self-identified with a relatively high socioeconomic status. The findings also show a relationship between students’ grade-point averages and family members’ levels of education. The majority reported that mothers had earned the highest degree in their household, followed by siblings, themselves, and fathers. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that students of low socioeconomic status were less academically prepared than those self-reporting a higher status. Moreover, the presence of a role model, such as a college-educated family member, may affect academic performance. Therefore, interventions for students at risk of not gaining admissions to graduate school include financial assistance and mentoring and advising programs.

A ticket to ride: The unintended consequences of school transport subsidies

This paper provides evidence of the effects of a decrease in the cost of travelling to schools outside the neighbourhood on the choice of school among low income families. I examine a policy reform that occurred in England in academic year 2007/2008, which provided free transport to low socio-economic status (SES) students to schools between 2 and 6 miles away from home only, but not to closer schools. Using confidential panel school micro data, providing information on the postcode of both schools and students’ residence, I find strong evidence of a decline in the probability of attending schools closer than 2 miles. Conversely, the decrease in the cost of travelling affects negatively the quality of the school attended. Consistent with the predictions of a simple theoretical model, results suggest that the negative estimates on quality are driven by students who are willing to trade quality for savings in transport costs. This mechanism is reinforced by school over-subscription combined with distance-based admission criteria, which de facto limits choice to low quality institutions.