Public School Students Research Articles

Increasing disparities in obesity and severe obesity prevalence among public elementary and middle school students in New York City, school years 2011-12 through 2019-20.

Recent national trends in the United States indicate a significant increase in childhood obesity, a major public health concern with documented physical and mental comorbidities and sociodemographic disparities. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among youth in New York City (NYC) before the COVID-19 pandemic and examine time trends overall and by key characteristics. We included all valid height and weight measurements of kindergarten through 8th grade public school students aged 5 to 15 from school years 2011-12 through 2019-20 (N = 1,370,890 unique students; 5,254,058 observations). Obesity and severe obesity were determined using age- and sex-specific body mass index percentiles based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression models with repeated cross-sectional observations weighted to represent the student population for each year and clustered by student and school. Among youth attending public elementary and middle schools in NYC, we estimate that 20.9% and 6.4% had obesity and severe obesity, respectively, in 2019-20. While consistent declines in prevalence were observed overall from 2011-12 to 2019-20 (2.8% relative decrease in obesity and 0.2% in severe obesity, p<0.001), increasing trends were observed among Black, Hispanic, and foreign-born students, suggesting widening disparities. Extending previous work reporting prevalence estimates in this population, nearly all groups experienced significant increases in obesity and severe obesity from 2016-17 to 2019-20 (relative change = 3.5% and 6.7%, respectively, overall; p<0.001). Yet, some of the largest increases in obesity were observed among those already bearing the greatest burden, such as Black and Hispanic students and youth living in poverty. These findings highlight the need for greater implementation of equity-centered obesity prevention efforts. Future research should consider the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in clinical guidance on childhood obesity and severe obesity in NYC.

Impact of Psychological Factors on Physical Education Learning Outcomes

This research aims to analyze the impact of students' perceptions and learning motivation as the main factors that influence physical education learning outcomes. Affective learning is reported to be one of the key factors in achieving physical education learning outcomes. A correlation design using the associative causal method has been used to collect information from a sample of 63 public elementary school students. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Next, to examine the impact of this study, we utilized IBM SPSS software. The results show that there is a different correlation between physical education learning outcomes and predictors of student perception and learning motivation. The strength of the direct influence identifies that there is a significant positive influence on students' perceptions and learning motivation on physical education learning outcomes. Therefore, the components of student perception and learning motivation are the main factors in physical education learning outcomes.

Exploring Formative Assessment Practices in Public Secondary Schools in Kicukiro District

Various scholars acknowledged that formative assessment play a vital role in increasing students’ academic achievement. The main purpose of this study was to explore formative assessment practices in public secondary schools in Kicukiro District. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate how teachers plan for formative assessment in public secondary schools in Kicukiro district, to discover how teachers use formative assessment techniques in electing students learning evidence in public secondary schools in Kicukiro district and to assess how teachers provide formative assessment feedback to students in public secondary schools in Kicukiro district. The study used descriptive survey research design. The study was guided by Sadler’s theory of formative assessment founded in 1989. The target population of the study was 220 teachers and 13 deputy head teachers in charge of studies. A sample of 142 teachers were selected using simple random sampling while 13 deputy head teachers in charge of studies were included in the study purposively. Questionnaires, semi-structured interview and lesson observation checklist were used as research instruments in collecting data from respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations whereas thematic analysis was used for analysing qualitative data. The quantitative data were presented in tables while qualitative data were presented in the text. The findings indicate that the practices related to planning for formative assessment (M=2.41, SD=1.01) are rarely practiced in public secondary schools in Kicukiro District. It was also revealed that practices related to eliciting evidences of students’ learning (M=2.76, SD=1.11) were practiced sometimes. Finally, it was revealed practices related to formative assessment feedback (M=2.33, SD=1.01) were rarely done. The study recommended that National Examination and School Inspection Authority should strengthen the practices of formative assessment at school levels. Future researchers were recommended to replicate the study in other region beyond Kicukiro District.

Analysis of money management skills as a character building of responsibility and creativity in elementary school students

Financial management skills are very important in life, so these skills must be trained from an early age so that when they grow up they become wise people who use money responsibly. This study aims to describe the results of the analysis of the ability of elementary school students to manage their money creatively and responsibly. This research method is descriptive qualitative. Data collection by survey by giving instruments in the form of questionnaires 12 questions for individuals and 1 question for groups. The research sample as the source is 80 public and private elementary school students in Malang city. Data analysis techniques using Miles and Huberman with data collection steps, data reduction, data presentation and data verification. Based on the results of the survey of the ability to manage finances in the aspect of utilizing pocket money for saving and entrepreneurship individually with group financial management obtained, it shows that there is not too much difference. In individual results, the majority of students have set aside pocket money to save and do small businesses but have not yet appeared well managed, in group results there is already a detailed planning of financial management for business but the calculation of capital and profit is not appropriate. Financial management skills in elementary school students still need more serious handling in order to increase more creative and responsible.

Prevalence of Obesity and Dental Caries in High School Adolescents during the First Decade of Saudi Vision 2030: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Saudi Vision 2030 was launched in 2016. Obesity and dental caries are both highly prevalent in Saudi adolescents and have been targeted by the Vision's health initiatives. The aim is to assess their prevalence in adolescents during the first decade since the launch of the Vision. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia using a stratified sample of 571 high school students, with an average age of 16.7 (0.6). Their height and weight were measured, and their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The decayed, missed, and filled scores (DMFTs) were recorded after an oral examination. Non-parametric tests were used to assess the associations of DMFT with BMI, sex, and school type; and its predictors were assessed. One-third of males were overweight/obese compared with 22% of females. Males exhibited higher DMFTs than females. DMFTs were higher among public school students than among their private school counterparts. No significant association was observed between DMFT and BMI. Sex and school type were significant predictors of DMFT. The prevalence of obesity has slowly decreased in adolescents, but the prevalence of dental caries has not. There was no significant relationship between these conditions. Saudi Vision 2030's current preventive/educational initiatives may be more effective in combating obesity than dental caries.

Steering Towards Sustainable Mobility: A Holistic Examination of Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program Impact on Commuting Public and Private School Students in the University Belt, Manila, Philippines

The Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program aims to create convenient, accessible, and eco-friendly electric jeepneys, commonly called “Jeepney Modernization,” for commuters in urban areas. However, the price of modernized jeepneys is costly, leaving a majority of commuters, especially students, with the burden of making enough profit to fund the program, resulting in fare increases continually. Hence, this research study aims to assess the following categories: (1) students’ perceptions of the significance of jeepneys for student commutes, (2) students’ perception of Jeepney Modernization policies and possible fare increase, and (3) students’ perceptions on their affordability of the fare increase. The researchers utilized a quantitative approach using modified survey questions adapted from existing studies. This survey was distributed to (40) college students. Specifically, (10) participants from each of the following four universities: Pamantasan Ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Unibersidad de Manila (UDM), public schools; Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST), private schools. Results have shown no significant differences in students’ perspectives from public and private universities within U-Belt. This indicates that regardless of variation in academic institutions, students have similar perspectives on the significance of Jeepney usage, Jeepney modernization program policies, Fares increase, and Fares affordability. Ultimately, this research provided valuable insights regarding students’ challenges and experiences due to the recent transportation changes and could potentially aid policymakers in mitigating negative impacts.

Synergistic Impacts of Expansions in Pre-K Access and School Funding on Student Achievement: Evidence from California’s Transitional Kindergarten Rollout

This paper investigates the extent to which expansions in public pre-K and increases in K12 funding improve student learning trajectories and narrow achievement gaps. I link school-and student-level information on public preschool participation with longitudinal student data for all public school students in California. The research design exploits Transitional Kindergarten's (TK's) age eligibility cutoffs and the 2013-2019 staggered implementation of California's school funding reform. This quasi-experimental variation is combined to investigate interactive effects between TK attendance and school resources in elementary school. I find positive synergistic effects of TK and elementary school spending on math and reading achievement.

The Availability Degree of Leadership Skills for Students of Public Basic Schools in Jordan According to the Japanese Education System Tokatsu

This study aimed at finding out the availability degree of leadership skills for students of public basic schools in Jordan according to the Japanese education system Tokatsu. The study used descriptive survey methodology. The study sample consisted of (220) principals and teachers. To achieve the purpose of the study, a 70-item questionnaire was used for data gathering. The findings showed that the availability degree of leadership skills for students of public basic schools in Jordan according to the Japanese educational system Tokatsu was high. Furthermore, the results showed significant differences at the level of (α=0.05) for the responses of the sample members due to the variable of experience, the differences came in favor of (less than five years), where there were no statistically significant differences at the level (α = 0.05) of the responses of the study sample due to the variable of sex. Job title and academic qualification. In light of the results, the researchers recommended the Ministry of Education to pay attention to educational activities that develop students' leadership skills

Use of 5E Learning-cycle and Concept-mapping Strategies for Improving Student's Performance in Genetics in Secondary Schools in Kwara State, Nigeria

The continuous explosion of discoveries in field of science and technology in this 21st century calls for shift from conventional teaching methods to a more innovative teaching strategies in Nigerian secondary schools. Instructional strategies adopted by teachers have been linked by researchers to students’ conceptions, misconceptions, difficulties of some concepts as well as poor performances in science subject like Biology at the senior school certificate examinations in Nigeria. Genetics is one of the concepts in Biology that was reported by researchers to be difficult to teach by teachers and difficult to learn by students in secondary schools in Nigeria. This study examined the effect of using 5E learning-cycle and concept-mapping in teaching genetics to senior school students offering biology. The study is a quasi-experimental type. Sample comprised of senior school two students in public secondary schools in Ilorin city. The study is a quasi-experimental type involving pretest, posttest, non- randomized and non-equivalent control groups. All Senior School two (SS II) Biology students were the targeted population. The target population will not be preparing for WASSCE. A purposive sampling technique was used to select co-educational government secondary schools in three senatorial districts. A Performance Test on Genetics (PTG) was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using mean and ANCOVA statistical tool. The study revealed that both learning-cycle and concept- mapping had a positive effect on the performance of the experimental groups. It means there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups and also, no significant difference between the performance of male and female students. It was therefore recommended among others that teachers should employ these strategies to teach biology particularly genetics

Implementation of Project Based Learning in Teaching Speaking to Students of Vocational School

Scientific approach has several methods that lead the students to be active in learning English applicative skills such as speaking. One of methods that can be considered for enhancing students’ speaking skill is project-based learning (PjBL). Vocational School teachers might often apply PjBL to speaking activities in learning process. Regarding to this fact, the researcher conducted a descriptive study to explore Inservice teachers’ definitions of project-based learning (PjBL) and their accounts on the meaning of their PjBL implementations. A purposive sample of six teachers from grades ten until twelve and several students in public schools participated. Observation, interviews, and document collection are used for gathering the data. The result of this research shows that through PjBL, teachers could cover speaking activities that support students’ development in speaking through PjBL.

Parent Satisfaction : Contribution of Parental Involvement and School Service Quality Perception at Public Elementary School

This study aims to identify the characteristics, parental involvement, school service quality, and parent satisfaction of public elementary school students and analyze the influence of parental involvement and school service quality on parent satisfaction of public elementary school students. This research used a quantitative approach with a survey method, using cluster random sampling, and a questionnaire was distributed to 119 parents whose children are at the elementary school level in Bekasi City. The data was collected and then processed with descriptive tests and impact tests using SPSS and SmartPLS. The results showed that parental involvement did not have a direct impact on parent satisfaction, but it was moderated by school service quality. School service quality perception had a direct and significant impact on parent satisfaction. Parents need to be more aware of the role they play in their children's education and make an effort to be involved in children's learning process. For schools, it is necessary to periodically evaluate the quality of school services because it greatly influences parental satisfaction.

Reading processes of public and private middle school and high school students

IntroductionReading has been widely discussed, mainly due to the published results of international performance tests of schoolchildren. The gaps generated in literacy hinder the development of basic skills necessary for reading, which will have a negative impact on the teaching-learning process from elementary school to high school. This study aimed to compare the reading performance of the students in public and private schools through tests of the Brazilian reading processes-PROLEC-SE-R.MethodsCross-sectional study. The Brazilian adaptation of the PROLEC-SE-R was administered to 436 students: 221 from the state school (G1 6th year, n = 30; G2 7th year, n = 33; G3 8th year, n = 35; G4 9th year, n = 31; G5 1st year, n = 32; G6 2nd year, n = 30; G7 3rd year, n = 30) e 215 private schools (G8 6th year, n = 31; G9 7th year, n = 31; G10 8th year, n = 30; G11 9th year, n = 31; G12 1st year, n = 30; G13 2nd year, n = 31; G14 3rd year, n = 31). Tools of descriptive and bivariate analysis were used.ResultsSuperior performance of the private school students on spelling tests helps their reading as evidenced by their scores for syntactic and semantic processes. When the knowledge of the use of the word in text, extraction of meaning and its understanding was needed, the difficulty of access to the mental lexicon of the studied population became evident.ConclusionThe PROLEC-SE-R, in addition to establishing the reading profile of elementary and high school students, shows that the gaps in teaching and learning, which exist between public and private education in the literacy period, accompany students throughout the basic education cycle. Knowing the reading profile and in which process there is a disruption is important so that the teaching of specific strategies can be promoted throughout the entire schooling process, especially in primary and secondary education.

Factors Affecting Academic Performance in Social Studies Among Students in Selected Public Junior High Schools in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana

The study sought to investigate the factors affecting academic performance in Social Studies among public junior high school students in Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana. It adopted Ecological systems theory by Urie Bronferbrenner (1979). A quantitative (positivist) methodology with a descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used for the study. The three public junior high schools were obtained through the use of a purposeful sampling approach. Additionally, a random sampling procedure was employed to select 180 students from the three chosen schools. Structured questionnaires were used as instrument for data collection. With the aid of the version 25 of the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS), descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that students' home characteristics including parents' great interest in their children's education and involvement in household tasks had had an impact on their academic performance in Social Studies. Academic performance was also found to be influenced by criteria related to the teachers, such as their professional training, teaching experience, subject-matter expertise, positive relationships with their students, and completion of the Social Studies curriculum. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service provide guidance and counselling systems in the public junior high schools in the Municipality as well as schedule regular and thorough in-service training and workshops for the headteachers and teachers to enable them advance their knowledge, skills, and experiences in instructional pedagogies.

STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS IN GENERATION Z USING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

This study aims to explore the contribution of educational technology to developing soft skills among Generation Z students in public schools. We employed a qualitative research method, utilizing a case study approach. We collected data through observations and interviews with various stakeholders in public schools. The findings of the study indicate that educational technology positively contributes to enhancing students' soft skills. The use of educational technology facilitates interactive, creative, and adaptive learning, as well as collaboration and interaction among students from diverse backgrounds. However, to maximize the benefits of educational technology, we must address challenges like accessibility gaps and curriculum integration. The study concludes that educational technology holds great potential as a tool to prepare Generation Z for the demands and challenges of an increasingly complex and interconnected workforce.

Assessing the impact of an integrated educational program on Greek students' knowledge about coastal lagoons and attitudes towards marine environment conservation

The primary objective of this study is to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of seas by promoting Ocean Literacy. It investigates the impact of an educational program on Greek primary and secondary public school students' knowledge about coastal lagoons and attitudes towards marine environment conservation. An educational resource titled “Exploring the Coastal Lagoons” was developed to facilitate the non-formal educational intervention. The program involved classroom, fieldwork/outdoor and laboratory activities, focusing on enhancing understanding of coastal lagoons' abiotic and biotic characteristics and human interconnection. Results showed improved knowledge and slightly more positive attitudes after the didactic intervention. The study underlines the effectiveness of targeted educational interventions in marine sciences, suggesting that non-formal educational settings influence student outcomes more than family or informal sources. Younger students appeared more adaptable and responsive to educational stimuli. The study advocates for refined educational strategies integrating cognitive and emotional elements, emphasizing real nature experience.

The Effects of Housing Price Declines on Children's Educational Outcomes

Abstract We examine the effects that household exposure to housing price declines, captured by measures of negative equity, have on children's academic performance, using data on public school students and housing transactions from the State of Florida. Our empirical strategy exploits variation over time in the timing of family moves to account for household sorting into neighborhoods and schools and selection into initial mortgage terms. In contrast to the existing literature on the effects of foreclosure, we find that students with the highest risk of negative equity exhibit significantly higher test score growth, with the largest effects among Black students and students qualifying for free or reduced-priced lunch. We find evidence supporting two underlying mechanisms: (1) families in negative equity may reduce the impact of income losses on consumption by forgoing mortgage payments, and (2) families exposed to high levels of negative equity may move to schools that received higher average school report card grades. While negative equity and foreclosure are undesirable, negative equity may have encouraged homeowners to forgo mortgage payments to mitigate the impact of the Great Recession, and temporarily reduced the housing market barriers low-income households faced in accessing educational opportunities.

A mixed-method case study of Readers’ Theatre with African immigrant and refugee students

ABSTRACT Readers' Theatre, a drama-based literacy intervention, has been studied for its academic benefit with the socio-emotional impacts largely neglected. In the current study, the Principal Investigator partnered with a summer Readers' Theatre intervention for public middle school students. Following, students completed a self-concept measure and participated in an interview on the experience. This study presents results of the first-and-second-generation African immigrant and refugee participants. Three themes from the interviews are explored: (1) culturally based-arts experiences and intervention buy-in, (2) emphasis on perceived achievement, and (3) the relationship of self-reported impact on middle school readiness, reading attitudes, and sense of ensemble.

Handwashing Practices among Public Primary School Students in East Dembiya District, Ethiopia.

Poor water sanitation and hygiene is a public health problem in developing and underdeveloped countries, including Ethiopia, and remains an important public health issue among primary school students. Students have been repeatedly exposed to various communicable diseases associated with water sanitation and hygiene. The objective of this study was to assess predictors of handwashing practice among second-cycle public primary school students in East Dembiya District, northwestern Ethiopia, 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 752 second-cycle primary school students. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and observational checklists adopted and modified from different sources of literature. The data were checked further by visualizing and computing rates with the SPSS version 26 statistical software. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors. The prevalence of washing practices among second-cycle primary school students was 57.6% (95% CI 53.90-61.10). Residency (urban) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.30-2.87), access to media (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.11-2.49), hygiene and sanitation club membership (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.26-2.80), good knowledge about handwashing (aOR = 3.93, 95% CI: 2.34-6.60), and a positive attitude toward handwashing (aOR = 3.63, 95% CI: 2.01-5.584) were predictors of handwashing practice among second-cycle primary school students. This study showed that handwashing practice among primary school students was low. Availing handwashing facilities, better media access, formation of a hygiene and sanitation club in the school, celebration of "Handwashing Day" with students, and leading behavior change communication are all important for improving students' handwashing practice.

Avenues for Engagement? Testing the Democratic Nature of Library Book Challenge Processes

Background or Context: Public school library book challenges have garnered ample media attention in recent years as many school districts and advocacy organizations have reported record numbers of book challenges. Book challenges are not a new phenomenon, historically speaking, but they have often illuminated values clashes in communities and raise questions about the rights and freedoms of public school students. Judicial rulings and school district policies that address book challenges could provide insights for many members of school communities (including, but not limited to, school board members, students, parents, and teachers) as they experience challenges, but these aspects of the legal record and their influence on responses to book challenges remains underexamined in scholarship. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: The 1982 Supreme Court case Island Trees School District v. Pico remains the lasting judicial precedent for interpreting public school students’ First Amendment rights as they interact with school library books. We examine the extent to which school district book challenge policies align with court precedent set in Pico (1982) and the implications for students’ rights and democratic participation during book challenges. Research Design: Drawing on elements of the law and society framework as well as political analysis categories, this study uses qualitative methods to illuminate specific elements of district policies that govern book challenges. Specifically, we examine 29 policies in school districts that experienced a publicly reported book challenge between 2017 and 2021 to understand relationships between school district book challenge policies and the Pico (1982) precedent. Conclusions or Recommendations: Our findings reveal ample space between judicial rulings and school district policies we examine. In fact, we find a broader array of relevant actors in book challenge processes than conceived by the courts and raise implications for students’ constitutional rights and protections related to who policies indicate may or must be involved in these processes, the settings in which book challenge decisions are made, and the limited roles for public involvement during school library book challenges.

Bullying and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms Among Adolescents of Public Schools in Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Bullying is a frequent, yet sometimes dismissed dynamic in school-aged youth, despite all the literature around its prevalence and detrimental effects. Around the world, prevalence estimates have demonstrated wide variability. In Colombia, between 22% and 49.9% of adolescents have experienced bullying. Much research on school bullying has focused on perpetrators and those victimized; less is known about those who witness it. The main objective of this cross-sectional study of 1224 Colombian public high school students was to determine if there is an association between the different types of involvement (victims, aggressors, witnesses) in bullying and the presence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We measured individual sociodemographic factors, types of involvement in bullying, the presence of PTSD symptoms, and levels of family dysfunction. We found that verbal abuse was the most frequent behavior reported. Also, a high proportion of PTSD symptoms among victims, witnesses, and aggressors were identified. In the logistic regression analysis, presence of PTSD symptoms was associated with subjects identified as social victims (OR = 2.067; CI = 1.381– 3.095), verbal victims (OR = 2.779; CI = 1.599–4.828), victims by coercion (OR = 4.038; CI = 1.710–9.532), social aggressors (OR = 1.974; CI = 1.355–2.919), and in those with severe family dysfunction (OR = 3.372; CI = 1.744–6.520). Additional research is needed in the Colombian population to identify and explore appropriate options for prevention and intervention in those most vulnerable to bullying.