School Transition Research Articles

The transition to university in a sample of Italian students: the role of integrative memories of high school transition

ABSTRACT Grounded in literature on school transitions and autobiographical memory, this study focuses on the personal memories of a sample of 112 young Italian adults facing their transition to university. Participants were asked to recall five memories of their high school transition experience and, subsequently, the students were assessed in terms of resilience, future orientation, academic motivation, university transition experience, and subjective well-being since attending university. The memories were coded for narrative themes, structure, and integrative meaning. The results, consistent with prior studies on school memories, indicate that memory narratives are, on average, specific and focused on interpersonal relationships. Tension, redemption sequences, and autobiographical integration were other important dimensions of most of the memories. The number of integrative memories (i.e., those that connect a certain memory with a broader meaning) is correlated with important individual factors that influence university transition (resilience, future orientation, and academic intrinsic motivation) and predict both perceived difficulty in the university transition and subjective well-being. Results are discussed in light of prior studies on autobiographical memory and school transitions.

Changes in African American and Latinx Students’ Perceived Ethnic–Racial Discrimination During the Middle School Transition Year

The middle school transition year poses known challenges to early adolescent adjustment, particularly for students from ethnic and racial minoritized backgrounds who face ethnic and racial discrimination from school personnel and classmates. Drawing on a sample of 711 African American and Latinx sixth-grade students attending 17 schools, we employed latent class analysis and latent transition analysis to explore the nature of and changes to perceived ethnic and racial discrimination during the beginning and end of sixth grade. We also examined the possibility that perceived ethnic–racial discrimination could be diminished through a school-based, universal program for teachers to improve the school ecology. Findings revealed four distinct classes concerning perceived ethnic–racial discrimination, with patterns over time highlighting the malleability of perceived ethnic–racial discrimination during the first year of middle school. Findings provide direct implications for understanding and improving ethnic and racial minoritized students’ school experiences at the middle school transition.

Using Latent Class Analysis to Link Career and Technical Education in Adolescence and Work and School Transitions in Young Adulthood

Career and technical education (CTE) has recently gained national attention as a means of promoting college and career readiness. However, little is known about the joint trajectories of school and work during and following CTE participation in high school. Using the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002, we conducted latent class analyses to examine latent pathways connecting high school CTE participation with employment during high school, as well as the subsequent educational and work transitions. Four latent pathways were identified, defined as: (a) CTE-to-work pathway, (b) BA-focused pathway, (c) Workfocused pathway, and (d) low-career motivation pathway. Analysis of the precursors revealed that male students tend to follow work-related paths and females tend to take more education-focused paths. Further, higher math and reading test scores, and higher parental socioeconomic background were associated with a higher likelihood of taking the BA-focused pathway as opposed to the CTE-to-work pathway, and of taking the CTE-to-work pathway compared to the work-focused and low-career motivation pathways. Both the BA-focused and CTE-to-work groups had relatively higher earnings and job satisfaction compared to the other two latent path groups.

Experiences of Transition to Secondary School in the United Kingdom for Children With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Qualitative Study.

This study explored the secondary school transition experiences of children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants were recruited from a National Health Service (NHS) specialist cleft service covering a large geographical area in the United Kingdom. Six participants with CL/P (aged 11-12 years old) in their first 12 months following transition to secondary school were interviewed. Four themes describe participants' transition experiences: (a) managing and valuing difference: the impact on self-worth and identity; (b) managing and valuing difference within the social context; (c) disclosure and the process of informing others about CL/P; and (d) developing positive peer relationships. Children with CL/P experience several psychosocial challenges during the transition to secondary school. Professionals involved with working with and supporting these children (and their families), such as psychologists, school nurses or wellbeing staff, child psychiatrists, social workers, mental health nurses and paediatricians, should attend to these issues when preparing for this transition in order to foster resilience and adjustment.

A Systematic Review of Research Exploring Stakeholder Views on the Kindergarten-school Transition

A smooth kindergarten-school transition is till problematic, even thoughit has been receiving attention from researchers as well as education professionals (e.g. Heckman, 2011). It is clear to everyone that children, kindergarten teachers, primary school teachers, and parents are all greatly affected by the kindergarten-school transition (e.g. Correia & Marques-Pinto, 2016). Therefore, the goal of my study is the systematic review of research exploring the kindergarten-school transition related views and opinions of the stakeholders. A search was conducted for English language studies that were published in peer reviewed journals between 1 January 2016 and 1 September 2020, in the ERIC, Scopus and the Web of Science databases. The expressions „kindergarten school transition”; „transition into primary school”; „transition to school”; „starting school”; „beliefs concerning school transition” were used as search terms. A total of 646 publications were identified, of which 21 complied with the inclusion criteria. Those papers were included that present such empirical work that explore the views and opinions of stakeholdersregardingthe kindergarten-school transition of normally developing children. The present review considers six aspects: (1) the country where data were collected; (2) the phase of transition when data were collected; (3) the issue of transition studied; (4) participants; (5) data collection methods; (6) main results. The review showed that numerous questions regardingthe kindergarten-school transition are researched worldwide. My study can serve a basis for understanding the problems of starting school in different countries, as well as to formulate further research questions, and to design further research.

A-40 The Neurocognitive and Behavioral Profile of an Adolescent with in-Utero Exposure to Alcohol

Abstract Objective Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in altered brain development that has detrimental effects on children and put them at increased risk for cognitive impairment, sensorimotor deficits, attention problems, behavioral issues, and social–emotional difficulties. Further, adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders associated with in-utero exposure to alcohol require targeted academic and psychosocial support as they transition into adulthood which emphasizes the need for neuropsychological assessment. Method This case study presents on the neuropsychological profile of a 17-year-old male in the 11th grade who was exposed to alcohol in-utero and was diagnosed with fetal alcohol effects as a young child by his primary care physician. Results Neuropsychological testing revealed a broad range of impairments which included deficits in intellectual functioning (mild disability), adaptive functioning, language, academic achievement, attention, executive functioning, memory, fine/visuomotor skills, and social–emotional functioning. Conclusions Recommendations were made to modify his special education goals by targeting his functional academic skills, adaptive functioning, communication skills, and post-high school transition planning. Recommendations for behavioral interventions were given to his referring psychotherapist to aid in treatment planning. Information on vocational counseling and financial support for individuals with developmental disabilities were provided to the patient’s guardian as well. This case study illustrates the long-lasting neurocognitive and behavioral effects associated with in-utero alcohol exposure and the need for neuropsychological assessment during adolescence in order to reduce secondary issues (e.g., school problems, lack of mental health support, unemployment, and financial hardship) that can occur as these individuals move into adulthood.

The teacher as innovator in the pandemic

The upper secondary school's transition to remote education in spring 2020 showed Swedish schools' preparedness to redirect to distance learning (The Swedish National Agency for Education, 2020). The processes during the transition revealed that technology not only replaced the walls of the classroom, but also took over every day learning practices. With the aim to create in-depth knowledge about conditions and practices that emerged, facilitated or hindered the transition, a data set has been constructed based on 52 upper secondary school teachers’ stories about their personal experiences of the transitional period. The narrative approach (Riessman, 1993) methodologically serves to access qualitative aspects and different dimensions of practice in change. Theoretically, Kemmis (2019) describes the importance of paying attention to practices in motion and to provide for and support practices in the making, since human development, as well as individual and collective learning, are based on constantly changing practices. The data material has been analyzed thematically and the results reveal three overarching practices: collaborative, communicative, and creative, as crucial in the development work with digital and distance learning. The results offer indications that if these three practices are equally and jointly supported, the quality of the teaching and learning will develop.

The balancing act of combining school and football in the transition from a non-professional club into junior-elite academy football

Football players in the transition from junior-to-senior are usually involved in dual careers, combining school and football – a process that makes them dependent on a holistic talent-development journey. The aim of the current study was to describe how male junior elite football players (N=10; 5=living at home, 5=living away from home) perceived stressors in the transition from a non-professional club into a junior elite academy. Furthermore, the school transition (between lower- and upper-secondary school) and social transition (based on the school and football transitions) as a consequence of the football transition into academy football. Based on Wylleman and Lavallee’s (2004) and Stambulova’s (2003) models, the data were analysed based on the following three levels in the transitions: athletic, academic - and psycho-social. The main perceived stressors in the football transition (athletic level) were new performance demands, which impacted them both physically (e.g., quality of training) and psychologically (e.g., self-esteem and well-being). Perceived stressors in the school transition (academic level) were related to increased academic workload and expectations, and academic achievement. Perceived stressors related to the social transition (psycho-social level) among the players that have chosen to live away from home were new roommates and doing more housework, even though they adapted quickly to the new requirements. Both groups highlighted the importance of having a social network (friends, leisure activity) outside of football, so they got to relax and not always think about football or school. The study findings suggest that maintaining dual careers introduces stressors for most players – independent of living at home or away from home.

Determinants of Academic Achievement in Turkey

The relationship of in-school and out-of-school factors with academic achievement has been subject to long-term discussion in the context of educational equality. In Turkey, the achievement gap between schools is relatively high, therefore, examining the factors related to achievement is crucial to the mitigation of these differences. Related studies often utilize international large-scale assessments and yield results for particular school types. Therefore, the current study aims to determine the factors related to academic achievement by using data from a student population who took the 2020 High School Transition System (LGS). Accordingly, this study is novel in that it examined the factors related to academic achievement in a high-stake test in Turkey. Data analysis used two-level hierarchical linear modeling. The results demonstrated that between-school variance in LGS achievement is relatively low compared with international large-scale assessments, such as the PISA and TIMSS. The variable with the most significant relationship with student achievement is socioeconomic status of the school followed by teacher seniority, school size, and class size. Moreover, the relationships of the student–teacher ratio and participation in in-service training to achievement are nonsignificant. The results highlight the importance of academic support for socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

Hope levels across adolescence and the transition to high school: Associations with school stress and achievement

IntroductionFeeling hopeful is an important condition for adolescents’ health, well-being, and educational success and attainment, yet limited research has examined hope at different ages throughout adolescence. Information regarding hope levels across grade could help educators know when to capitalize on goal-setting behaviors, and when to intervene should hope levels be low. Additionally, hope could help with the middle to high school transition because it presents opportunities and challenges, including school-related stress, as students adjust to new environments and expectations. MethodsTo investigate hope levels across adolescence, inter- and intra-personal analyses examined hope levels across grade-level in two cohorts of southwestern U.S. students (n = 1,018, 6th-10th grade students, 47% female, 55% White/45% non-White, (predominately Latinx)). The study used online self-report surveys to collect data. Next, longitudinal regression analyses across one year investigated relations of school stress and hope, and hope and achievement across the transition to high school. ResultsStudents in both cohorts reported relatively stable hope levels from 6th to 10th grade, except for large decreases in hope during 8th grade, which recovered during 9th grade. For longitudinal analyses across the high school transition, student stress about school performance primarily influenced 8th graders who had relatively low hope. Eighth grade hope predicted 9th grade academic achievement. ConclusionFindings regarding hope across adolescence show that hope is similar across grade, except for a large decrease in hope that may occur before the transition to high school. Longitudinal analyses showed that school performance stress may contribute to this decrease but may also assist in hope recovery after the transition. Findings support educational practices and policies that target student hope before the high school transition to potentially buffer student stress and promote high school achievement.

Disparities in Technology and Broadband Internet Access Across Rurality: Implications for Health and Education.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in using telehealth to increase access to health and mental health care has grown, and school transitions to remote learning have heightened awareness of broadband inequities. The purpose of this study was to examine access and barriers to technology and broadband Internet service ("broadband") among rural and urban youth. Washington State public school districts were surveyed about youth's access to technology (ie, a device adequate for online learning) and broadband availability in spring 2020. Availability of and barriers to broadband (ie, geography, affordability, and smartphone-only connectivity) were assessed across rurality. Among responding districts, 64.2% (n = 172) were rural and 35.8% (n = 96) were urban. Rural districts reported significantly fewer students with access to an Internet-enabled device adequate for online learning (80.0% vs 90.1%, P < .01). Access to reliable broadband varied significantly across geography (P < .01). Compared with their urban peers, rural youth face more challenges in accessing the technology and connectivity needed for remote learning and telehealth. Given that inadequate broadband infrastructure is a critical barrier to the provision of telehealth services and remote learning in rural areas, efforts to improve policies and advance technology must consider geographical disparities to ensure health and education equity.

“Please Miss, Please!”: An observational study of young people’s social and emotional experiences post-transition to secondary school

The secondary school transition is considered a critical life event by practitioners and researchers alike, and the challenges presented by the pupils during this transition continues to be high-profile in educational, social and political contexts. This study focused on Year 7 pupils aged 11 to 12 years old in their first year of secondary school. Classroom observations of around 120 pupils using an open framework recording procedure offered real-time insights into the everyday lived experiences of these adolescents. The paper illustrates the skills and behaviours that children brought to their secondary school transition, and as such reveals how the transition should be perceived as both an event and a social and emotional learning process. The findings of this study highlight the challenges of flexibility and diversity within peer networks after the move to secondary school and the impact the transition can have on the pupils’ sense of self. The analysis is discussed in terms of implications for schools, practitioners and researchers with suggestions for further studies with this under-researched and vulnerable group.

Community reintegration needs following paediatric brain injury: perspectives of caregivers and service providers

Purpose To explore the processes of community reintegration of children and families at least one year following a paediatric brain injury from the perspective of caregivers and outpatient/community service providers. Materials and methods A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews from outpatient or community service providers (N = 14; occupational, physical, and speech and language therapists, neuropsychologists, school counsellors, recreational providers) and caregivers of six children (N = 8) at least one year after their injury. Interviews were transcribed and thematically coded using deductive (employing Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory) and inductive approaches. Results Themes from both providers and caregivers indicated additional supports needed at all levels of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (i.e., individual, microsystem, mesosystem/exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem). Participants felt that several characteristics would be needed in an ideal service system following paediatric brain injury including: community solutions (“it takes a village”), long-term approaches to care, and new financial approaches. Conclusions The results suggest that children and families have substantial community reintegration needs following paediatric brain injury. Multi-system interventions are needed to support long-term community reintegration, especially those that increase communication and support transitions. There is also a strong need for alternative funding to support these efforts. Implications for Rehabilitation Families with a child with a moderate to severe brain injury face challenges with community reintegration a year or more after their child’s injury. Effort should be put into helping families navigate the complex medical, insurance, and school systems with a navigator service and step-down care to ensure a continuum of care and to support community reintegration. Special support should be provided during transitions, such as transitions from hospital care to outpatient care, and across school transitions.

Small Town Transition Services Model: Postsecondary Planning for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Graduating from high school and moving to the next phase of life can be difficult for any student but is particularly so for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social and communication difficulties, sensory concerns, and narrow interests can negatively affect these students’ opportunity for postsecondary education and employment. Preparing students with ASD for post-school success may be especially challenging in rural schools, due to limited opportunities and resources. This article describes a rural high school transition services program designed to support students with ASD and other disabilities in becoming gainfully employed after high school or accessing post-secondary education. The program, designed by a student’s transition team starting in Grade 9, is based on recommendations from the literature and includes inclusion and co-teaching, work skills classes, collaboration with outside agencies, and the development of a student portfolio.

Professional Training of Masters of Technological Education in Pedagogical Higher Education Institute

The transition of higher pedagogical school to a continuous education system involves updating the content, forms and methods of professional training of masters as specialists of the highest qualification level, who in the future will join scientists from various fields of science and teaching staff of universities, colleges, gymnasiums, lyceums and more. The purpose - on the basis of the integral scientific analysis to develop theoretical and methodical bases of research, to substantiate and experimentally check pedagogical system of professional training of masters of technological education. In the course of the research a complex of pedagogical conditions of professional training of future teachers of technological education in the process of master's degree is singled out. 531 undergraduates of experimental and control groups took part in the experiment, 266 of them were involved in the formative stage. The results of experimental data were processed according to the methods of S. Arkhangelsky (1980) (determination of a sufficient representative sample of students), A. Kiverlyag (1980) (determination of arithmetic mean, variance), D. Novikov (2005) (verification of the probability of the obtained results), which made it possible compare the indicators of the formation of levels of professional and pedagogical competence of masters of technological education before and after the experiment. As a result of experimental work, undergraduates of the experimental group showed higher levels of professional and pedagogical competence than in the control. The results of the experiment showed that the effectiveness of the author's pedagogical system of vocational training for masters of technological education is sufficient, and the general strategy of the proposed pedagogical system of vocational training is innovative, expedient and deserving widespread implementation in higher pedagogical educational institutions that train future teachers in the specialty "Technological education".

A study of academic achievement in mathematics after the transition from primary to secondary education

A successful transition from primary to secondary school is central to student confidence and the sustainment of student interest and passion for learning. The literature indicates that difficult transitions can result in decreased levels of motivation, negative attitudes towards school, decreased levels of confidence and disengagement particularly in relation to mathematics. This study investigated student performance in mathematics after the transition from primary to secondary education in Ireland. It comes in the aftermath of major educational reform in mathematics in Ireland at both primary and secondary level and is the first Irish study to examine the effect of the transition on mathematical achievement. Academic achievement in mathematics was measured using a standardised test at the end of the final year of primary school and the end of first year of secondary education. Progress in mathematics was measured over the transition by comparing these two test results for 249 students. On average, students’ raw scores decreased by 7% from sixth class (final year of primary school) to the end of first year of secondary education despite an additional year of instruction and extensive overlap of both syllabi. The results showed statistically significant losses in each strand area and in each process skill. This academic transition is not unique to Ireland and the findings from this research study will be of interest to the mathematics education community internationally since it extends the evidence base for studies in school transition.

Linking academic worries and youth academic adjustment: The role of parental involvement

Using a multi-informant, longitudinal design, we investigated the independent and interactive associations between youth academic worries and parental involvement (parent-teacher relationship quality, academic socialization, schoolwork assistance) before the middle school transition as predictors of youth engagement and academic performance after the middle school transition among 100 youth (53% boys; Mage = 11.05 years; 57% White). We found that maternal academic socialization moderated the prospective association between youth academic worries and academic adjustment, such that youth who experienced more academic worries coupled with higher maternal academic socialization had higher academic performance and engagement; no association emerged for lower maternal academic socialization. Further, maternal schoolwork assistance before middle school directly predicted better academic performance during middle school. Findings highlight the importance of maternal schoolwork assistance in promoting youths' academic performance, as well as maternal academic socialization in promoting higher academic performance and engagement for youth experiencing more academic worries.

Disrupted Care Continuity: Testing Associations between Social Networks and Transition Success for Children with Autism.

Children with autism situated in lower income families often receive intensive educational interventions as their primary form of treatment, due to financial barriers for community interventions. However, the continuity of care can be disrupted by school transitions. The quality of social relationships during the transition to a new school among parents, school staff and community providers, called the team-around-the-child (TAC), can potentially buffer a child with autism from the adverse effects caused by care disruptions. Qualities of social relationships, including trust and collaborative problem solving, can be measured using social network analysis. This study investigates if two different types of TAC relationships, defined as (1) the level of trust among team members and (2) the degree of collaborative problem solving among team members, are associated with perceived successful transitions for children with autism from lower income families. Findings suggested that TAC trust is significantly associated with the outcome of transition success for children with autism immediately post-transition.

Enhancing Academic Competence for Students with Disabilities: A School Review of the Post School Transition Program

&lt;div class="page" title="Page 1"&gt;&lt;div class="layoutArea"&gt;&lt;div class="column"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;High school leavers generally expect to be accepted into higher education. For graduate students with disabilities (SWD), however, entering college remains an exception. This study aims to identify the academic barriers to learning and the strategic preparation needed for college admission. The study was conducted in 12 special education high schools in Central Java, Indonesia. A questionnaire and focus group discussion with the school teachers were employed to collect data on the transition programme activities of the respective schools. The questionnaire was self-reported by the school staff, who consisted of headmasters, teachers, and administrators, while the interview was used to elicit the academic barriers that students with disabilities encounter within their respective special schools. The data were analysed using both descriptive quantitative and qualitative measures. It was found that 1) students with disabilities interfere with both internal and external barriers to learning; 2) policies on the right to education provide meaningful assistance in the university enrolment of students with disabilities; and 3) the modified curriculum and instructional strategies are best employed with a variety of extra curricular activities. The research concludes that academic post school transition makes a major contribution to college admission for those with mild disabilities. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Age and gender differences in mathematics learning during school transition

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore age and gender differences in motivational (mathematics value and self-concept), emotional (mathematics anxiety), and cognitive (learning strategies and performance) aspects of mathematics functioning in a large representative sample of Croatian students (N = 2749; 56% girls, mean age = 14.58) during the transition from elementary to high school. The students’ values and self-concept in mathematics, mathematics anxiety, and perceived use of mathematics learning strategies were assessed using online self-report questionnaires. Teacher-created tasks were used for performance assessment. The results revealed a decrease in mathematics motivation and performance during school transition. Older students valued mathematics less than younger students, had less positive mathematics self-concept, less frequently used learning strategies, and had lower mathematics performance. No main effect of age/grade on mathematics anxiety was found. Boys had a more positive mathematics self-concept but used learning strategies less often than girls. Moreover, interaction effects of age and gender were found. High school girls showed lower performance but higher anxiety than boys. Future research should focus on examining the efficiency of interventions tailored to prevent a decline in mathematics motivation and performance during the transition periods, especially for girls.