Mobility and Student Achievement in High Poverty Schools

• Main Author: Dalton, Janet D
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2013
• Subjects: student achievement; ethnicity; mobility; poverty; transience; Education
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1159; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2288&context=etd

Student mobility is an issue for high poverty schools in the shadow of increased rigor and accountability for student performance. Whereas mobility is not a sole cause for poor achievement, it is a contributing factor for students in poverty who are already considered to be at risk of low achievement. Student mobility creates a hardship for schools and districts and hampers attempts to properly monitor the progress of students. This quantitative study examined the differences between mobile and nonmobile 4th grade students from 4 high poverty schools in a Northeast Tennessee school district. Research before and after the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (NCLB) was explored. A two-way contingency analysis was used to determine if differences exist between mobile and nonmobile students on reading and math achievements tests. Additionally, the frequency of mobility and mobile and nonmobile among 3 ethnic groups were explored to determine the effects of mobility on achievement. The analyses suggested that no significant relationship exists between the independent variables. This quantitative study examined the differences between mobile and nonmobile fourth grade students from four high poverty schools in a Northeast Tennessee school district. Research before and after the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (NCLB) was explored. A two way contingency analysis was used to determine if differences exist between mobile and nonmobile students on reading and math achievements tests. Additionally, the frequency of mobility and mobile and nonmobile among three ethnic groups were explored to determine the effects of mobility on achievement. The analyses suggested that no significant relationship exists between the independent variables.