The Invisible Achievement Gap, Part 1 – Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California’s Public Schools — from cftl.org
From the email I rec’d on this:
The Invisible Achievement Gap, Part 1 – Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California’s Public Schools is a first-of-its-kind analysis that links data from California’s education and child welfare systems for the 2009-10 academic year to create an education snapshot of K-12 students in foster care in California. The report reveals a previously invisible achievement gap between children in foster care and other students, including other at-risk subgroups such as low-Socio-Economic Status (SES), English learners, and students with disabilities. The research shows that students in foster care:
- constituted an at-risk subgroup that was distinct from low-SES students.
- were more likely than other students to change schools during the school year.
- were more likely than the general population of students to be enrolled in the lowest-performing schools.
- had the lowest participation rate in California’s statewide testing program.
- showed an achievement gap in statewide tests when compared to other at-risk students.
- had the highest dropout rate and lowest graduation rate.
The Invisible Achievement Gap is the result of a unique collaboration between the California Department of Education, the California Department of Social Services, the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd, and other agencies. Funded by the Stuart Foundation, the findings are particularly relevant and timely as California becomes the first state in the nation to attempt to track the academic progress of students in foster care as part of its new school finance reform plan. This research offers new evidence for policymakers to use in their continuing efforts to improve the academic success of students in foster care.
To learn more about the report or download it for free, please visit: http://cftl.org/What’s_New.htm