ED441040 UD033396
Title: The Educational Consequences of Mobility for California Students
and Schools. Research Series.
Author(s): Rumberger, Russell W.; Larson, Katherine A.; Ream, Robert
K.; Palardy, Gregory J.
Author Affiliation: Policy Analysis for California Education, Berkeley,
CA.(BBB24265)
Pages: 136
Publication Date: March 1999
Notes: Sponsored by the Stuart Foundation.
Report No: PACE-99-2
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC06 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: Reports--Research (143)
Geographic Source: U.S.; California
Journal Announcement: RIEOCT2000
This study
examined three important aspects of student mobility (incidence,
consequences, and causes) as they apply to students and schools
in California, especially at the secondary level. The study drew
on an extensive set of data on California students, parents, and
schools that included surveys of 1,114 8th graders followed over
6 years as part of the National Education Longitudinal Study, surveys
of 10th graders in 56 schools (part of the High School Effectiveness
Study), interviews with 19 mobile high school students and their
parents, and interviews with 32 educators. Mobility rates of California
students are generally higher than elsewhere in the United States.
Almost 75% of California students made unscheduled school changes
between grades 1 and 12, compared to 60% of the rest of the United
States. Student mobility is prevalent among all ethnic and immigrant
groups in California. Overall, only half of high school changes
result from changes in family residence. In fact, students themselves
often initiate changes at the high school level. Findings indicate
that students suffer psychologically, socially, and academically
from mobility. Mobility also has effects on classrooms and schools
that must deal with mobile students. Some suggestions are made for
reducing student mobility and coping with it when it does occur.
An appendix contains tables of study data. (Contains 12 tables,
13 figures, and 67 references.) (SLD)
Descriptors: Family Mobility; Secondary Education; *Secondary School
Students; *Student Mobility; *Transfer Students
Identifiers: *California
