Postsecondary Outcomes for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students

• In Event: The Postsecondary Education of Homeless and Highly Mobile Youth

Abstract

Research has shown that homeless children are at a greater risk than their peers for experiencing developmental delays (Bassuk & Rosenberg, 1988), difficulties in reading and math (Obradović et al., 2009), and grade retention (Masten, 1990). However, due to the frequent mobility of homeless families and children, research about post-secondary outcomes for this unique student population is nearly nonexistent.
This portion of the symposium will provide participants with an overview of a research project designed to predict post-secondary enrollment of homeless and highly mobile students (HHM). The results of the research project will inform school district leaders, school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and teachers of HHM student characteristics associated with successful enrollment in post-secondary institutions.
Project Design. This study is composed of pre-existing data from approximately 360 HHM students who graduated from an urban school district between 2010 and 2012; approximately 60 of these students identified as HHM went on to post-secondary institutions within two years of graduating high school. Data will be analyzed using logistic regression to determine the best fitting model for predicting post-secondary enrollment among HHM students. Post-secondary enrollment will serve as the outcome measure with other variables serving as predictors (e.g. gender, standardized test scores, GPA, attendance rate, etc.).
Additionally, this study will compare group means for students who enrolled in two-year institutions versus those who enrolled in four-year institutions. This descriptive information may allow school professionals to better understand the HHM population with regard to post-secondary enrollment.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes. This overview will promote awareness of HHM student issues and provide school personnel with the necessary information that will allow them to properly advocate for HHM students’ educational rights. In addition, the results of the research project will inform practitioners about how to target HHM students who are at-risk for not enrolling in post-secondary institutions. This will allow school districts and practitioners to decide how to best use resources for individual and systems level interventions.

Authors

• Amy Lein, University of Minnesota

• Gena Nelson, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities