Variation in the Extent of School Mobility Among Vulnerable Students in California

• In Event: Family Background and Children's Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Students making non-structural school changes is widespread throughout the United States. Yet, our current understanding of student mobility is based on outdated research. Using rich longitudinal data from several large districts in California, we highlight variation in the incidence of student mobility among vulnerable students: low-income, English learners, students with disabilities, foster and homeless youth. English learners and low-income students demonstrate relative stability compared to homeless and foster youth who are especially likely to change school mid-year. Among students of color, Black students move the most. Changing schools varies widely among the districts in our sample. We discuss what education stakeholders can do to address the pitfalls and possibilities of student mobility.

Authors

• Cassandra M. Guarino, University of California - Riverside

• Lucrecia Santibanez, University of California - Los Angeles

• Robert K. Ream, The University of California - Riverside

• Hana Kang, University of California - Riverside