The Effect of Deeper Learning Practices on College Matching and Persistence of High-Achieving Low-Income Students (Poster 6)

• In Event: Excellence in Education Research: Early Career Scholars and Their Work

Abstract

"Previous research found that high-achieving low-income (HALI) youths tend to be underrepresented in selective four-year institutions and are more likely to be undermatched; meaning individuals tend to enroll in less competitive institutions than their level of pre-college academic achievement merits (Hoxby & Avery, 2013; Wyner et al., 2009).
In addressing disparities in college access and subsequent trajectories, rigorous learning experience, high expectations, and support systems are critical (Perna & Thomas, 2006; Oakes, 2003). The Studies on Deeper Learning (SDL), a project-based high school program, aimed to improve the quality of the high school system with various intervention strategies with the impetus to guide students’ learning accomplishments, college and career readiness, and remove educational barriers for HALI students (Bitter et al., 2014).
Guided by a conceptual framework proposed by Perna (2006) and Oakes (2003), the current study assesses the differences between HALI students at the SDL network and non-network schools regarding their 1) high school conditions for a college-going culture, 2) undermatching status, and 3) college completion. Linking the student and school data from the SDL to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the study examined the effects of Deeper Learning implementations on HALI students’ college matching and persistence. "

Author

• Jihee Hwang, Texas A&M University
  Presenting Author