Partnership Matters: Interwoven Ecological Influences on Children’s Learning Outcomes — A Study from Alabama’s Black Belt

• In Event: Home-school engagement and partnerships

Abstract

This study explores how nested ecological factors, including community, school, and family, shape children’s learning outcomes in Alabama’s Black Belt. Using longitudinal data from multiple sources and regression modeling, it identifies key predictors across ecological levels. Findings reveal that while school and community factors, such as graduation rates and childcare access, positively influence learning outcomes, adverse family socioeconomic status remains the most significant negative predictor. Notably, school-level advantages could not offset the detrimental effects of family socioeconomic disadvantage. These results highlight the need for integrated, place-based policies that enhance family support, improve school conditions, and expand community childcare access. This research informs equity-focused policy and practice by illuminating structural barriers rooted in both history and environment.

Author

• Yan Dai, Tuskegee University