41.066 - The Development and Applications of Alternative Student Socioeconomic Status Measures

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Student eligibility for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been heavily relied on by educational researchers as a direct indicator of student socioeconomic status (SES). However, this measure has become less valid and reliable due to recent changes in educational policies. To address these issues, presenters in this symposium will use various NAEP datasets to discuss alternative approaches and applications for student SES composite measures beyond using NSLP eligibility as the only indicator of student SES. By examining student SES as a comprehensive construct, more variability can be captured which provides better understanding of the relation between student achievement and SES background and enables researchers to obtain closer estimations when studying issues related to educational equity and fairness.

Sub Unit

• SIG-NAEP Studies

Chair

• Judy H. Tang, Westat

Papers

• Overview on the NAEP Student Socioeconomic Status Module - Jonas Bertling, Educational Testing Service

• Construction and Validation of a New Proxy Socioeconomic Status Measure for NAEP Grade 12 - Markus Broer, American Institutes for Research; Qingshu Xie, MacroSys LLC; George W. Bohrnstedt, American Institutes for Research

• Exploring the Construction of a Proxy Socioeconomic Status Index for NAEP Grade 4 Assessments - Qingshu Xie, MacroSys LLC; Markus Broer, American Institutes for Research

• Examining the Validity and Reliability of Alternative Student-Level Socioeconomic Status Measures - Judy H. Tang, Westat

• Exploring Neighborhood and School Socioeconomic Status (SES) as Part of an Expanded SES Composite Measure - Ning Rui, Westat; Judy H. Tang, Westat

Discussant

• William Ward, U.S. Department of Education