Education Report Roundup

Student Mobility

By Sarah D. Sparks — September 27, 2011 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

High student mobility can hamstring academic achievement, according to the Cambridge, Mass.-based Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy.

Researchers studied students in 11 case study schools in six Massachusetts districts located in former industrial mill towns, known for having high concentrations of diverse and foreign-born students. Nearly one in three students in these districts change schools at least once a year, accounting for 35,000 students, or 35 percent of mobile students statewide in 2008-09.

A majority of teachers reported that highly mobile students required individualized attention during and sometimes after class, and that introducing new students mid-year disrupts class routine and causes behavior problems.

The report recommends improving initial enrollment, assessment, and placement processes for mobile students, and developing a system for schools and districts with high student turnover to share best practices for professional development.

A version of this article appeared in the September 28, 2011 edition of Education Week as Student Mobility

Events

Mathematics K-12 Essentials Forum Helping Students Succeed in Math
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz Trump’s Surprise Freeze on School Funding—How Much Do You Know?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz What Lowers Teacher Turnover? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz Which State Is About to Pass a ‘Science of Reading’ Law? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz What is a Project 2025 Author Doing at the Education Department? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read