A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Rice University, and Columbia University found that outreach programs for African American families can be successful in reducing the number of students who change schools for reasons other than grade promotion. Students who change schools often have problems adjusting to the new educational environment and this can impact their academic performance.
This research, conducted in elementary schools in Phoenix and San Antonio, found that schools that had in place outreach programs designed to enhance the relationship between parents and school personnel reduced student mobility for African Americans by 29 percent. There was no effect on mobility for White or Hispanic students.
The paper was published on the website of the American Educational Research Journal and may be accessed here.
