Students in Denver Public Schools who move frequently have less effect on standardized test scores than many educators believe, according to a study released Thursday by the Fund for Colorado’s Future.
The study, an analysis of more than 660,000 student records from 1999-2002, concluded that student mobility had less impact on CSAP scores than family income and race.
“Frankly, I think mobility was being used as an excuse for low school performance,” Rick O’Donnell, president of the Fund for Colorado’s Future, said at a luncheon and roundtable discussion where the results were reviewed.
Among the study’s chief findings: Mobile students come from all classes, races and genders, and more than half of the student mobility was within the school district. A larger proportion of Hispanic students moved to lower-performing schools than either African-American or white students.
Although mobility doesn’t affect CSAP scores as much as many educators have said it does, it still can affect a student’s learning, said Terri Rayburn-Davis, executive director of the fund.
“We know that students in stable environments do better because they don’t miss huge gaps in the curriculum,” Rayburn- Davis said.
To help deal with mobility, DPS implemented a tracking system for students who move within the school district, said Tanya Caughey, a DPS spokeswoman.
Students new to DPS and who are learning English also are assessed by professionals within 15 days of starting to determine skill levels and appropriate education options, Caughey said.
Glynn Ligon, chief researcher for the study, said mobility is a national problem that can be dealt with.
“Mobility isn’t caused by school districts,” Ligon said. “By that assessment, we can’t try to solve mobility. We should try to help students who are affected by mobility.”
Staff writer Daarel Burnette II can be reached at 303-820-1201 or dburnette@denverpost.com.
