ENVIRONMENTAL RISK-FACTORS AND CHILDRENS ACHIEVEMENT FROM MIDDLE CHILDHOOD TO EARLY ADOLESCENCE

This study examined the long-term effects of low family income and str essful life events on math and reading achievement test percentile sco res for 1,253 children. Four birth cohorts were followed for 2-4 years so that achievement across Grades 2 through 7 could be examined. Two types of analytic models, the multiplicative risk factor model and the cumulative risk model, were used. The moderating effects of ethnicity and gender were also explored. The results suggest that low income an d minority ethnic status are significant risk factors for children's a chievement. No systematic evidence was found for a large impact of lif e events on reading achievement, and the effects of such events on mat h achievement appear to be best understood as part of the larger conte xt of multiple risk factors during childhood. The findings suggest a d ifferential impact of risk factors on math achievement compared with r eading achievement.