CHILD MALTREATMENT AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DECLINES - AN EVENT-HISTORYANALYSIS

This article presents a longitudinal analysis of school performance de clines among abused and neglected children. The analysis is based on t he maltreatment and school histories of a large random sample of maltr eated children from one North Carolina county. Tbe analysis finds a si gnificant relationship between maltreatment and declines in a diverse set of school outcomes, including falling grades, increasing absenteei sm, worsening elementary school deportment, retention in grade, and in volvement in special education programs. Early onset and recent maltre atment each are related to these school performance declines. Differen ces in the relationships of abuse and neglect to school performance de clines and the importance of accumulated maltreatment are unclear.