Patterns of Hispanic Students' Math Skill Proficiency in the Early Elementary Grades

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
In this paper, we describe patterns of Hispanic students' math skill development during elementary school using data from a nationally-representative sample of Hispanic students assessed in math skills from kindergarten through fifth grade. Several robust patterns are evident. First, Hispanic students enter kindergarten with average math skills significantly lower than those of native-born, non-Hispanic White students, and similar to those of native-born non-Hispanic Black students. Second, Hispanic-White math proficiency gaps narrow from the start of kindergarten through fifth grade, but do not disappear. Third, there is considerable variation in average math skills among Hispanic population subgroups, with recent immigrants and lower-SES groups (Mexican and Central American students particularly) exhibiting the lowest levels of math skill through elementary school. Fourth, a simple measure of family socioeconomic status accounts for most of the Hispanic-White gaps that remain by fifth grade. Fifth, Hispanic students with the least English exposure and proficiency in kindergarten have considerably lower math proficiency rates at the start of kindergarten than English-proficient Hispanic students and students from homes where English is spoken. However, students from non-English speaking homes and students who are not proficient in spoken English at the start of kindergarten also exhibit more rapid gains in math skills during elementary school than do English-proficient Hispanic students and students from homes where English is spoken.

Description

Type of resource text
Date created 2007

Creators/Contributors

Author Reardon, Sean
Author Galindo, Claudia
Publisher Taylor & Francis Group
Sponsor National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics
Sponsor Foundation for Child Development
Sponsor A.L. Mailman Family Foundation
Sponsor Marguerite Casey Foundation
Sponsor Peppercorn Foundation
Sponsor Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Sponsor Carnegie Scholars Program of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Sponsor AERA Research Grants Program

Subjects

Subject elementary
Subject hispanic
Subject latino
Subject math
Genre Article

Bibliographic information

Related Publication Reardon, S.F. & C. Galindo. (2007). Patterns of Hispanic Students' Math Skill Proficiency in the Early Elementary Grades. Journal of Latinos and Education 6(3): 229-252.
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/xz483fw4636

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License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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Graduate School of Education Open Archive

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