Document Type
Focus Area Five
Abstract
To determine how equitably we are distributing public and private resources for the development of children and youth in central Iowa, Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) in the fall of 1990 conducted a survey of 500 families about their children's participation in school and community activities. Over 300 of the families, with average annual income of $9,800, were applicants at MICA for home heating assistance; 200 families, with income averaging $37,000, are members of 18 area churches. In total, the activities of 1,170 young people between the ages of 5 and 18 were compared. MICA found that:
• Participation in school and community activities rich in developmental potential for children and youth can be predicted by income: the lower the income the lower the participation rate.
• Participation rate differences between low and middle class income groups is substantial.
• Low-income children and youth are almost completely shut out of certain developmental activities available to middle class children and youth.
• Fees and transportation costs are a barrier to participation for low-income children and youth, according to their parents.
• Senior high school youth who are working are also likely to be involved in both school and community activities; youth not working are also not involved in community and school activities.
Journal Title
Institute for Educational Leadership Monograph Series
Volume
2
Issue
1
First Page
158
Last Page
159
Publisher
Institute for Educational Leadership, University of Northern Iowa
City
Cedar Falls, IA
Copyright
©1991 Institute for Educational Leadership, College of Education, and University of Northern Iowa
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Stokes, Gary
(1991)
"Focus Area Five: Improving the School Performance of All Children [Stokes],"
Institute for Educational Leadership Monograph Series: Vol. 2:
No.
1, Article 36.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/iel_monographs/vol2/iss1/36
