for Children and Youth - Ventura County Star

14 Creating Asset Rich Environments for Children and Youth
a sense of belonging. Some young people become alienated from family, friends, and life in
general, and may take the path of isolation that may result in depression and suicide.
What the Data Tell Us
The research literature frequently cites the harm done by the twin forces of race and
poverty, yet we have not been able to commit the energy and resources sufficient to mute
their negative impact on our children and youth. School personnel may assume that students
share a common language, culture, and home environment that support learning. Yet
for some children, there is a discrepancy between what is expected at school and the child’s
characteristics or the family’s culture. There may be a “poor fit” between the child’s or youth’s
needs and what the school provides (Carnahan, 1994). The discrepancy between the young
person and school can widen over time to the point that the youth feels so detached from
the schooling process that he or she drops out.
The National Picture
Students who drop out of school share one characteristic: they don’t see the value
of education in their present and future lives. Children and youth who drop out differ from
those who stay in school in predictable ways.
No single factor predicts the regrettable outcome of school disconnectedness. According
to some reports, children and youth living in poverty and those of minority status – especially
Latino/a and African-American youth – are more likely to fail to complete high school
than Asian and white middle class youths. These figures mask one important national fact:
proportionately, the U.S. dropout population is overwhelmingly white. Too many children of
all economic levels and ethnic backgrounds do not achieve a level of education that prepares
them to become productive, successful working citizens.
The California and Ventura County Picture
Are our schools succeeding in helping students feel engaged and connected? Not according
to the 2005-2006 California Healthy Kids Survey, which revealed that only 45% of 7th
graders reported feeling highly connected to their school. What is also discouraging is that
the percentage becomes progressively lower the older the students get, and the closer they
get to graduating.
In Ventura County,
the percentage of
students reporting
feeling connected
to school decreases
from the
7th to the 9th and
11th grade levels.