Since 2007, the Institute for Student Empowerment has conducted one of the most extensive in-depth independent research projects measuring the attitudes and behaviors of students who emanate from economically challenged environments, pertaining to education and its enormous impact on their future financial well-being. The study is ongoing and uses classrooms across the country (currently contracted with the Los Angeles Unified School District), to further its studies. The Institute worked with students for 3 years identifying recurring patterns of behavior contributing to tune-out, disengagement, absenteeism, and dropout. After said years, the Institute created a 15-question survey designed to elicit empirical data from students regarding the subject matter (do students who emanate from economically challenged environments see education as a means to financial independence)?
Below you will find a sampling of our results.
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Scroll down and view the details of the "White Paper" below.
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White Paper
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Theory of Change Model
Challenge:
A significant number of children emanating from economically challenged environments, struggle to connect a quality education to their future financial well-being. The inability to make that critical connection often leads to high levels of tune-out, tardiness, absenteeism, disengagement, and dropout.
Solution:
Districts must put-forth an effort to identify the students who suffer from said challenge and supply them with specialized training and curriculum that assists in making the connection.
Results:
When we strengthen the critical thinking/problem solving skills requisite to connecting a quality education to future financial independence, we tap into an instinctual and primal motivator, inherent in children who emanate from impoverished communities ... "Survival." Listen closely to a significant number of students who come from impoverished communities and you will hear them speak of playing in the NBA, becoming rappers, or street hustlers, as a means to gain future financial security. They simply do not see education as a means to that end. When we help them qualify and quantify education we assist in shifting the paradigm from going through the motions, to vigorous and active participation.
Challenge:
A significant number of children emanating from economically challenged environments, struggle to connect a quality education to their future financial well-being. The inability to make that critical connection often leads to high levels of tune-out, tardiness, absenteeism, disengagement, and dropout.
Solution:
Districts must put-forth an effort to identify the students who suffer from said challenge and supply them with specialized training and curriculum that assists in making the connection.
Results:
When we strengthen the critical thinking/problem solving skills requisite to connecting a quality education to future financial independence, we tap into an instinctual and primal motivator, inherent in children who emanate from impoverished communities ... "Survival." Listen closely to a significant number of students who come from impoverished communities and you will hear them speak of playing in the NBA, becoming rappers, or street hustlers, as a means to gain future financial security. They simply do not see education as a means to that end. When we help them qualify and quantify education we assist in shifting the paradigm from going through the motions, to vigorous and active participation.