Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine the degree of relationship between school protective factors, student internal assets, and College and Career Readiness Indicator outcomes. The population for this study included comprehensive, public high schools across California, including only schools that administered the California Healthy Kids Survey in the 2019–2020 school year. Public data files were accessed from the California Accountability Dashboard and California Healthy Kids Survey. The correlational coefficient was determined using multiple regression analysis.
Theoretical Framework. The resilience youth development model (RYDM) framework served as the model for this quantitative, correlational study to determine the degree of relationship between school protective factors, student internal assets, and College and Career Readiness Indicator outcomes using California’s public Accountability Dashboard data.
Methodology. This study compared school protective factors, student internal assets, and college and career readiness percentages after controlling for socioeconomic status. A correlational, quantitative research design was chosen to determine the degree of relationship between variables. A total of 475 California high schools were included in the study.
Findings and Conclusion. A positive correlation between school protective factors and student internal assets was shown after controlling for schoolwide socioeconomic status. When correlated to college and career readiness indicators, caring adult relationships, and meaningful participation (school protective factors) to school academic achievement (student internal assets), controlling for socioeconomic status, caring adult relationship was the only positively correlated variable. The RYDM model suggested that school protective factors and student internal assets correlate to academic outcomes when measured as college and career readiness indicators was supported; however, caring adult relationships was the only variable with a positive correlation.
Recommendations. The California college and career readiness measures are new to the accountability dashboard, and few studies have examined how these data connect to student outcomes. It would be beneficial to replicate this study when college and career readiness indicators are reinstated after the COVID-19 pause. Replicating would allow for the addition of more schools in the study. Continuing to assess the change in college and career indicators over time could assess trends and garner more information about the school supports that positively impact proficiency.