For this research the population is the significant focus and is relatively independent of the site. The experiences of individuals will be the primary focus in this study and then the results from the qualitative study will be correlated to data provided from the Pennsylvania Department of Education on the use of student support programs and student achievement, attendance and discipline.
The target population for this study will be high school students in suburban settings that have experienced or are experiencing chronically stressful living environments and attending high school full time. Excluded from this study will be students receiving supportive services from Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) and 504 plans. One of the requirements of this population is to surface the often unheard voices of suburban high school students on how they perceive their high schools’ ability to support them as they as they navigate the stress experienced at home. Students with IEP’s and 504 plans often have a significant voice over their educational experience. In many situations, high school students who are without specific and mandated interventions in place are resourceful enough to hide the chronically stressful situations that they live in from teachers, guidance counselor and administrators. Characteristics of this group will include living in a chronically stressful situation for at least twelve consecutive months while enrolled in high school full time.
The target population for this study will be high school students in suburban settings that have experienced or are experiencing chronically stressful living environments and attending high school full time. Excluded from this study will be students receiving supportive services from Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) and 504 plans. One of the requirements of this population is to surface the often unheard voices of suburban high school students on how they perceive their high schools’ ability to support them as they as they navigate the stress experienced at home. Students with IEP’s and 504 plans often have a significant voice over their educational experience. In many situations, high school students who are without specific and mandated interventions in place are resourceful enough to hide the chronically stressful situations that they live in from teachers, guidance counselor and administrators. Characteristics of this group will include living in a chronically stressful situation for at least twelve consecutive months while enrolled in high school full time.