Elementary School Children: Many Change Schools Frequently, Harming Their Education. Report to the Honorable Marcy Kaptur, House of Representatives.

This report examines the characteristics of children in the United States who change schools frequently, their success in school relative to children who have never changed schools, and the help that federal educational programs and policies can provide. One in six of the nation's third-graders were found to have changed schools at least three times since beginning first grade. Unless policymakers focus greater attention on the needs of these children, who are often from low-income, migrant, and limited English proficient families, they may continue to be low achieving in math and reading, and they may repeat a grade. The Department of Education (DOE) can play a role in helping mobile children by ensuring that they have access to federally funded educational programs and by encouraging states to implement more effective student record transfer systems. The bulk of the report consists of six appendixes that: (1) describe the characteristics and achievement rates of mobile children; (2) report on a comparison study of two high-mobility rate schools; (3) discuss shortcomings of federal education programs for mobile children; (4) describe a proposed student record system; (5) provide comments from the DOE; and (6) list the major contributors to the report. (MDM)