Evaluating the school performance of elementary and middle school children of incarcerated parents

Children of incarcerated parents are at significantly increased risk of negative long-term outcomes. With about 1% of the adult population incarcerated, the United States has millions of children at risk for these negative effects. Although research on children of incarcerated parents is increasing, it is still unclear whether they are at an additional risk for poor school performance as a specific result of parental incarceration above that associated with their social and economic status. This study examined whether a link exists between parental incarceration and the educational performance of offspring in an urban, southeastern location. Analyses revealed a trend in lower annual test scores for children with incarcerated parents when compared with children in single-parent households of similar socioeconomic status. Children with incarcerated parents were also 3.8 times more likely to be raised by a caregiver with less than a high school education. The findings of this study will be useful in helping schools, communities, and service organizations more accurately identify high-risk students and formulate effective intervention programs for these children. This study also demonstrated a successful cooperation with an established mentoring organization in order to access a traditionally “invisible” study population. Studying children of the incarcerated is difficult due to confidentiality and stigmatization concerns, however, working with a trusted, successful community organization provided a means to overcoming these barriers.