Open Conference Systems, 50th Scientific meeting of the Italian Statistical Society

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Understanding the sources of children of immigrants' penalty in academic performance: Evidence from Italian compulsory education
Moris Triventi, Eleonora Vlach

Last modified: 2018-05-05

Abstract


In this paper we aim to look at the disadvantage of children of immigrants in their academic performance, measured in terms of standardized test scores. More specifically, the main aim is to investigate to what extent students with a migration background achieve a lower level of academic proficiency in Italian and mathematics compared to native students and to better understand the sources of their disadvantage. We do not only assess the existence of a penalty for children of immigrants, but we also further explore a number of potential mechanisms behind this, which has not been done yet in such a comprehensive way in Italy. In particular, we examine to what extent natives-non-natives differences can be accounted for by their parents’ socio-economic status, cultural and educational resources, as well as by students’ attitudes toward school and their behavior.

References


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