Understanding Latino Children's Heterogeneous Academic Growth Trajectories: Latent Growth Mixture Modeling Approach

Abstract

Addressing the academic needs of a growing student population with culturally and linguistically diverse characteristics is one of the challenges facing educators. This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study to test for differences in patterns of mathematics growth (e.g., high, middle, and low performance groups) in Latino children. Analysis through the latent growth mixture method yielded 4 distinct mathematics development profiles. Examinations into positive or negative factors related to successful mathematics achievement were also conducted. Results indicate that students in the highest performing group were associated with education programs in which language of instruction and home language were English.