| This study utilized the data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS: 88) to examine the effects of race, gender, socioeconomic status, retention, reading/mathematics achievement, self-concept, services, and aspirations for students with learning disabilities on postsecondary attainment two years post high-school. One-way analysis of variance indicated that socioeconomic status, retention, locus of control, and self-concept significantly impacted postsecondary participation rates for students with disabilities. Services, ability, race, and aspirations did not contribute to outcomes. Students who received services for their learning disability were no more likely to pursue postsecondary education than students who did not receive services for their learning disability, regardless of reading and mathematics achievement. It should be noted, however, that this finding may be a reflection of the data collection method rather than a reflection of services.; Three logistic regression analyses were also conducted to ascertain the predictive ability of the selected variables. In each analysis, the group who did not participate in any postsecondary education was compared with the group who participated in some postsecondary education, the group pursuing an associate degree, and the group pursuing a baccalaureate degree. The variables of socioeconomic status and locus of control were statistically significant when classifying the group who did not participate in any postsecondary education and the group who were pursuing an associate degree.; Socioeconomic status, locus of control, and retention status were also statistically significant when classifying the group who did not participate in any postsecondary education and the group pursuing a baccalaureate degree. Students were 3.14 times as likely to pursue a baccalaureate degree when their socioeconomic status moved from one quartile to the next. They were 2.03 times as likely to pursue a baccalaureate degree when their locus of control scores moved to the next quartile. Students who had been retained were 35% less likely to pursue a baccalaureate as compared to those who had never been retained. |
