The Research On Establishing Support Policy For Disadvantaged Students In Fundamental Education

Disadvantaged students exist in almost every school. Because of social, parental, physical or mental issues, these students have a variety of barriers to learning. They are excluded from the 'mainstream' of education, and usually suffer low quality school life as a result. The main barriers of these students include low levels of attainment, behavior problems, low self-esteem and lack of social skills. In long term, extremely low quality school life may have noticeably negative effect on disadvantaged students. However, there is no educational policy focused on this group at present. Disadvantaged students cannot get enough support and help from the policies we already have. Therefore, it is necessary to establish specific support policy for disadvantaged students.The practicality of establishing support policy for disadvantaged students lies in three aspects. Firstly, UK and USA government has already established respective support policies and got positive outcomes, which can offer us precious experience in establishing similar policy. Secondly, China's economic, political and educational environment for passing support policy is ready. Thirdly, there are successful practices in helping disadvantaged students in China. 'Education for understanding' and 'education for success' are two excellent examples, which could provide valuable advices for establishing disadvantaged students support policy.Support policy for disadvantaged students in fundamental education is a policy to transform disadvantaged situation for disadvantaged students in schools. By providing additional study, behavioral and mental support to disadvantaged students, the aim of the policy is to attach more attention on those children, guarantee all-round development and finally change disadvantaged students' marginal living situation in schools completely. To make this aim come true, support policy for disadvantaged students should take education compensatory as basic value, obey the guidance of assuring education equality and justice, satisfying specific needs for students, basing on the reality of China as well as eliminating poverty culture, and stick on disciplines of systematicalness, flexibility and continuation in the process of implementation. Support policy has three steps to carry on. They are student referral, support offering and estimate.The implementation of support policy for disadvantaged students involves in many aspects, such as government, schools and parents. To insure the effectiveness of policy implementation, we should have both systematic and non-systematic guarantees. Systematic guarantees include fund delivering system, corresponding stuff training and management system as well as monitor measurement system. Non-systematic guarantees involve renewing of educational ideology, support from society and cooperation from parents. Without the close cooperation among every aspect, support policy cannot achieve its goal, and disadvantaged students will not get real help. Of course, the implementation of support policy will face various barriers and difficulties, for example money shortage, resistance from school, students and parents' suspect, ect. We must have a full estimation of these to reduce obstructions and insure support policy implemented on the right direction.