Differences in Second Language Acquisition and Academic Achievement by Extracurricular Activity Participation for English Language Learners

In this study differences in academic performance on the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System and State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness as a function of participation in extracurricular activities for English Language Learners were examined Data obtained from a large suburban district in southeast Texas for all students who were enrolled in Grades 6 through 12 for the 2014-2015 school year were analyzed Patterned after the federal Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives for English Language Learners participation in extracurricular activities for English Language Learners was not related to second language acquisition or the attainment of English fluency Conversely in regard to performance on state assessments in reading and in mathematics English Language Learners who were not involved in extracurricular activities had higher scores than English Language Learners who were involved in extracurricular activities Suggestions for research and policy were provide

MOBILITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN TEXAS: A MULTIYEAR, STATEWIDE INVESTIGATION

Purpose The first purpose of this journal-ready dissertation was to investigate the relationship of mobility to student achievement in Grade 6 students when controlling for economic status and not controlling for economic status. The second purpose was to examine the relationship of mobility to Grade 7 students’ academic achievement when controlling for and not controlling for economic status. Finally, the third purpose was to examine the relationship of mobility to the academic achievement of Grade 8 students when controlling for and not controlling for economic achievement. Method A non-experimental research design was used in this study. Participants were selected from the Texas Education Agency Public Education Information Management System. This database is publicly accessible and contains archival data about students’ enrollment, demographic, and testing history. Archival data were obtained for the 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008 school years for Grade 6, 7, and 8 students in an accountability subset for a campus or district. Raw scores from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Writing tests were analyzed to determine if mobility, as measured by a student being enrolled at a campus less than 83% of the school year, had an effect on academic achievement, and if that effect persisted when controlling for economic status.   Findings Results were consistent across all three grade levels and all subject areas. Statistically significant results were present for all analyses when controlling for and not controlling for economic status. Effect sizes for the relationship between economic status and academic achievement were large. Effect sizes for the relationship between mobility and academic achievement were trivial when controlling for and not controlling for economic status. Average scores for mobile students were between 1.93 and 3.69 points lower than the average scores of non-mobile students in reading; 2.57 and 5.63 points lower than the average scores of non-mobile students in mathematics; 1.66 and 2.42 points lower than the average scores of non-mobile students in writing; and 4.65 to 5.02 points lower than the average scores of non-mobile students in science. As such, results were congruent with the extant literature

Profiles and species of Mn, Fe and trace metals in soils near a ferromanganese plant in Bagnolo Mella (Brescia, IT)

For the last forty-five years (from 1974 to present) ferroalloy production in Bagnolo Mella, Northern Italy, has generated particulate emissions enriched in potentially toxic metals and metalloids including arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn). Of these, Mn is unique in that it has a significant background concentration and is seldom studied as a contaminant but is potentially a significant toxin derived from dusts regionally. Here we examine the distribution, redistribution, speciation and bioavailability of the Mn-contaminated top soils affected by atmospheric emissions adjacent to the ferroalloy plant. Four sites, variably located in the study area in terms of both distance and direction from the plant, were considered as representative of increasing levels of industrial influence. Soil profiles showed that metal concentrations (measured by X-ray fluorescence) varied considerably by location, i.e. higher in the sites closer to the plant and also at the surface level, although distributed throughout the top 15 cm, suggesting appreciable redistribution possibly due to soil mixing or infiltration. Most metal concentrations were correlated, except Mn which was independent and more variable across the sites than the other elements. Sequential chemical extractions indicated that Pb was primarily associated with Mn oxides, while As was most significantly associated with iron oxides. When Mn concentration significantly exceeded background levels, it was present in phases that were resistant to acid dissolution, very different from typical uncontaminated soils. X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) analyses suggested this recalcitrant Mn phase is likely a Mn-bearing spinel such as magnetite, that can be particularly toxic if ingested or inhaled. These first results highlight the legacy of ferroalloy production on surrounding soils, as well as the importance of Mn speciation for soil apportionment evaluation and human exposure estimation

Glacial influence on the geochemistry of riverine iron fluxes to the Gulf of Alaska and effects of deglaciation

This paper is not subject to U.S. copyright. The definitive version was published in Geophysical Research Letters 38 (2011): L16605, doi:10.1029/2011GL048367.Riverine iron (Fe) derived from glacial weathering is a critical micronutrient source to ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska (GoA). Here we demonstrate that the source and chemical nature of riverine Fe input to the GoA could change dramatically due to the widespread watershed deglaciation that is underway. We examine Fe size partitioning, speciation, and isotopic composition in tributaries of the Copper River which exemplify a long-term GoA watershed evolution from one strongly influenced by glacial weathering to a boreal-forested watershed. Iron fluxes from glacierized tributaries bear high suspended sediment and colloidal Fe loads of mixed valence silicate species, with low concentrations of dissolved Fe and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Iron isotopic composition is indicative of mechanical weathering as the Fe source. Conversely, Fe fluxes from boreal-forested systems have higher dissolved Fe concentrations corresponding to higher DOC concentrations. Iron colloids and suspended sediment consist of Fe (hydr)oxides and organic complexes. These watersheds have an iron isotopic composition indicative of an internal chemical processing source. We predict that as the GoA watershed evolves due to deglaciation, so will the source, flux, and chemical nature of riverine Fe loads, which could have significant ramifications for Alaskan marine and freshwater ecosystems.We appreciate support from the USGS CMGP, NCCWSC, and the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Program

Sulfur species behavior in soil organic matter during decomposition

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2007. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007): G04011, doi:10.1029/2007JG000538.Soil organic matter (SOM) is a primary reservoir of terrestrial sulfur (S), but its role in the global S cycle remains poorly understood. We examine S speciation by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to describe S species behavior during SOM decomposition. Sulfur species in SOM were best represented by organic sulfide, sulfoxide, sulfonate, and sulfate. The highest fraction of S in litter was organic sulfide, but as decomposition progressed, relative fractions of sulfonate and sulfate generally increased. Over 6-month laboratory incubations, organic sulfide was most reactive, suggesting that a fraction of this species was associated with a highly labile pool of SOM. During humification, relative concentrations of sulfoxide consistently decreased, demonstrating the importance of sulfoxide as a reactive S phase in soil. Sulfonate fractional abundance increased during humification irrespective of litter type, illustrating its relative stability in soils. The proportion of S species did not differ systematically by litter type, but organic sulfide became less abundant in conifer SOM during decomposition, while sulfate fractional abundance increased. Conversely, deciduous SOM exhibited lesser or nonexistent shifts in organic sulfide and sulfate fractions during decomposition, possibly suggesting that S reactivity in deciduous litter is coupled to rapid C mineralization and independent of S speciation. All trends were consistent in soils across study sites. We conclude that S reactivity is related to speciation in SOM, particularly in conifer forests, and S species fractions in SOM change during decomposition. Our data highlight the importance of intermediate valence species (sulfoxide and sulfonate) in the pedochemical cycling of organic bound S.The authors received funding for this work from the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Dartmouth College Dean of Faculty and Earth Sciences

Redox Dependent Arsenic Occurrence and Partitioning in an Industrial Coastal Aquifer: Evidence from High Spatial Resolution Characterization of Groundwater and Sediments

Superlative levels of arsenic (As) in groundwater and sediment often result from industrial pollution, as is the case for a coastal aquifer in Southern Italy, with a fertilizer plant atop. Understanding conditions under which As is mobilized from the sediments, the source of that As, is necessary for developing eective remediation plans. Here, we examine hydrogeological and geochemical factors that aect groundwater As concentrations in a contaminated coastal aquifer. Groundwater has been subject to pump-and-treat at a massive scale for more than 15 years and is still ongoing. Nevertheless, As concentrations (0.01 to 100 mg/L) that are four orders of magnitude more than Italian drinking water standard of 10 g/L are still present in groundwater collected from about 50 monitoring wells over three years (2011, 2016, and 2018). As was quantified in three dierent locations by sequential extractions of 29 sediment cores in 2018 (depth 2.5 m to 16.5 m b.g.l.), combined with groundwater As composition, the aqueous and solid partitioning of As were evaluated by partition coecient (Kd) in order to infer the evolution of the contaminant plumes. Most sediment As is found in easily extractable and/or adsorbed on amorphous iron oxides/hydroxides fractions based on sequential extractions. The study shows that As contamination persists, even after many years of active remediation due to the partitioning to sediment solids. This implies that the choice of remediation techniques requires an improved understanding of the biogeochemical As-cycling and high spatial resolution characterization of both aqueous and solid phases for sites of interes