Factors which place children "at risk"

The State Board of Education adopted a report Children at Risk: Examination of Causes and Exploration of Alternatives at its April 5, 1988 meeting. This report highlighted factors which place children "at risk" of becoming educationally disadvantaged and who may have extraordinary need of special assistance. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is offered to assist in defining, identifying and selecting eligible participants of the Michigan Department of Education, Early Childhood Development Programs for four-year-olds. The list of "at risk" factors includes:

"AT RISK" FACTORS:

1. LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
2. DEVELOPMENTALLY IMMATURE*
3. PHYSICAL AND/OR SEXUAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT
4. NUTRITIONALLY DEFICIENT
5. LONG-TERM OR CHRONIC ILLNESS
6. DIAGNOSED HANDICAPPING CONDITION (mainstreamed)
7. LACK OF STABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM OF RESIDENCE
8. DESTRUCTIVE OR VIOLENT TEMPERAMENT
9. SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR ADDICTION
10. LANGUAGE DEFICIENCY OR IMMATURITY
11. NON-ENGLISH OR LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING HOUSEHOLD
12. FAMILY HISTORY OF LOW SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT OR DROPOUT
13. FAMILY HISTORY OF DELINQUENCY
14. FAMILY HISTORY OF DIAGNOSED FAMILY PROBLEMS
15. LOW PARENTAL/SIBLING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OR ILLITERACY
16. SINGLE PARENT
17. UNEMPLOYED PARENT/PARENTS
18. LOW FAMILY INCOME
19. FAMILY DENSITY
20. PARENTAL/SIBLING LOSS BY DEATH OR PARENTAL LOSS BY DIVORCE
21. TEENAGE PARENT
22. CHRONICALLY ILL PARENT/SIBLING (physical, mental or emotional)
23. INCARCERATED PARENT
24. HOUSING IN RURAL OR SEGREGATED AREA
25. OTHER (as identified by the applicant and presented to the State Board or Education to justify funding)

*This risk factor must be used in conjunction with another factor if a standardized test score is being used as the sole factor in meeting Risk Factor #2.