In a study of 1073 black fourth graders from a low income area in a large metropolitan area, those from father present homes achieved a significantly higher reading achievement score than those coming from father absent homes. Limitations of the research and implications for future research are discussed. (EH)

This document presents a study of the effects of father absence upon the academic achievement of black children. Children in remedial reading and math programs from 20 Title I schools in a single midwestern metropolitan school district were studied. The father absence rate for black children in this school system averaged 30%. The study indicates…

It was the purpose of this investigation to examine the effects of living with a male or female head-of-household upon the arithmetic performances of fourth graders. No significant differences were found in mean scores between male and female pupils. Significant differences were found favoring those pupils living with male heads-of-households.…

Achievement test scores in reading and arithmetic of 300 children from father absent homes and 773 children from father present homes were collected over a 2-year period and analyzed by utilizing the variables of year, sex, family status, and intelligence. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences favoring the academic achievement…

Father absence is a growing phenomenon in urban areas. Although both black and white children from low income families are affected, the great rise in father absence rates has been in black families. Three studies of the effect of father absence upon the academic achievement of urban elementary school children are presented in this paper. In the…