The Effects of the Education Welfare Priority Zone Program on Students’ School Adjustment in South Korea

Abstract

This study examines the effects of the Education Welfare Priority Zone Program (ewpzp) on how elementary school students adjust to school in South Korea. Principal stratification and propensity score approaches were employed on a sample of 1,237 students. The results suggest that recipients of Priority Support (ps, a customised care programme offered to ewpzp students with special needs) reported increases in their perceptions of teacher interest. Teacher interest directly and indirectly improved the students’ class attitudes and social skills. Second, non-ps students in ewpzp schools showed appreciable improvement. Suggestions for improving ewpzp implementation are also made based on these findings.

Keywords

• education welfare priority zone program
• teacher interest
• school activities
• community social capital
• school adjustment
• propensity score