Disability and the stratification of post-secondary pathways: Evidence from a large administrative linkage.

Research has linked disability to differential experiences and outcomes for students at multiple levels of education. To date, however, available data sources have prevented comprehensive analyses of the statistical relationship between disability and the pathways traveled by students through Ontario post-secondary education (PSE). Through this study, we examine this topic by leveraging a large multifaceted linkage that brings together rich administrative data from the Toronto District School Board (Grades 9-12), Ontario college and university enrollment records (2009-2018), as well as government student loans and tax records. We use these data to statistically model differences in the PSE pathways traveled by more than 33,000 TDSB students. Our analyses identify statistically significant differences in the likelihood that students with/without disabilities will travel certain PSE pathways. However, such differences shrink drastically once we control for high school-level factors (e.g., academic performance, absenteeism). We elaborate on the importance of these findings for both social stratification researchers and policymakers.

La recherche a établi un lien entre le handicap et les différences d'expériences et de résultats pour les étudiants à plusieurs niveaux d'enseignement. Toutefois, jusqu'à présent, les sources de données disponibles n'ont pas permis d'effectuer des analyses complètes de la relation statistique entre le handicap et les parcours suivis par les étudiants tout au long de leurs études postsecondaires (PSE) en Ontario. Dans le cadre de cette étude, nous examinons ce sujet en tirant parti d'un vaste couplage à facettes multiples qui rassemble de riches données administratives provenant du Toronto District School Board (9e­12e année), des dossiers d'inscription des collèges et universités de l'Ontario (2009­2018), ainsi que des prêts étudiants du gouvernement et des dossiers fiscaux. Nous utilisons ces données pour modéliser statistiquement les différences dans les parcours d'études postsecondaires suivis par plus de 33 000 élèves du TDSB. Nos analyses mettent en évidence des différences statistiquement significatives dans la probabilité que les étudiants handicapés et non handicapés empruntent certains itinéraires d'études postsecondaires. Cependant, ces différences diminuent considérablement une fois que nous contrôlons les facteurs liés au niveau secondaire (par exemple, les résultats scolaires, l'absentéisme). Nous expliquons l'importance de ces résultats pour les chercheurs en stratification sociale et les décideurs politiques.

A Novel Method to Quantify Near-Surface Boundary-Layer Dynamics at Ultra-High Spatio-Temporal Resolution.

The lateral transport of heat above abrupt (sub-)metre-scale steps in land surface temperature influences the local surface energy balance. We present a novel experimental method to investigate the stratification and dynamics of the near-surface atmospheric layer over a heterogeneous land surface. Using a high-resolution thermal infrared camera pointing at synthetic screens, a 30 Hz sequence of frames is recorded. The screens are deployed upright and horizontally aligned with the prevailing wind direction. The screen's surface temperature serves as a proxy for the local air temperature. We developed a method to estimate near-surface two-dimensional wind fields at centimetre resolution from tracking the air temperature pattern on the screens. Wind field estimations are validated with near-surface three-dimensional short-path ultrasonic data. To demonstrate the capabilities of the screen method, we present results from a comprehensive field campaign at an alpine research site during patchy snow cover conditions. The measurements reveal an extremely heterogeneous near-surface atmospheric layer. Vertical profiles of horizontal and vertical wind reflect multiple layers of different static stability within 2 m above the surface. A dynamic, thin stable internal boundary layer (SIBL) develops above the leading edge of snow patches protecting the snow surface from warmer air above. During pronounced gusts, the warm air from aloft entrains into the SIBL and reaches down to the snow surface adding energy to the snow pack. Measured vertical turbulent sensible heat fluxes are shown to be consistent with air temperature and wind profiles obtained using the screen method and confirm its capabilities to investigate complex in situ near-surface heat exchange processes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10546-022-00752-3.