Early Career Publication Award Recipients

Margaret Beebe-Frankenberger - 2006

DR is pleased to announce that its Early Career Publication Award for 2006 will be given to Margaret Beebe-Frankenberger of the University of Montana.  This award, to be presented during the CEC convention April 7, 2006, recognizes an outstanding research publication by an individual within five years after completing the doctorate. 

Dr. Beebe-Frankenberger was selected for this award for the following article:

Beebe-Frankberger, M., Bocian, K. M., MacMillan, D. L., & Gresham, F. M. (2004). Sorting second-grade students: Differentiating those retained from those promoted. Journal of Educational Psychology, 96,204-215.

In this article, Beebe-Frankenberger and colleagues sought to clarify if retained second-grade students differed on academic and social factors from peers who were in special education, placed at risk for retention, or normally promoted to the next grade. Their sample included 224 second graders in three school districts in southern California. Findings suggested that most children with academic deficiencies are identified by schools early and are sorted into educational treatments differing in intensity. The authors counter the assumption that retained students have the requisite ability to catch up, and noted that they exhibit more problem behaviors than other low-achieving students.

Dr. Beebe-Frankenberger earned her Ph.D. at the University of California at Riverside in December, 2000. She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montana.