Discusses problems of sample selection in explaining student performance in economics classes. Reports on a study of student performance correlated with class attendance, course dropouts, and homework. Concludes that any researcher gathering data about instructional effectiveness must account for students who drop the class. (CFR)

In an effort to encourage the growth and maturity of its students, Broome Community College in New York abolished its attendance policy. For the past 7 years, both attendance rates and grade point averages (GPA's) of students at the college had been dropping. In 1990, a study was conducted at BCC to determine if there was a measurable relationship…

A large scale evaluation of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Public Schools in-service training program for teachers was conducted in 1981. Approximately 1300 teachers were surveyed and over 30 school principals were interviewed. Overall, the data show considerable interest in continued training among teachers of all ages and experience levels.…

The Attendance Improvement/Dropout Prevention (AI/DP) Program is a six-component program involving selected high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and nontraditional school settings in New York City. This study of the program included site visits, examination of student records, staff interviews, and analyses of information from the…

Reports on a study of two introductory sociology courses to determine whether informal writing assignments can aid learning. Finds that requiring students to keep journals did not significantly improve performance on essay tests. Asserts that teachers may be justified in requiring attendance as a strategy for increased learning. (CFR)

An early childhood resource teacher implemented a practicum intervention designed to improve the school attendance of at-risk kindergartners and first and second graders in a low-income, inner-city area in central Florida. The intervention involved the transformation of self-contained, graded classrooms into primary units comprised of multi-age…

The American College Health Association's Task Force on the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome statement on recommended school policy for attendance of AIDS-infected students, campus health education and testing, legal protection, information dissemination, victim privacy, and other issues is summarized. (MSE)

A study analyzed the performance of undergraduate students overall and by discipline in all Victorian (Australia) universities and identified key determinants of student progress in undergraduate courses. Data were drawn from 1990 student files. Findings and their implications for college admission policies and future research are examined.…

This booklet presents a collection of seven practitioner research reports conducted by individuals employed through adult basic education (ABE), Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED), and English as a second language (ESL) programs and funded by the Iowa State Staff Development Committee. The practitioner research presented in the collection gives…

This evaluation study addresses the effectiveness of weekly attendance mailer letters sent to parents of students with irregular attendance patterns at 22 Detroit, Michigan, high schools. Three questions researched were: (1) Are the letters effective in reducing the occurrence of in-school truancy? (2) Are letters an effective means of…

A study was conducted at Bunker Hill Community College to assess the impact of the use of learning groups on student absenteeism and academic performance. The study involved four sections of a Biology 1 class. Two sections were designated as the control group and were taught using the traditional course format, which involved a 2-hour session in…

Based on data on 8,203 high school graduates from the national High School and Beyond study, it was found that socioeconomically disadvantaged graduates have pursued nontraditional postsecondary enrollment options (part-time, delayed, and nondegree programs), even when data were controlled for differing academic characteristics. Theoretical,…

Reports on a study of absenteeism and truancy in 36 secondary schools in 4 large Dutch cities. Found that students in vocationally oriented schools had higher rates of truancy. Also found that non-Dutch (ethnic minority) pupils had higher rates of absenteeism and truancy. (CFR)

Results of a survey of University of Sydney faculty of arts students concerning their educational aspirations and progress, employment patterns, class scheduling and attendance patterns, and college choice are summarized and discussed. (MSE)

Violence in the schools is a fundamental concern for students, educators and communities as they collectively address issues that make schools safer. A longitudinal analysis of disciplinary referrals was conducted with a large countywide school district to measure differences across socioeconomic status and school level. These variables proved to…