State public policy has been an important tool for improving the educational preparation and opportunity for many communities. However, without concerted statewide efforts it will continue to be difficult to substantially expand opportunities to accelerate higher education attainment and workforce preparation. Over the next 15 years, the states…

This article deals with specific strategies for prekindergartners to sixth graders that schools can use to prevent young children from becoming tomorrow's dropouts. (MT)

Outlines 10 rules for reducing the student dropout rate. An important component is the establishment of a program that is well funded and staffed and has clearly defined goals that will help in the reduction of student dropouts. (MD)

Expanded learning opportunities (ELOs), which include afterschool, summer learning, and extended day and extended year programs, can help states reduce dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Effective elementary, middle, and high school ELOs support academic rigor, boost student engagement, and provide students with supportive relationships.…

This seven-part guide provides a framework for use in planning, developing, and implementing an evaluation for a tutoring program. Part I provides a brief introduction to the value of evaluating a tutoring program. Part II advises readers first to determine the purpose of their evaluation and the kinds of information to be examined, to consider…

Alternative education programs have existed in Washington for several years, providing new ways to meet students' needs by increasing system capacities for flexibility and choice. This directory of the 125 schools that are currently providing this type of education details the following information about each: staffing, purpose of the program,…

Approaches to promote attendance and prevent nonattendance range from methods designed to help individual students with specific attendance problems, to programs aimed at the student bodies of entire school systems. The former approaches usually are well documented as to results, but raise questions regarding generalizability and applicability for…

Project Intervention is an innovative dropout prevention program developed by the Corpus Christi Schools (TX) to improve school attendance, decrease disruptive behavior, and improve academic achievement. Includes a discussion of dropout data analysis and a sidebar outlining the importance of citing the economic stakes when promoting the…

Too many students are falling through the cracks of our educational system and dropping out of school. A program called Extended-Day School (EDS) was implemented in Franklin County, Tennessee, to help high school students with specific subjects. EDS sought to deal with several problems of at-risk students: fewer study aids, little parent…

The Sioux City Community Schools Office of Indian Education provides American Indian students with tutoring services through funds from Title V, Part C of the Indian Education Act of 1988 and the Johnson-O'Malley programs. The goal is to reduce the high dropout rate among Indian youth. This tutor handbook contains introductory information for the…

This manual for dropout prevention planning was prepared to assist Florida schools in developing a comprehensive plan for effective dropout prevention programs in compliance with the state's Dropout Prevention Act. The manual is divided into three parts. Part A contains instructions for developing the comprehensive plan, as well as explanations of…

The school dropout problem is discussed, with suggestions for parents on ensuring that their children do not become part of the dropout population, including; monitoring children's school attendance patterns; making sure children understand how important school and attendance is; maintaining close contact with teachers; and helping children…

Describes a dropout prevention program used for eight years in Joliet Township, Illinois, high schools. (MD)

Guidelines for preventing school failure include: (1) recognize early signs of potential failure; (2) build student motivation; (3) utilize students' developmental paths; (4) design focused and interesting curriculum activities; and (5) select motivating management and teaching strategies. (Contains references.) (DB)

As governors confront the worst state fiscal environment in the past 25 years, long-term prospects for strong economic growth are hampered by an immense underlying problem: the high school dropout crisis. At least one student in five drops out of school, and nearly 5 million 18- to 24-year-olds lack a high school diploma. Annually, dropouts cost…