Strategies for preventing or responding to truancy and dropping out of school are offered in this resource paper. The document's first few pages draw on statistics from around the United States to illustrate the magnitude of the problem in terms of both its scope and its consequences. The paper then turns to its major focus, strategies to increase…

This pamphlet on getting and keeping members is the twelfth of 16 in a series to provide leaders in adult activities with sound introductory material to give practical help in using a method of adult education or working in a particular area. Its objective is to help leaders of adult groups find and keep members. Eight articles and how-tos are…

School districts need to devote some time to inservice activities for staff, and to develop parental programs to help counteract negativism. Taking the extra time to encourage students promotes strengthened abilities and self-worth. (MLF)

This manual provides a synthesis of research-based dropout prevention and intervention and offers examples of interventions that show evidence of effectiveness. This has proven to be a difficult task because the intervention research on dropout and school completion that can be used to inform practice is incomplete (Dynarski & Gleason, 2002;…

Mt Diablo High School began a six-phase dropout prevention program in 1986. It involves a summer transition program for freshmen, training for freshman teachers, ongoing follow up, reduction in class size, ninth grade performance review, and the creation of a ninth grade opportunity class for second semester freshmen students. (MD)

Discusses the relationship of dropping out of school to unemployment and disadvantaged conditions, along with the characteristics of dropouts and potential dropouts. Presents a framework for dropout prevention which suggests services or instructional strategies which can be used by vocational educators. (CT)

The best dropout prevention programs give students a chance to succeed, promote a sense of personal responsibility, build self-esteem, structure work so it can be done well, and celebrate accomplishment of any kind. (MLF)

Academic failure must be seen as a failure by school and student together. By discarding faith in the "average needs" of the "average child" and instead accepting diversity in learning styles (both abstract and concrete, sequential and random), teachers can approach school failure from a problem-solving perspective. (PB)

Despite variation in structure and activities of campus retention programs, successful programs are similar in the way they approach retention, emphasis given to retention efforts, and objectives. Focus should be less on what types of programs retain students and more on how and why programs have been successful. (Author/MSE)

This paper is about assisting teachers to identify and help to change and retain deviant students. The major focus is on the instruction and training of teachers on how alcohol and drugs affect a person's body and behavior, and the effective methods for helping to change that behavior. In order to accomplish this objective, the paper is divided…

The purpose of this guide is to help practitioners learn about the at-risk student and dropout problem, and to suggest strategies which increase the chances that those who are at risk of dropping out of school will complete formal education programs. The guide begins with a brief discussion of the extent of the problem and of the social and…

This handbook is intended as a practical guide for adult basic education (ABE) directors, counselors, and faculty in an effort to increase ABE student retention. Following a literature review and description of the research problem, part I contains data obtained from the four major surveys administered during a project that investigated the causes…

Reviews current efforts in the movement for providing parents and students school selection choices. Benefits resulting from school choice include: dropout reduction, increased achievement, more parental involvement, racial integration, and improved morale. Outlines the features of a desirable choice plan and the prospects for development of…

Describes the Enterprise High (Michigan) program for school dropouts. Supported by the United States Department of Labor, the program centers on teaching students how to earn a living and how to manage life. Includes an outline of the school's basics and references. (MD)

There is a high correlation between adolescent women's educational skills, goals, and family income and the likelihood of pregnancy. Schools have a statutory duty to provide health instruction; this may include pregnancy-prevention programs. Includes discussion of Acquired Immune Defficiency Syndrom (AIDS) and school responsibility for educational…