Suggests that music education by its nature is well suited to meeting the special needs of at-risk students. Discusses the role of music in motivating and enabling students to succeed. Defines the causes of failure as inability and lack of desire to learn when at-risk students receive the wrong kind of instruction. (DK)

"Planned", "artificial", or "formal" mentoring of students at risk of dropping out of high school has become an important component of many school systems over the past few years. Mentoring of at risk students appears to have originated in the United States in the 1980's. In Canada, at risk student mentoring programs…

Administrators have many methods at their disposal to use in the struggle to control truancy. This paper describes the kinds of truancy-reduction efforts most commonly used: stringent laws and regulations (such as parental sanctions, zero credit, suspensions, and police intervention), inschool programs (the school-climate-improvement and the…

This book examines the thesis that teacher burnout and student dropout stem from the same source, a process of alienation causing students and teachers to "give up on school." The first chapter outlines the size of the problem and some of the specific conditions that contribute to it. The second chapter examines the context of cultural…

This paper discusses several demographic, economic, and technological trends with implications for rural education and dropout rates in the coming decades. As the American population ages, the focus of public policy will shift from youth services to health, safety, and environmental issues. This shift is likely to result in lower levels of funding…

Dropout rates for Hispanic students are approximately twice those of white Anglo students. This paper reviews the literature on dropout and examines the effects of self-esteem, career and school expectations, family structure, and English language proficiency on the Hispanic youth's decision to drop out. A questionnaire was completed by 139…

Discusses possible impacts of the general aging of America's population, general economic conditions, and changing technology on education-related legislation and political priorities, the rural economy, and educational strategies. Examines the effects of these impacts on the academic and social integration of high-risk rural students and,…

The truancy problem has become one of the most troubling issues that school administrators face while attempting to reform public education. This paper describes the legal evolution of efforts to reduce school truancy and the economic impact of truancy on society. Solutions range from reducing the number of required years of schooling to…

This report highlights recommendations made in recent research reports concerning the role of vocational education in enhancing the success of students at risk of dropping out of school. It has been found that components of vocational education programs successful at retaining students include mechanisms for helping at-risk youth to follow…

This paper addresses the educational implications of the increasing number of students at risk and reviews the variety of at-risk conditions and circumstances and their indicators. The following topics are discussed: (1) the characteristics and behaviors that define and identify youth at risk; (2) social correlates of educational risk; (3)…

This compilation pulls together the most recent resources concerning students at risk, summarizing and displaying a number of sources dealing with this issue. The articles represent two major areas: (1) policy and studies and (2) programs and projects. This information includes summaries of studies done at a national level as well as programs…

Describes the evolution of alternative schools from progressive learner-centered free schools founded in the 1960s to the present emphasis on at-risk students. Outlines three models of alternative schools and discusses successful strategies and essential characteristics of effective schools for at-risk youth. Emphasizes the importance of…

This report provides a brief review of literature on at-risk students and implications for a study being conducted by the Pacific Region Educational Laboratory (PREL). The study aims to identify factors that put students at-risk of failure within the present system of public high schools in the Pacific region. Although numerous studies present a…

Draws on the commonalities between multicultural counseling and dropout prevention efforts to produce a general framework for individual counseling with students who have potential to drop out of high school. Discusses issues of culture conflict or racial alienation in the school environment which may increase dropout risk. (LSR)

Discusses the intertwined emotional and intellectual needs of early adolescents, characteristics of developmentally responsive middle schools, family and school factors that increase the likelihood of dropping out, problems of delinquency and school discipline, protective factors related to student resilience, and school and community…