A summary of research on effective school characteristics as they relate to dropout prevention and recovery is presented in order to inform practitioners of the literature in this area. The summary takes the form of discussions of the following research findings: (1) there are important similarities between effective schools and successful dropout…

A study of 17 dropout prevention programs identified these common characteristics of successful programs: (1) multiple strategies integrated within a single program, (2) placement in environments dissimilar to traditional schools, (3) concentration of resources on a small target population, and (4) emphasis on vocational education and work…

Summarizes the major issues and perspectives related to dropout prevention. Reviews general strategies and school-based efforts, with emphasis on community involvement and the teacher-student relationship. Discusses related social and cultural issues, and examines the alternative school approach. Contains 23 references. (SV)

This literature review demonstrates that dropouts follow a similar though inverse path compared to students who have attained academic excellence. Descriptions of at-risk students' characteristics lead to a discussion of the "loser's circle" of dropping out and strategies for attaining a "winner's circle" of academic excellence. (71 references)…

Discusses the high drop-out rates in most Canadian provinces and social motivators for leaving school. Examines the extent to which allocation of provincial funds to local school systems influences the drop-out problem. Suggests that provincial compensatory funding has had limited but positive impact on drop-out rates. Recommends drop-out…

Reviews research and theory on factors cited as contributing to the retention and graduation of African-American students attending predominantly white institutions. Proposes a model to help such institutions provide positive learning experiences for African-Americans. The model has three stages: (1) recruitment considerations, (2) the first-year…

This report provides an overview of the phenomenon of early school leaving through presentation and discussion of relevant research issues, concerns, and retention strategies for potential leavers. It includes a brief review of the current literature with an emphasis on Canadian and Saskatchewan research. The extent of the early school leaving…

Texas has the third highest dropout rate in the nation. Various organizations that measure the Texas dropout rate using different methods disagree about actual numbers of dropouts. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) reports that 26,901 students in grades 7-12 dropped out in the 1996-97 school year. Dropouts were 29 percent White, 18 percent African…

Raising graduation rates for students attending schools in the United States is a national priority. As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are required to track and report the percentage of students who graduate with a regular diploma in four years. The magnitude of the problem for student subgroups (including students of Hispanic and…

Reviews research on the characteristics of the dropout (relationships, socioeconomic status, attitudes, behavior, school performance); the economic and social costs of dropping out; and current efforts for dropout assistance or dropout prevention. (SJL)

Examines the academic trajectories of a cohort of grade 8 students. Results showed that students are most likely to drop out during the first three months of the calendar year, which indicates that this is a critical time for students that demands a collaborative response across schools to support students as they make the transition from middle…

Discusses research on successful support programs for potential dropouts. Describes a Detroit high school's Ninth Grade Project 96 program, an intervention strategy for high-risk, low-achieving students. The program used a modified block schedule; attendance, academic, and monitoring interventions; incentives and rewards; and team teachers.…

The concept of school engagement has attracted increasing attention as representing a possible antidote to declining academic motivation and achievement. Engagement is presumed to be malleable, responsive to contextual features, and amenable to environmental change. Researchers describe behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement and recommend…

Mexican descent students leave school before completions at a much higher rate than other ethnic groups. Marginalization is one contributing factor. Thirty-two Mexican descent students were interviewed with two main objectives: What marginalization factors did they experience in their secondary schools? What factors allowed them to overcome…

This report reviews the literature on early departure from school in America, both past and present, in order to ascertain why students drop out of school, what the consequences are for the students who do so, and what schools can do to reduce the dropout rate. After a brief historical perspective on the problem, the social and economic costs of…