This report presents the findings of a review of 45 selected references on issues associated with high risk students and dropouts. The literature was analyzed according to: (1) the manner in which high risk students and dropouts are characterized; (2) the suggested causes and conditions driving the problems of high risk and dropping out; (3) the…

This document summarizes the findings of a study of the reasons why some at-risk youth persist in special programs while others drop out. Information was gathered from 16 focus group sessions comprised of both "persisters" and "leavers" from in-school remedial programs and out-of-school youth service corps. The findings,…

This digest is the first in a series of quarterly publications about topics related to educational equity, which will also include reviews of related resources. Its main article examines the adverse lifetime consequences for females of dropping out from school. Women who fail to complete high school are penalized both by their lack of education,…

Years of research have shown that student learning is based on cognitive development. This finding has implications for the teaching of vocational education, especially to marginal students who are potential dropouts. Research has shown that students who have an internal rather than an external locus of control and who are more field independent…

This report examines the dimensions, causes, and consequences of the dropout problem for California youth aged 12-17. School enrollment data and data from the 1976 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Survey of Income and Education (SIE) were used to assess the current dropout rate. SIE statistics were also used to describe the age, sex,…

The main reasons that students drop out of high school are poor grades, family problems, and financial problems. The school reform movement may compound marginal students' difficulties and cause more students to drop out. (MD)

Discusses the problem of student retention in higher education and warns that colleges that fail to develop effective programs of student retention will not be able to offset enrollment losses resulting from the dwindling college-bound pool. Experts agree that the total higher education community must work together. (JAC)

Reviews and synthesizes recent literature on social problems in the lives of adolescents, including depression, suicide, substance abuse, sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, sexual preference, and school dropout. Explores key factors in effective intervention and prevention programs for students with and without learning…

This article summarizes relevant research on students who are deaf in higher education and suggests directions for educational researchers interested in enhancing the academic success and retention of students who are deaf in higher education programs. The need for improved career education, academic accommodations, and self-advocacy skills are…

Synthesizes the literature on community college student retention programs to develop a definition and typology of dropout prevention programs. Classifies programs and strategies based on whether they attempt to sort, support, connect, or transform students. (61 references.) (MAB)

Summarizes findings of two upcoming reports on programs that support and strengthen the academic achievement of under-represented student groups at both K-12 and postsecondary levels. The most successful programs at both K-12 and postsecondary levels were those which were comprehensive, extended over a long period of time, and bridged educational…

Provides a review of conceptual perspectives on the salient issues affecting student retention in higher education generally, and minority student retention in particular, over the past few decades. Also summarizes programmatic strategies implemented at institutions as examples of student retention initiatives that have had significant impacts.…

In order to address gang concerns, educators should develop intervention strategies that keep youth from considering gang involvement. It is vital that schools reach the students before gang members are able to influence them. Intervention strategies should stress prevention, conversion, and address the causes of gang activity and not merely the…

Every aspect of children's lives affects their ability to learn and succeed in school. However, conditions associated with poverty environments are major factors in students' dropping out. Children whose home environments and social backgrounds result in development different from the mainstream enter school at a distinct educational disadvantage.…

A study compared the ninth-grade performance of students who were randomly admitted to New York City career magnet high schools to those who were randomly not offered seats in those schools. The research measured the effect of career magnets on students of average and low reading ability whose academic records were not strong enough to gain them…