Supported by state aid, New York City schools developed a plan to reduce the dropout rate and improve attendance during 1984-85. The program focused on high-risk middle and high school students with severe attendance problems and featured attendance outreach, alternative educational programs, and guidance, counseling, health, and other services.…

Describes a New Jersey counseling program for pregnant girls and teen mothers that uses the school nurse to help students face realities, consider options, and stay in school. The program is part of a large assistance effort involving the school psychologist, counselors, teachers, and an alcohol abuse specialist to provide help for all students…

Describes a program developed to help would-be dropouts at the junior and senior high school level. Two important components of the program are that staff work with no more than two students at a time and that staff members volunteer to take part in the program. (MD)

Describes Second Chance, a program initiated by the Milwaukee Area Technical College to encourage dropouts and potential dropouts between the ages of 16 and 18 to earn diplomas. (JOW)

Introduces a collection of papers that address the High/Scope Foundation's approach to risk reduction and dropout prevention. Examines High/Scope's history and describes various High/Scope efforts (e.g., the Michigan School Readiness Program Evaluation, preschool and elementary curriculum development and training, movement and music curriculum…

A transition program was developed which pairs learning-disabled high-school juniors with mentors. Mentor/protege teams work cooperatively to complete tasks related to the individual protege's goals. Preliminary results show increased graduation and postsecondary enrollment rates. (Author/PB)

Four years ago, to address disengaged students in Franklin, Tennessee, Williamson County School District turned to an alternative program called the middle-college high school. This concept allows high school students to complete their coursework on a college campus. More than 30 middle-college high schools serve disengaged students nationwide.…

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.…

As educators and practitioners continue to seek effective interventions to prevent dropout, they must focus on identifying, monitoring, and addressing risk factors that are influenced by teachers (e.g., academic performance, peer and adult interactions, attendance, and behavior). As a result, teachers' roles in dropout prevention are critical.…

What are states doing to improve graduation rates? A requester asked a state scan matrix of Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states or other states with similar student demographics, and other states with exemplary programs with great successes. This paper responds to this request.

When asked to identify the greatest challenge he faces as the leader of the country's largest system of higher education, the author, a chancellor of California State University, states that the challenge is the urgent need to reach students from traditionally underserved populations--to prepare them and get them into college and then to make sure…

High school reform has now been on the national agenda long enough that people can begin reaching conclusions about the effectiveness of various approaches to it. This article discusses several strategies of high school reforms which includes: (1) improving school climate; (2) strengthening curriculum and instruction; (3) raising graduation…

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a strong network of committed colleagues to launch an initiative like "SENSE." From its conception in fall 2006 to the first national administration in fall 2009, the Survey of Entering Student Engagement ("SENSE") has been supported by key individuals and groups, without whom there would have been…

The Stay In--You Win project of Alberta, Canada is designed to harness the resources of the school, community, and parents in support of the student staying in school and completing a high school diploma. It is an approach dependent upon partnerships and teamwork. It is an approach based on research findings from around the world, programs that…

Module Two of the Alberta project "Stay In--You Win" is presented in this document. The stated objectives of this module are: to provide the facts of dropping out; to examine the educational, social, and economic consequences of dropping out; to explore the reasons why early school leavers decide to drop out and to provide a profile of…