The Businesses as On-Site Schools (BOSS) program was established as a dropout prevention effort combined with employability training for at-risk high school students. The setting was a vocational/educational alternative center in Florida. Businesses were contacted, and verbal intent to provide on-the-job training and an onsite mentor was…

The Student Transition and Retention Program (STAR), one of 10 federally-funded model dropout prevention programs, was created to address the high dropout rate in Santa Ana (California) public high schools. Students participating in the STAR program, complete a vocational course providing them with important job skills, and also receive support to…

Retention research and action programs are reviewed, and findings from the 1979 national survey entitled "What Works in Student Retention" (WWISR) are examined. The WWISR survey was designed to identify, analyze, and compile information about campus efforts to improve student retention in higher education. Questionnaires on retention were analyzed…

The negative impact of low attendance and the lack of effective, alternative classroom learning strategies are factors that mitigate against student interest and success in mathematics, particularly with respect to inner-city at-risk students. The goal of this practicum was to improve the problem-solving skills of a group of 50 alternative high…

Using 437 interviews with apprentices and trainees, teachers/trainers, and supervisors/managers, a study explored retention in apprenticeships and traineeships and factors that influence it. Apprentices and trainees were more likely to complete their contract of training (COT) if they developed an interest in the occupation and had medium- and…

This program guide identifies primary considerations in the organization, operation, and evaluation of a work experience program designed for the potential school leaver. The program philosophy is set forth. Program content is then presented. A curriculum framework specifies the exact course title, course number, levels of instruction, major…

A survey of officials in 52 cities in the United States gathered information on the conditions and issues relating to urban children, on how city governments are structured to respond to those needs, and on city programs and initiatives which benefit children. Information provided by the cities was supplemented by data from the Bureau of the…

In an effort to determine the causes of student attrition, a study was conducted at American River College (ARC) in December 1979, involving: (1) a survey of 1,174 students who had dropped at least one class while at ARC, and (2) a categorization of the reasons for college withdrawal indicated by 591 students on ARC's standardized withdrawal form.…

This report is a summary of the evaluation of the Nevada School-to-Careers (STC) Year 4 (1999-2000) implementation and the extent to which implementation supported eight messages STC is intended to send. Results from three surveys are included: Quantitative Benchmark Survey, School Implementation Profile, and Student Exit Survey. All regional…

This survey gathered information on programs at institutions of higher education that are designed to increase the access of educationally or economically disadvantaged elementary and secondary students to higher education. In addition the study aimed to compare Upward Bound, one prominent federally funded program, with others around the nation.…

The follow-up component of the Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) program tracked the 127 students who graduated from 1988, 1989, and 1990 Henderson State University YOU programs throughout July 1989-June 1991. Students were contacted on a monthly basis through phone calls, school counselor contacts, letters, and newsletters. Findings indicated…

The strategies used by practicing adult basic education (ABE) teachers to retain students with poor self-esteem were examined through an Internet survey that was sent to 115 ABE instructors at community colleges in Washington. The survey, which contained questions about the prevalence of poor self-esteem among ABE dropouts, specific behaviors…

The follow-up component of the Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) program tracked students who graduated from YOU programs. Each participating university--Arkansas State, Henderson State, Southern Arkansas, University of Arkansas-Monticello, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and University of the Ozarks--maintained contact with its own…

This report presents data from a survey of school partnerships that described the current national status of partnerships in schools, measured growth in partnerships through the 1990s, provided data on trends in partnership objectives and activities over 10 years, and related changes in partnerships to major education reform issues. Surveys were…