Current demands for educational excellence will probably help better students get better; may help average students, who struggle, to enhance achievement; but may create more dropouts among poor students. Students with low grade point averages benefit little from exposure to tougher courses and suffer from loss of vocational and general education…

School Dropouts have less employment and learning potential than graduates, contribute less to the economy, and add to social service costs. To identify a set of predictive dropout characteristics for females by racial/ethnic background and a set of intervention strategies to address those factors, telephone surveys covering 52 items were…

This presentation describes dropout facts and prevention methods based on nationwide interviews with dropout runaways. Potential dropout runaways might be labeled the "distracted ones." They have trouble concentrating in a typical classroom situation as they are distracted by events that happened at home or that might happen after school. Such…

A longitudinal analysis of students who entered New York City high schools in 1979 supports the perception that most future dropouts can be identified at the beginning of their high school careers. This study examined the records of more than a quarter of the 1979 entering class at New York City high schools. Analyses were performed on attendance,…

This monograph was written to provide information on which students drop out of school and why, and to examine successful dropout prevention programs. Research is reviewed which has identified characteristics of dropouts and their reasons for leaving school. Other studies are cited which explore characteristics of effective dropout prevention…

This report of the number and percentage of senior high school students who left school before graduating found that: (1) 7% of the fall 1981 high school enrollment left before the end of the 1981-1982 school year; (2) leavers accounted for 6% from regular high schools enrollment, 51% from continuation high schools, and 7% from other high schools;…

A study was conducted to identify the characteristics of high risk students in selected Ohio Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, and to describe the characteristics of the programs in order to identify program characteristics related to the retention of participants. Nine programs, selected to represent programs of various sizes (small, medium,…

AN ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE PREVIOUSLY FOUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL DROPOUTS WAS COMPLETED BY 450 PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS AT MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE. THOSE IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIAL DROPOUTS (N-186) WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO GROUPS OF 62 SUBJECTS. IN THREE 1-HOUR GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS, ONE GROUP WAS SUBMITTED TO A DIRECTIVE…

Achievement testing indicates that the typical student who leaves high school prior to graduation has academic deficiencies considerably below expected grade placement. The need exists for identifying potential dropouts prior to their actual withdrawal. After a dropout-prone student has been identified, an analysis of his specific needs should be…

This guide contains materials which are designed to assist rural school systems in assessing educational needs, in systematically planning strategies to develop a dropout reduction program, and in applying for Title III funds. Included are instructions for a survey and an inventory of needs, suggestions for the allocation of resources according to…

Identifies basic issues relevant to the development of dropout prevention programs. Considers (1) risk factors leading to dropout, (2) nine possible target groups for dropout intervention, and (3) four possible constraints (cost, burden, directions, and laws) that will influence the consideration and selection of new policies or programs. (IW)

Although successful dropout assistance programs depend on effective implementation, casework, and long-term followup activities, the literature only occasionally addresses these practices. This article reviews data collection problems, major risk factors, reforms aimed at actual and potential dropouts, and alternative school programs. Second…

From among factors theoretically considered relevant to preventing school dropouts, empirical procedures identified five variables that predicted most of the variance among marginal youth: (1) extent of misbehavior in school; (2) belief in school's relevance to employment; (3) feelings of success in school; (4) parental monitoring of behavior; (5)…

This report examining at-risk youth uses information from a regional database to illustrate the prevalence of at-risk youth within and across the six northwest states (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington). These analyses are presented to illustrate the use of a database to aid state level decision-makers in identifying the…

A risk assessment instrument for identifying potential dropouts at the middle and high school levels and an accompanying explanation of the instrument are provided in this document. The instrument provides a checklist of 21 criteria; the more criteria the student meets, the greater his risk of dropping out. Criteria include age in comparison to…