The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of at-risk students and review certain circumstances that affect their decisions to leave or stay in school. Mail survey responses were collected from 272 students (out of a total of 300) in 15 rural Tennessee high schools. The subjects were identified by their guidance counselors as being…

The 33 articles on dropout prevention in this compendium were published in the "IDRA Newsletter"--the newsletter of the Intercultural Development Research Association--between April 1986 and September 1989. They can serve as resources for individuals and organizations addressing the needs of at-risk minority group students and their…

The problem of early school leavers within a system that offers a wide range of vocational training at the secondary level is examined. Focus is on factors that influence a student to opt for a vocational program rather than remaining in a comprehensive high school or dropping out of school. By means of interviews and school attitude…

Tools and methods designed to assist colleges in analyzing and managing student attrition are described in this manual. The proposed strategies are intended to help the individual college identify patterns and causes of attrition and to establish reasonable goals and means for reducing attrition. The manual consists of five parts. Part I provides…

The educational performance of 690 14 and 15 year old dropout prone students given limited labor market experience was evaluated in a mationwide study. The students worked 28 hours per week during the 1971-72 school year, which was found to be excessive. Working increased grade point averages up to a point, after which favorable impact declined or…

Educators working to improve dropout prevention programs should closely examine the development of defensive overlays in children's world views. Efforts to neutralize defensive world views within existing dropout prevention initiatives should refocus efforts to be more holistic. Such neutralization may best succeed in small schools. (SM)

Reports on a study that investigated the problem of junior high school dropouts in Guangzhou, China, in order to determine how some schools lost fewer students by adopting different approaches. Concludes that effective education must be based on genuine care and concern for students. (GEA)

Interest in the dropout question has centered on the disadvantaged dropout. The gifted or talented dropout has not been addressed, but some characteristics of gifted students at risk of dropping out can be recognized. Interventions that take individual learning styles and developmental needs into account can be derived. (SLD)

Focusing on the problems of attrition and retention in community colleges, this paper reviews the literature dealing with the causes of attrition, describes promising practices which attempt to deal with the problem, and offers recommendations to enhance retention. First, the characteristics of students likely to drop out of college are described…

The problem of high school dropouts has generated increased interest among researchers, policymakers, and educators in recent years. This paper examines the many issues involved in trying to understand and solve this complex social and educational problem. The issues are grouped into four areas, related to the incidence, causes, consequences, and…

This handbook draws attention to the problem of dropouts in Massachusetts and offers solutions to increase the chances that all students will succeed. It suggests the need for systemic, school-based changes to foster learning environments that meet the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs of all students and staff. The handbook is…

Migrant student enrollment declines steadily in junior high school as a result of low achievement, poor self-esteem, social isolation, late enrollment/early withdrawal policies, and school attitude toward migrant students. Parents, educators, and 237 junior high school migrant students from Arizona, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, and…

A random sample of 700 current and former continuing education (CE) students were surveyed by mail in May 1992 to identify ways to improve programs and services. Responses from 333 confirmed that CE enrolled a diverse group of students. They chose Ohio State University primarily for its location and program availability. Almost 40 percent of the…

This document describes a study that examined several factors to determine their influence on student social bonding to school, to peers, and to teachers. The study focused on factors related to students' personal and social backgrounds, school organization, and students' relationships with teachers and peers. Specifically, the researchers sought…

The Military Applicant Profile (MAP) was developed to serve as an applicant screening instrument to reduce attrition in the all-volunteer Army. Since 1979, it has been used operationally to screen 17-year-old non-high school graduate males. The Army Research Institute was asked to explore the extension of MAP to older (above 17) nongraduate males,…