Examines a frequently discussed indicator of child well-being, the high school dropout rate. School-linked services will be successful only to the extent children are in school. First in a feature series ("Child Indicators") that analyzes implications and limitations of key statistical indicators of the well-being of children. (SLD)

As the second phase of a three-phase study of why students leave Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and why others remain, this research focuses on three questions: (1) what were the reasons for discontinuing studies at MATC? (2) what were the overall perceptions of the 269 leavers in 1989 regarding institutional and student services? and (3)…

This report presents data from 25 school districts in Connecticut that were involved in dropout prevention planning programs in grades kindergarten through twelfth for the 1987-88 and 1988-89 school years. Each of these districts addresses the problems of both accounting for the dropout rate, and developing an effective and reliable method for the…

The Attendance +Plus program was initiated by the Fabens Independent School District to address the problem of high student dropout rates in west Texas schools. Aspects of the successful plan include cultivation of caring attitudes; emphasis on individual importance; rejection of myths about minority students and dropouts; and encouragement of…

The United States Virgin Islands School Statistical Summary presents narratives, 26 tables, and 7 graphic illustrations of education in public and private elementary and secondary schools during the 1982-83 school year. Tables provide data on public and private student enrollments, average daily attendance, student nationality and citizenship,…

The number of dropouts is increasing and is particularly high in urban areas and among minority students. Dropouts earn less over their lifetimes, are in poorer health, and do not have the technological skills needed for newly-developing jobs. The federal government, the private sector, and educators have made serious commitments to bring down the…

This report analyzes the Participation and Equity Program's two objectives of reducing significantly the number of Australian students prematurely leaving full-time education and of fostering more equal education, and discusses strategies for achieving these objectives. Following a statement by the Minister of Education and Youth Affairs and an…

Educational planners are concerned with the inflow of pupils in order to plan for adequate facilities and sufficient teachers. Statistics on repeaters, however, enable the determination of the flow of pupils through and from the educational system. Since repeaters cost educational systems double in the form of expenses for teachers and equipment,…

Controversies over graduation rates and No Child Left Behind have raged in research, media and political circles for almost a year. All too often, though, when complex issues of social and economic importance collide with policy and politics, heat is generated but little light. As a result, it may be difficult for local educators to parse the…

Policymakers are exploring whether schools should be allocated state funds as rewards for improving student achievement and other performance indicators. Team-based rewards specified in 14 states' statutes represent a limited form of performance-based school finance. This article examines financial rewards in four states and makes policy…

Because of a 50% drop-out rate of first-year to second-year students at Mountain Empire Community College, retention was identified as a priority. Students and faculty were surveyed to determine causes of student withdrawals, a summer retreat was held, and a retention task force was created to develop a comprehensive retention plan for the fall of…

Research indicates that while grade retention does not typically increase student performance, it is widely practiced in schools throughout the country. Arguments for retaining a child include immaturity, the belief that an extra year of schooling will produce successful academic outcomes, and failure to meet criteria for promotion. Those who…

This report presents 1993 data on high school dropout and retention rates, examines high school completion and graduation rates, and discusses new data-collection efforts by the National Center for Education Statistics that have a direct bearing on the issues of high school dropout and graduation rates. The report also draws comparisons between…

This paper summarizes evaluation data of at-risk student outcomes within the California State University (CSU) System in terms of student retention and academic performance. Findings concerning student retention are presented in the following areas: retention by ethnicity and by admission basis; retention by entering test performance; and the…

This speech describes Chicago State University's (CSU) model for encouraging student retention and success and the organizational changes that were necessary to implement the model during a period of fiscal constraints. A description of the institution and its context notes that CSU is a comprehensive, urban, commuter university serving a…