A study was conducted of student attrition patterns in magnet schools in St. Louis, Missouri. An attempt was made to identify statistical patterns of attrition and to account further for these patterns by finding correlates in variables investigated through a telephone survey of school parents. Information was gathered for black and white students…

Data are presented on four important aspects of the St. Louis education system's professional employee situation: (1) the pattern of movement from one part of the metropolitan area to another; (2) the survival behavior among the area's certified personnel; (3) the shift of personnel towards positions in administration as opposed to teaching; and…

Lack of money may not be the major factor in student dropout rates. Some studies indicate that attrition rates are more affected by learner attitudes and goals and a good "fit" between student and institution. Current theories about student retention and attrition are reviewed. (Editor/LBH)

In the single prediction of attrition/ persistence for experimental and control persons, GPA is primary and significant. No other single predictors appear viable. In the multiple prediction of attrition/persistence for experimental and control persons, GPA is primary and significant. Additional variates usually appear unnecessary. (Author)

The distributions of indices of academic abilities and achievements of entering freshmen classes and of classes at the end of the first year of college over an eight-year period are compared. Data show a decline in ACT test scores, increases in high school grades of college entrants, and the stability of test scores and increases in college grades…

This is a study of the dropout rate during the 1998-99 academic year at Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). A total of 1,025 of 7,174 students (14%) withdrew from their program of study before the end of the year. This report categorizes the reasons for leaving as follows: (1) exited by institute; (2) personal…

In an effort to improve retention and accountability at Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC), in Virginia, a study was undertaken to track first-time student cohorts entering in fall 1988 through fall 1992 and gather data on student demographics and outcomes. The study examined data for 721 students entering in fall 1988, 761 in fall 1989, 824…

This study was conducted to investigate the attrition rate among foreign language teachers, attrition being the major component in determining the annual demand for new teachers. The study extended the teacher attrition knowledge base by analyzing data from the state of Illinois' teacher workforce data base, the Teacher Service Record (TSR), which…

Even though attrition presents a serious threat to the validity of longitudinal research, there is a lack of standardization for reporting it. To examine the effectiveness of four tests for attrition -- two for external validity and two for internal validity -- the tests were applied to two large scale projects: the first, Project HASP, is a…

One of a special series on population change and development, this paper focuses primarily on the programs and policies responsible for mortality or fertility change, rather than on the growth impact of a mortality or fertility change per se. The first portion of the document examines three models for assessing the population growth implications…

Standard procedures for teaching child management skills to parents may be inadequate for disadvantaged populations. The Parent/Child Early Education Program was developed to serve parents at risk of child abuse. Parent and child variables were measured at pretest in 41 families referred to this program. A profile of the families revealed that, in…

Four training courses developed under the Job-Oriented Basic Skills (JOBS) program were evaluated to determine whether they could compensate for the skill deficiencies of lower aptitude Navy personnel. The JOBS program was designed for personnel who scored in the lower mental aptitude categories on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to…

The field survey procedures employed and the response rates obtained in the First Follow-Up Survey of the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS) are described. The first step in data collection for First Follow-Up involved an extensive tracing operation to update name and address files. A newsletter was mailed out to…

This executive summary presents the major findings of Interim Report III, which reports preliminary evaluation of Project Developmental Continuity (PDC). A Head Start demonstration program, PDC is aimed at promoting greater educational and developmental continuity as children make the transition from preschool to school. The report addresses three…

A survey involving 125 students who voluntarily withdrew from the State University College at Oswego, was conducted to determine student characteristics and their reasons for withdrawing, as well as to examine suggestions for reducing attrition. Examination of the data suggests that seniors withdrew less frequently than did members of other…