The Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) obtained federal grant funds for a school dropout demonstration assistance program, which began operating in 1988-89 as Project GRAD (Grant Research About Dropouts). Project components included the following: (1) piloting the use of dropout intervention specialists at 10 high schools; (2)…

This paper examines existing research regarding the problem of school dropouts. It examines the historical context of the problem and discusses current definitions and methods for identifying dropout characteristics and computing dropout rates. Few incentives exist for accurate record-keeping on dropouts. School finances are often linked to…

It is the position of the Texas Council on Vocational Education that students at high risk of dropping out of school need an instructional approach that is comprehensive, individualized, and caring. Vocational education provides an important learning alternative that can serve as a powerful component of dropout prevention and recovery programs. In…

While the number of minority students in postsecondary education has climbed since 1970, the rates of minority graduation are still too low. Factors adding to the dropout rate include: inadequate finances, poor academic preparation, low motivation, poor study habits, low basic skills, and low institutional support. This paper describes support…

A THREE-YEAR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS AND POTENTIAL DROPOUTS IS DESCRIBED. EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON--(1) SELF-ANALYSIS LEADING TO NEW ATTITUDES, (2) IMPROVED MASTERY OF ENGLISH, READING, MATH, AND STUDY SKILLS, (3) A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WHICH INCREASES STUDENT CONFIDENCE, AND (4) A PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHICH IS…

Operation Second Chance trained school dropouts for vocational skills in three areas in North Carolina--the mountainous West, the Piedmont plains, and the coastal farmlands. Length of the training varied from the six weeks nurses' aide program to the 12-week sewing for upholstery program through the 16-week carpentry, upholstery, welding,…

The Edison Project is an ESEA Title VIII dropout prevention program for 250 tenth grade students who were identified as potential dropouts on the basis of previous attendance, grades, and grade level retention. Some of the problems that affect student attendance have been found to be gangs, money, race, and relevance of education. The project was…

Project Stay is a demonstration project of the St. Louis Public Schools, funded under Title VIII of Public Law 90-247, with several programs concentrating on reducing the number of dropouts. The project has the purpose of identifying students who are potential dropouts, determining their individual needs, and developing programs to meet those…

Project VIII is an innovative behavioral science oriented educational program, funded under Title VIII Elementary Secondary Education Act, designed to attack the personal, social, and educational problems of children whose previous record of school failure and frustration has indicated high dropout potential. The program is operated as a…

The current study investigated a needs assessment survey designed to measure perceptions of causes of dropout and school violence and related interventions. The needs assessment was conceptualized as a first step to be taken by schools to facilitate program planning, school-based implementation and acceptability of programs designed to prevent…

This resource guide includes abstracts of 90 papers presented at the conference. Section 1, "Understanding Students At-Risk," includes 17 abstracts that emphasize the need for a comprehensive set of services that can respond to the diverse needs of at-risk students. Section 2, "Preventing and Reducing Incidence of At-Risk," includes 17 abstracts…

Information on alternative education and programs for potential dropouts and dropouts in Iowa is compiled in this directory. Data were obtained from reports submitted to the Iowa Association of Alternative Education (IAAE) and from out-of-state sources. Following the introduction and information on the IAAE, 15 sections present information on the…

Responses to a survey questionnaire completed by 1,070 migrant students who returned to school after dropping out were tabulated and listed by response frequency to determine student characteristics that will help migrant educators predict dropout behavior and address its causes. Participating students were enrolled in 13 High School Equivalency…

Examined in this paper are the effects of school characteristics on both the probability of dropping out and absenteeism as the strongest predictor of dropping out. The project employed a subsample from the High School and Beyond database that contains results from questionnaires and achievement tests given in 1980 to approximately 30,000…

After questioning the credential value of the high school diploma at the present time and pointing out the need for considering the multiple psychological and social handicaps of the minority-group school dropout, this conference paper discusses (1) the rentention power of the schools, (2) youth employment, (3) equal job opportunities for Negroes,…