The David School in rural Floyd County, Kentucky, is a small private nonprofit high school that has served high-risk students and returned dropouts for the past 22 years. All students receive job training in a practical field and do not graduate until they have a well-paying job or are enrolled in college or vocational training. (LP)

An approach to fiscal accountability used at Emporia State University (Kansas) demonstrates how a student academic advising center can improve fiscal stability by increasing retention and graduation rates, thereby increasing enrollment-based appropriations. The method links retention and graduation figures and trends for each year and trends in…

Discussion of high school dropouts highlights the development of a computer learning laboratory that was used with at-risk high school students. The assessment of students' skills in language and reading is described, software that focused on these areas is discussed, and the results of pretests and posttests is reported. (Seven references) (LRW)

Reviews recent research on retention and achievement among Hispanic community college students, focusing on influences on persistence, transfer rates, and financial aid. Identifies needs for additional research, curricular reforms, and retention programs stressing counseling and advisement to promote the development of clear, concrete and…

Reports on the IBM Educational Systems' 1988 Schools Partnership Executive Conference that focused on what schools can do about the literacy problem. Highlights include computers in the classroom; the importance of success in early grades; bilingual education; dropout prevention; adult literacy; funding; substance abuse; and software for special…

Discusses the drop out rate and the at-risk youth problem. Summarizes what some implemented federal and state programs are doing and what some will do. Lists goals of several states. (MVL)

The New Smyrna Beach Employability Skills Training Program in Florida offers emotionally and behaviorally disordered adolescents the opportunity to learn basic academic, social, employability, and business skills through participation in a school-based business that models an actual job site. Comparative data for suspensions, dropouts, and…

A committee of the North Carolina Board of Governors will recommend that each state university create or enhance programs to improve campus race relations, engage minority students in campus life, increase numbers of black students and of black doctoral candidates, and achieve higher minority enrollment. Focus is on both recruiting and retaining…

This study evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of the Georgia Cooperative School Programme which provides work experiences for high school students with mental retardation or other disabilities through coordination with rehabilitation services. Evaluation indicated the program appears to prevent some dropouts but improved interagency…

A new program linking the Phoenix Union High School District with local community colleges and state universities identifies high-risk high school students, brings their work up to college level, counsels them, and monitors their progress to graduation. The high dropout rate forced institutions in the different segments to cooperation. (MSE)

To motivate students toward higher achievement and encourage mingling across racial and socioeconomic groups, a team of Florida seventh-grade teachers developed a plan featuring a rotating schedule, enrichment classes for all students, long time-blocks two days weekly, and heterogeneous cohesive groups. The program exposed all students to a…

Describes a project at Rockhurst College to address attrition problems called Freshmen in Science. The project goal was to build a support system for the curriculum that would encourage students to put forth their best effort. Describes the planning process, program, and results from a six-year effort to keep students interested in science-related…

Describes the evolution of alternative schools from progressive learner-centered free schools founded in the 1960s to the present emphasis on at-risk students. Outlines three models of alternative schools and discusses successful strategies and essential characteristics of effective schools for at-risk youth. Emphasizes the importance of…

A survey of 498 undergraduate students withdrawing from a Canadian university was used to develop a model of student attrition. Students frequently attributed withdrawal to personal characteristics, institutional factors, and societal variables. Student academic performance was a causal factor for university-initiated withdrawal, and student…

This article focuses primarily on the relevant joint history and initiatives for students who are at-risk in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, which became separate territories in April 1999. It describes programs and services for students who are at-risk, challenges that need to be overcome, and future directions. (Contains references.) (CR)