The national dropout rate has remained at about 20% for the last decade. However, disparities in the definition of dropouts and in data collection have caused national dropout figures to vary. Researchers agree that students from areas of large minority populations with fewer English-speaking students, and those living in poverty are at risk of…

This report describes a study on the characteristics, economic achievement, and educational status of dropouts who left selected Wisconsin high schools in 1967-68, 1972-73, and 1975-76. The report discusses the background and objectives of the study, the research methods used, survey findings, and conclusions. Among the findings are that (1) more…

This essay examines characteristics of high risk students, institutional problems related to their presence in schools, and various solutions to these problems that have been implemented at the secondary, junior college, and collegiate levels. Areas discussed in which high risk students may differ from other students include cognitive ability,…

Procedures for operating undergraduate minority engineering programs (MEPs) are provided in this handbook. The findings and suggestions presented are based on the experiences of MEP directors who have managed support programs, which focus on improving the retention of minority students within engineering. The titles and authors of the handbook's…

This manual presents a viable school program for grades K-12 to help reduce the number of school dropouts. Characteristics of potential dropouts and alternative programs to meet the needs of these students are given. Although this manual is divided into sections for elementary (K-6) and secondary (7-12) school students, many of the ideas presented…

Data on dropout patterns in New York City Public Schools are provided and analyzed in order to identify issues to be addressed and contribute to the establishment of standards and criteria for program development. Part I introduces the key questions to be asked. In Part II, the term dropout is defined according to State Education guidelines; the…

This report describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot project aimed at reducing factors that contribute to the high dropout rate among students in vocational education programs. The author is concerned with reducing such factors as absenteeism, tardiness, suspensions, class cutting, and with increasing student…

Approaches to improve student achievement through improved self-actualization are attempted in the following programs: Rev. Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH; the U.S. Department of Labor's program known as the Youth Incentive Entitlement Pilot Project Program; Denver, Colorado's New Pride Experiment; the Michigan Expeditions Program; and the John…

Efforts addressed at the pervasive school dropout problem in New York City received a boost in 1978 with the development of large scale, centrally initiated programs to reduce the number of high school dropouts. Based on the recommendations of two studies, the New York City Board of Education's Division of High Schools established outreach centers…

In the New York City high schools, three change strategies have been used to improve a system which, in and by itself, is dramatically changing. The high school system has undergone significant changes in purpose, organization, culture and student performance. The first change strategy established a partnership between the high schools and the…

This paper provides a synthesis of research and theory directly related to retention of adult students. In the first of five major sections, readers are provided with a brief discussion of the nature and significance of the dropout-retention problem. Section 2 reviews research findings relating to who drops out and why. Sociodemographic,…

A physical education program specifically designed for alienated, delinquent, and troubled young men of high school age is described. The goal of this program is to prevent dropping out of school by dealing with the students as individuals and emphasizing a friendly relationship between student and teacher. The humanistic approach to education is…

This report examines the dimensions, causes, and consequences of the dropout problem for California youth aged 12-17. School enrollment data and data from the 1976 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Survey of Income and Education (SIE) were used to assess the current dropout rate. SIE statistics were also used to describe the age, sex,…

A DROPOUT IS A PUPIL WHO LEAVES A SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATION OR BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF A PROGRAM OF STUDIES, AND WHO DOES NOT TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. TABLES SHOW THE NUMBER OF PUPILS IN SCHOOLS FROM GRADE 5 THROUGH COLLEGE ENTRANCE FROM 1924 TO 1962, AND FROM GRADE 9 THROUGH GRADUATION FROM 1928 TO 1962. ANOTHER TABLE SHOWS PUBLIC SCHOOL NINTH…

STUDIES INDICATE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE THINKING OF "THE" DROPOUT, BUT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DROPOUTS IN NEED OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND AID AT DIFFERENT TIMES. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE "HIGH ASPIRERS" AND THE "RETURNEES" ARE GIVEN AS SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ACCEPT THE NEEDED…