A Delaware school district developed partnerships with local businesses that helped lower the dropout rate by 32 percent. Students who meet some minimum qualifications are selected, and local businesses provide entry-level jobs, mentors, and the promise of jobs after the students graduate. (MLF)

Examines one national goal--to make our national high school graduation rate reach 90 percent by 2000--by focusing on the dropout problem. Poverty and cultural differences play a major role in determining who drops out. Exploring multiple-intelligences research and emphasizing educational research and development are sound strategies. Includes 33…

Eight vocational schools in Jefferson County, Kentucky, use computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for remedial work in math, reading, and language skills. The use of CAI in the career development centers has led to other programs--for adults, dropouts, and potential dropouts--and has brought about a close working relationship with Louisville…

Academic failure must be seen as a failure by school and student together. By discarding faith in the "average needs" of the "average child" and instead accepting diversity in learning styles (both abstract and concrete, sequential and random), teachers can approach school failure from a problem-solving perspective. (PB)

Involving parents in a team approach by providing parent education and assistance programs can only strengthen dropout prevention strategies that are being developed and implemented throughout the nation. (JOW)

Analysis of transcript data from the National Education Longitudinal Study 1988 Eighth Graders Second Followup found no significant impact of vocational education on math, science, or reading achievement. Vocational education in the first two years of high school may indirectly affect drop-out. Agriculture and technical/communications courses…

Describes a program in which high school students in a dropout-prevention program made twice-weekly visits to work as volunteers at a school that includes students with multiple, severe disabilities. (SR)

The greatest deterrent to drugs and gangs is a full, high-quality student activity program. Cocurricular activities offer peer counseling groups, nurturing clubs, relationship building, and enormous support for youngsters at minimal cost. Potential dropouts can be engaged by car clubs, job opportunities, and computer use programs. Eliminating…

A program sponsored by Pepsi-Cola Company is designed to provide students in inner-city school districts with reasons for staying in school. Incentives for students include scholarship credit of $250 for each semester in which they maintain a C average; mentor-teachers receive $1,000 for continuing education, classroom enhancement, or the…

Despite variation in structure and activities of campus retention programs, successful programs are similar in the way they approach retention, emphasis given to retention efforts, and objectives. Focus should be less on what types of programs retain students and more on how and why programs have been successful. (Author/MSE)

Examines the impact of violence on high school dropouts in their relationships with peers, family, teachers, and school structure. The resistance to school and violence in schools are seen as the result of schools' and society's resistance to dealing with diversity and the impact of various types of violence inherent in this resistance. (MMU)

Longitudinally examined the effects of two linked at-risk programs (a middle school dropout prevention program and a high school transition program), focusing on attendance, promotion/retention, courses passed, discipline referrals, suspensions, sequence of services, the effects of passage of time following the intervention, and dropping out.…

Discusses 15 effective strategies for dropout prevention identified by the National Dropout Prevention Center, plus a specific set of six program solutions and strategies as alternatives to grade retention. Describes the center's promotion-with-purpose policy, along with exemplar programs for school leaders to use in designing alternatives to…

Because ninth grade is such a tough year for many students, some school districts have created special academies or other programs to provide special attention to students in the first year of high school. Studies show that ninth-graders have the most discipline incidents and retentions, and are most likely to drop out. In this paper, the author…

In this article, the author discusses the persistence of President Bush on the tradition of America's two previous presidents by naming the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, which aims to reduce the Hispanic high school dropout rate--now to the point where one in three Latinos fails to complete high school,…