The aim of the present study is to assess reasons for school non-attendance including somatic symptoms, subjective health complaints, truancy, and school refusal and to investigate the relationship of these with gender, grade, and self-reported special educational needs. The study is based on a self-reported questionnaire distributed to students…

This qualitative combined methodology study was undertaken to identify key factors in re-engagement by students aged 18-21 years returning to Secondary School. It was conducted in classrooms providing educational programming for students in treatment, care, custody or correctional facilities. An interview approach was adopted since continuous…

In 1989, staff from Rancho Santiago College's (RSC's) research office conducted telephone interviews with a random sample of 255 out of the 17,359 former students who attended RSC in spring 1989 but did not return for the next semester. The study was conducted to determine why students did not return, whether they accomplished their educational…

A retention study was conducted at Tallahassee Community College (TCC) to determine reasons student withdrew from TCC prior to meeting their educational objectives. The survey population consisted of all students, apart from graduates and those who had been academically suspended, who were enrolled in winter 1981 but had not returned by winter…

To gather data on factors associated with the withdrawal of first-time students before they achieved their educational goals, Riverside Community College (RCC), in California, conducted a study of 742 students who were attending RCC for the first time in 1994-95. The students were surveyed by telephone during their first and second semesters and…

An outcomes study for Eastern New Mexico University is proposed that would track every third freshman class from the time of arrival until about 3 years after leaving the university. After contact with the new freshmen, the contact again occurs at the end of the sophomore year and at the time of graduation. Students who do not return will be…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to determine why students withdrew from courses at two off-campus centers. Surveys were administered to a sample of 54 degree credit and 46 continuing education students who withdrew from classes at Hawthorne Center (HC) in fall 1981, and to 56 degree credit and 44 continuing education…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College to determine why off-campus students withdrew from courses at Hawthorne Center (HC) and Northeast Center (NEC). A total of 391 students who withdrew from degree credit classes and continuing education classes at HC in fall 1981, and from classes at NEC in fall 1982 and 1983 were sampled and…

The population of this study consisted of 18 students who withdrew from the Glasgow Independent School System (Kentucky) during the 1975-76, 1976-77, and 1977-78 school years. The questionnaires submitted to the former students and their parents sought to determine how they felt about school prior to leaving, reasons for leaving school, opinions…

In fall 1992, a survey was conducted of two subgroups of students who had enrolled for less than six credits in one of the seven community colleges in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota during fall quarter 1990, and who had not re-enrolled as of fall quarter 1992. The two subgroups surveyed included those classified as "completers"…

A sample of dropouts is surveyed to determine their reasons for dropping out of school and to assess the factors currently used by the Dade County (Florida) school system to identify at-risk students. Data from telephone surveys of a randomly-selected sample of 2,779 persons who dropped out of grades 7 through 12 during 1986-87, 1987-88, and…

In 1982, a study was conducted at Calhoun State Community College (CSCC) to determine causes of student withdrawal and factors influencing re-enrollment. Questionnaires were administered to 985 individuals who withdrew from on-campus programs during the 1981-82 academic year; of these, 37 were returned by mail and 254 were completed in person or…

In spring 1982, a survey was conducted at Yavapai College to determine reasons for student course withdrawal. A TEX-SIS follow-up questionnaire was mailed to all 525 students who had dropped one or two courses, asking them to indicate their reasons for dropping the course(s) and if they felt discussion with a counselor would have been beneficial,…

Hundreds of prospective students engage the Owens Community College (OCC) three-step admission process each semester before voluntarily disengaging the institution. A study was conducted to assess student motivation to engage or disengage OCC based on factors related to student disposition, institutional motivation, and student situation, and to…

This resource handbook was designed to assist constituent school district personnel with the critical issues of student absenteeism and dropouts. From July 1982 through February 1983 and in May 1986, members of the Oakland County (Michigan) Attendance/Dropout Task Force met with educational and community agency personnel, graduating high school…