Outward Bound New Zealand provides 21-day residential motivational intervention courses (Catalyst courses) to long-term unemployed clients approved by the Ministry of Social Development. During the period 2002/03, 20% of participants starting the course dropped out before course completion; which was double the contracted acceptable level set by…

This paper calculates the public savings (financial benefits) from greater public investments in the education of African-American males. Over one-fifth of each age cohort of black males in US is not a high school graduate. We identify five interventions that would--based on credible research--increase the graduation rate; we also report the…

Over the last decade, between 347,000 and 544,000 10th- through 12th-grade students left school each year without successfully completing a high school program Status dropout rates represent the proportion of young people ages 16 through 24 who are out of school and who have not earned a high school credential. Status rates are higher than event…

Dropping out of high school culminates a long-term process of disengagement from school and has profound social and economic consequences for students, their families, and their communities. Students who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed, to earn less than those who graduate, to be on public assistance, and to end up in…

The impact of academic programs--such as developmental mathematics programs--on student retention, has been a controversial topic for administrators, policy makers, and faculty in higher education. Despite deep interest in the effectiveness of these programs in retaining students, scholars have been unable to determine whether such programs have a…

The New Mexico Dropout Report is published annually to provide information for educators, parents, legislators, and other interested parties on the status of education in New Mexico. This report describes the extent and nature of the school dropout dilemma in the state, providing information on the numbers and percentages of dropouts by grade,…

Recent survey data show that 23% of students with disabilities drop out; highest attrition was among students with emotional disturbances or learning disabilities. Failure and dislike of school were primary reasons. Similarities between dropouts with disabilities and those in the general population suggest the same prevention strategies could be…

Background: Early school leaving and dropout are widely recognized as problems, leading to further marginalization and exclusion of young people from society at large. The Finnish government has set a target that, by the year 2008, 96% of those who complete compulsory education will continue without interruption in secondary education or in the…

Analyzes the effectiveness of widely used risk factors for identifying potential dropouts, using data from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program. Findings indicate that most risk factors are not effective predictors of dropping out, and that dropout prevention programs often serve students who would not have dropped out and do not…

This report outlines strategies, developed by a state-legislative committee, for reducing the dropout rate in Colorado. The committee also investigated alternative methods of completing a high-school education program and ways of stressing the importance of education to Colorado youth. To gather information, testimonies provided by students,…

Outputs from a computerised touch pad turnstile security system that recorded business students' entries into and exits from a university's buildings revealed that a significant number of the institution's first-year intake withdrew from their (business) degree programmes within a few weeks of enrolment. Accordingly, a sample of these "early…

Integrates existing literature with the authors' research that examines resiliency (students in danger of dropping out of school who are able to develop stable, healthy personas and are able to recover from or adapt to life's stresses or problems). Suggests a model to explain resiliency that can be used to better understand why these students have…

This article shares findings from a research study on 14 gifted dropouts. The first author designed the study after she came in contact with four gifted young men who chose to leave school rather than put up with what they described as low-level curriculum and a culture that disrespected them. The intent of the study was to explore why gifted…

Logistic regression is employed to develop a model that enhances early identification of freshmen at risk of attrition. Independent variables employed to predict attrition include demographics; high school experiences; and attitudes, opinions, and values as reported on a survey administered during freshman orientation. Model and results are…

Dropout prevention has become a compelling priority for school personnel. But high school dropout research leaves many school variables largely unexamined. This study describes a staffing committee that had been established in a large urban high school during the 1986-87 school year and responded specifically to referrals of students who were…