Among 13 indicators of high school quality are planned and board-approved curricula, strong graduation requirements, strong courses beyond the basics, positive school climate, good attendance, low dropout rates, high per-pupil expenditure, low pupil-teacher ratio, superior library and media resources, good faculty, caring principals, and high…

Student retention at the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill is examined using different student levels (freshman, transfer, masters, professional, and doctoral) as a basis for comparison. Intrainstitutional data have the advantage of being readily available and they highlight the difference among levels within the institution. Understanding…

Reports results of a survey of 149 undergraduates (persisters - 73 White, 9 Black) and former undergraduates (nonpersisters - 35 White, 32 Black) indicating how their perceptions of their college environment affected the decision to remain at or leave the Speed Scientific School, University of Louisville. (SK)

Summarizes a study on educational conditions for Hispanic children within the context of school desegregation. Reports that continued segregation generates and sustains Hispanic school failure. (ST)

Spotlights Middle College High School of La Guardia Community College which uses the college's resources and a cooperative education model to aid potential high school dropouts. Answers questions on student behavior, faculty adjustments, student performance, space utilization, benefits, and successes of the program. Reviews attendance rates and…

Describes many ecological, social, and economic problems of Bangladesh in order to show the need for development of nonformal education to increase productivity in agriculture and related industries. Describes nine nonformal education projects in various areas of rural development, cooperatives, extension services, and adult education. (MF)

Describes the world's only solar electric village power system, a photovoltaic conversion installation in a remote Papago Indian Reservation village. Notes comparative costs, electric output, and potential applications of the system, a prototype for remote rural communities and developing nations. Notes outstanding questions and key issues in…

Describes the Improving Access Through Technology (IATT) project conducted by the Florida Postsecondary Planning Commission which attempts to use technology to increase student access to courses, thereby decreasing time to degree. Identifies student difficulty with math and science courses as a primary cause of lengthening time to degree. (JDI)

Interviews with parent, students, and teachers in rural Swaziland found that, as in colonial times, parents felt alienated from the school as an institution. Although national policymakers were pushing for stronger technical education, parents strongly desired academic education to prepare their children for professional employment and felt that…

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…

Case studies of three urban American Indian high school dropouts found that alienation in school, family values, and a need for economic independence contributed to dropping out. An alternative high school in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) for at-risk and American Indian students emphasizes wellness, school-to-work programs, service learning, culturally…

Suggests practical steps that can be taken to track and evaluate the success of community college students who do not follow linear patterns of program completion. Highlights the value of data sharing and exchanges with state agencies and other higher education institutions. Addresses the issue of confidentiality of student records. (DMM)

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…

Traces the patterns of wage premiums for college graduates since 1963. Also examines the wage differentials between high school dropouts and graduates, and between college dropouts and graduates. The dramatic rise in the wage premium is due to the huge increase in the demand for college-trained workers. (Author/BJV)

Factors associated with the employment status of students with and without handicaps were investigated in a sample of 133 youths who exited Vermont high schools in 1984-85. Information analyzed included current employment status, employment and training history, social service utilization, residential status, educational history, age, sex, and…