The observable effects of curricular tracking were investigated for a cohort of students in six Vermont high schools during the years 1981-89. The outcome variable was persistence in school as predicted by grades in academic subjects from grade 4 through 9, or time of withdrawal, and the level of courses in which students were enrolled. Three…

The proliferation of e-Learning programmes on offer within the UK raises critical issues that have yet to be fully addressed in terms of the nature of learning, effective pedagogy, learning expectations and student profile. The amalgamation and influence of these factors is also having an impact upon student retention. This paper examines student…

In 1989, a study was conducted of the persistence and graduation rates of full-time, degree-seeking students who enrolled in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) for the first time in fall 1981 through fall 1986. Persistence was determined by the presence of the student in the enrolled student database, regardless of whether the student…

This study describes the individual, family, school, and community characteristics of Hispanic ninth-grade students enrolled in predominantly minority high schools in five major U.S. cities: Chicago, Miami, Milwaukee, Newark, and San Antonio. The data, which are reported for four groups--Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Central…

This report offers task force recommendations to provide greater support and understanding for adolescents and young adults. The Commission report and recommendations focus on the issues of teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, juvenile delinquency, dropping out of school, and suicide. Part 1, "Growing Up in Texas," begins with an…

This document describes the Business and Industry Forum conducted by the South Carolina Council on Vocational and Technical Education to solicit public input on the present and future needs of business and industry, how the companies represented perceive the role of secondary vocational and postsecondary vocational education in today's society,…

This study investigated the adult adjustment one year after leaving school of 130 individuals with behavioral disorders who graduated from Iowa special education programs in 1985 and 1986; the adult adjustment of 70 dropouts was also investigated. Adjustment areas examined included: living arrangements, leisure activities, mechanisms used to cope…

This paper examines current practice for youth at risk of not successfully making the transition to adulthood in six urban secondary schools. It describes the major elements of at-risk policies and programs and raises concerns about the strategies currently in place at the sites. The following strategies are discussed: (1) curriculum and…

An overview of innovative curriculum programs to increase student retention, with a focus on vocational instruction, is presented in this paper. The Pennsylvania Dauphin County Technical School is described, which utilizes a practical performance-oriented approach and individualized instruction in a vocation clusters system. The review of research…

Four representative issues affecting the fields of adult, career, and vocational education are examined. These issues revolve around the following questions: (1) What career-related curriculum should be incorporated into the new basics? (2) What contributions can vocational and career education make to reducing the dropout rate? (3) How can…

Puente Projects are currently operating at 10 community colleges in California to increase retention, general education requirements completion, and transfer among Hispanic community college students. Puente integrates the skills of an English teacher, a Hispanic counselor, and Hispanic professionals acting as mentors to promote academic…

This report explores effects of a year-round schedule on pupil and teacher attendance in the Jefferson County, Colorado, School District. Information is drawn from a 1977 district study and from interviews with teachers and principals. Comparison of data on attendance before the program and after its first year found that attendance increased in…

The 1980 Cohort Study was initiated at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) as a follow-up of full-time students who began their studies in fall 1980. The goal of the study was to distinguish the educational and career outcomes of graduates from those of students who have achieved various other levels of academic progress. The fall 1980 cohort…

The Hispanic Policy Development Project (HPDP) and the National Coalition for Advocates for Students (NCAS) launched separate inquiries into how American public education could be improved without excluding poor, minority, female, and handicapped youngsters. HPDP reported on the performance of Hispanic students in inner-city high schools in…

In the 1980s and 1990s important demographic, economic, and social changes will affect the nation's schools, families, and workplaces. In anticipation of these developments, there is renewed interest in formal educational attainment and basic academic skills. A concerted national effort to address the current crisis in basic skills development…