This report describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot project aimed at reducing factors that contribute to the high dropout rate among students in vocational education programs. The author is concerned with reducing such factors as absenteeism, tardiness, suspensions, class cutting, and with increasing student…

Student absenteeism is a major concern for elementary and secondary school educators. This paper annotates 59 articles and reports dealing with the causes of, effects of, and solutions to student absenteeism. A brief glossary first defines l4 terms used in the literature. The author then surveys l4 publications on the causes of absenteeism,…

This booklet is one of a series of teacher-written curriculum publications launched by the Bay Area Writing Project, each focusing on a different aspect of the teaching of composition. The purpose of the booklet is to help teachers, parents, and students understand the provisions of contract independent study and how to start an independent study…

This bulletin addresses the issue of improving interagency cooperation between the school and the court for the purpose of coordinating their efforts to reduce violence and vandalism within the school and the community. The experiences of Berrien County (Michigan) are used to illustrate the process of assessing, formalizing, and maintaining…

As a result of a conference dealing with truancy, problems of non-attendance, and violent and disruptive behavior at school, a small scale survey was conducted of 18 urban schools in England to examine these problems and to report on practices and procedures which the schools had found helpful in coping with them. It emerged during the survey that…

This study examined issues related to student absenteeism in the Ontario schools. Eight elementary and sixteen secondary schools made up the sample. Data were gathered from school attendance records, questionnaires administered to teachers and students, school board policy statements, and interview schedules. Results suggest that a number of…

Teachers in too many schools are confronted with too many students who have become disengaged from classroom learning. Re-engagement in classroom learning is the key to maintaining positive behavior. This issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Center for Mental Health in Schools includes the following features and regular segments: (1) Beyond…

This study examines middle school teachers', absentee students', and their parents' perceptions of factors related to excessive school absences; perceptions of the degree to which they think they can contribute a solution to the problem; and expectations regarding one another's responsibility for the problem. Data was obtained from middle school…

In Ontario the truant officer has been replaced by the Attendance Counselor who works with students, parents, the educational system, and the community. Truancy is a symptom of many social and psychological problems--economic deprivation, social and family problems, emotional disturbance, etc. The Attendance Counselor must refer those students…

The purpose of this study is to discover and classify some of the problems that inner-city high school pupils who are classified as truants may be facing which may have a bearing on why they are motivated to absent themselves from school or the classroom. (Author)

The use of assumptions and language which liken school rule-breakers to criminal defendants does not accurately reflect the way the discipline system functions. In addition, there is no understanding among teachers and administrators of the Supreme Court's decisions in the area of school discipline. (Author/RLV)

Claims that Major Disciplinary Violations (MDVs) are incurred when students are truant, involved in fighting, insubordinate to faculty, or in possession of drugs. Presents data on students who received MDVs in a junior high school. Interviewed 17 students who had violated school discipline to gain insight into their behavior and needs. Recommends…

High School and Beyond data for 175 rural high schools suggest that creating larger institutions will increase student misbehavior. However, for small rural high schools, this increase will border the trivial. Decisions to consolidate schools should rest on criteria other than equity, efficiency, and its effects on student behavior. (RLC)

This article focuses upon an evaluation of attendance issues within a local education authority (LEA) following two critical Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) reports. After the publication of these reports, the contract and responsibility for managing schools, and the former LEA's remit, was awarded to a private company. As part of the…

Students who are chronically absent are more likely than other students to drop out of school. Many schools have goals to reduce student truancy and to help chronically absent students attend school regularly. Few studies, however, have focused on whether or how family and community involvement help reduce rates of chronic absenteeism. In this…