In spring 1994, enrollment began to drop at Virginia's Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC), after having steadily increased between 1986-87 and 1993-94. The number of annual full-time equivalent students dropped 3.5% in 1994-95 to 4,394, another 3.8% in 1995-96 to 4,226, and another 11.3% in 1996-97 to 3,745. The college sought to provide a…

In an effort to provide statistical support for more stringent attendance policies, a study was conducted at McCook Community College (MCC) to determine whether there was a significant relationship between absences and grades in freshman composition classes. A literature review of similar studies conducted at both the secondary and postsecondary…

The purpose of the study described in this report was to ascertain why students in New York City high schools are earning insufficient credits to graduate in four years. Specific objectives of the study include the following: (1) to identify patterns and trends in credit accumulation among high school graduates and dropouts; (2) to determine and…

This study examines the involvement of the 3,234 students who graduated from the Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools in 1988 in compensatory education programs funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. Program involvement is categorized as either program service or program treatment based on attendance. A student who…

In fall 1985, a study was conducted at Broome Community College (BCC) in Binghamton, New York, to determine whether students who added a class on or after the first class meeting (i.e., late admits) were at greater risk of withdrawing or failing than students who registered on time (i.e., regular admits). Final grades awarded to students in ENG…

A study was conducted at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) to determine the relationship between student educational objectives and retention/attrition rates. The study followed 4,502 students who came to the college for the first time in winter 1985 for five quarters, through winter 1986. The students were asked to indicate their…

This handbook provides guidance to school administrators in setting up an effective school attendance system. After brief introductory sections on the importance of good attendance and on how to recognize whether excessive pupil absences are a problem, the third section discusses how to organize the attendance services: outlining objectives;…

During the 1982-83 school year, the Sheridan County School District implemented a 4-day school week alternative schedule. The alternative schedule was approved by the Wyoming State Board of Education on two conditions. First, the State Attorney General must affirm the State Board's right to permit alternative scheduling. Second, an outside…

This paper describes the effectiveness of the Austin Independent School District's public school prekindergarten program during a 3-year period. In 1985-86, the program consisted of full-day classes serving low-achieving and limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in Chapter 1 schools. In 1986-87, the district implemented half-day classes in…

The issue of appropriate truancy intervention is addressed in this description of the efforts of Minneapolis, Minnesota to design a continuum of interventions that relies on the resources of both the school and juvenile court. Exigencies which precipitated a truancy pilot project are discussed: a shared belief that truancy is a signal for…

Student absenteeism was studied in six high schools: three schools in each of two large school districts in the Pacific Northwest. The data source was grade and absence reports collected over a period of nearly two years. Approximately 50 administrators, over 500 teachers, and 10,000 students contributed data to the project. The analysis goal was…

Because of the unique nature of community colleges, no single model or calculation of attrition can fit all institutions. Each college falls somewhere on the continuum between the degree-oriented junior college, in which students pursue a linear pattern of enrollment from entry to graduation, to the consumer-oriented community college, in which…

The effects of religion and religiosity as measured by attendance at weekly religious services on the demand for private schooling is assessed. It is shown that Catholics, fundamentalist/evangelical Protestants, and respondents who attend religious services more often have a higher demand for private schooling. Data from the National Opinion…

This absentee program project funded under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 was evaluated for the New York City Board of Education. Four Brooklyn high schools participated in the program. Selected students were two grades or more retarded in reading and mathematics as indicated by their standardized test scores. They…

To ascertain the impact of home and school visitation, attendance records from a random sample of seventh, ninth and tenth grade students were examined. Information gathered was to determine the number of absences, unexcused absences and referrals. Records of students contacted by home and school visitors were examined to determine attendance…