Defines student drop-out; presents data illustrating when external students are at greatest risk; explores reasons for the drop-out phenomenon in light of the distance education theories of Otto Peters, Borje Holmberg, and David Stewart; and lists suggestions to reduce early attrition rates and improve distance education institution functioning.…

This is the second in a series of issue briefs to be written for The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement during 2006. In this issue brief, the author examines what recent research says about high school dropouts and explains the powerful role schools can play in keeping students on track to graduate. The latter includes…

This biweekly newsletter contains news and information about school improvement in the United States. It is designed expressly for parents and families. This issue highlights an announcement, by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Rod Paige, of a contract to the National Institute of Statistical Sciences to convene a group of experts to review…

College student retention has become the area of research that has done the most to integrate various administrative factors and academic disciplinary concerns in the research agenda of higher education. V. Tintos model has long been cited as the major theory in explaining dropout behavior. As his theory is so intertwined with path analysis,…

As a whole, Hispanics drop out of high school at higher rates and attain lower levels of education than non-Hispanics. The relative recency of migration among Hispanics may at least partially account for this trend. The status dropout rate for an age group (the percentage of that age group not enrolled in school and that has not completed high…

This report describes the demographic and at-risk profiles of the official secondary school dropout students and the remaining Austin Independent School District secondary student population for school year 2004-2005.

Article presented a plan to reduce the rate of student dropouts and make the educational environment more stimulating for learning. (RK)

Significant monetary benefits, due mainly to increased and improved labor market participation, found in combined in-school and summer Neighborhood Youth Corps programs, although no net benefit in high school retention and graduation rates. (MF)

A questionnaire was completed by students withdrawing from the University of Alberta during the 1970-71 session. In addition to obtaining biographical information, reasons for withdrawal were grouped into six basic categories: financial, academic, personal, extracurricular, health, and living arrangements. These findings are discussed in relation…

This research study identifies major reasons that caused students enrolled in two-year postsecondary farm management programs, at five postsecondary institutions in North Dakota, not to complete the prescribed course of study in which they were enrolled. (SSH)

Introduces some possibilities for treating the condition of the misplaced and dislocated adolescent. Reviews the development of street academies as one attempt to address the problems of out-of-school youth. Concludes that systematic efforts are needed to serve an ignored population. (Author/WD)

Discusses attrition research in terms of student characteristics predictive of persistence and reasons students drop out. Itemizes the steps of planning a retention program and suggests retention strategies in three categories: administration, faculty, and student personnel. (DD)

The best predictor of drug use among secondary school dropouts is the absence of an adult male in the home. (Editor)

The role of the university's medical service in lowering first-year, drop-out rates is based on the identification of psychological, environmental, and physical needs of the student. (MB)

Study of 1,233 Australian dropouts who reentered high school showed that unsuccessful reentrants were often homeless and unemployed, were more likely to be at traditional rather than innovative schools, and had practical, interpersonal, or discipline-related problems at school. Three best predictors of repeat dropout were extent of interpersonal…