During the last two decades, estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau have suggested that the U.S. high school completion rate was steadily rising and nearing 90 percent. In the last few years, however, estimates from independent researchers have contradicted this rosy picture and found much lower completion rates ranging from 66.1 percent to 74.4…

In a case study of four urban adult basic education programs in a northeastern state, large increases in the participation of 16- to 20-year-old students were found. Many of these students were reading below the fifth-grade level despite aspiring to the General Education Development (GED) diploma. Reasons for youth participation included increased…

This report is the sixth in a series of annual reports identifying the number of students who drop out of Nevada schools during the course one school year, in this case, the 1993-94 school year. Data were derived from school records, and information from every public school with grades 7 through 12 included. Some 5,950 individuals dropped out of…

In an effort to develop early intervention strategies to increase student persistence, a study was conducted at Allegany Community College (ACC) in Cumberland, Maryland, of the common characteristics of withdrawing students. Student records were examined for the 84 students (out of a total of 2,999 enrolled) who withdrew in the first 3 weeks of…

The research and evaluation agenda for the Austin Independent School District (AISD) (Texas) is determined for each school year, subject to current needs and requests. The evaluations and other major projects for 1993-94 will focus on three major areas. First is providing school support. Testing programs mandated by state law and district policy…

This evaluation report of an attendance project in Portland, Oregon, public schools describes goals, methods, and results for 1985-86. The introduction states objectives of identifying, contacting, and counseling students leaving school or attending irregularly, with the purpose of guiding them into school or alternative educational programs. A…

This compilation of 112 abstracts of materials--papers, studies, reports, reviews--is the first of two parts. This part contains abstracts in one category: social and educational developments (policy, analysis, research). Abstracts are arranged in clusters according to prime subject matter. Topics covered, listed at the front of the booklet, are…

Students failing to master minimum competency tests are categorized as dropouts in this description of the results of and remediation efforts for the statewide Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) Testing Program. TEAMS assesses minimum competency in basic skills at grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11-12 exit level. The first…

In April 1981, the Black Advisory Committee of Valencia Community College (VCC) recommended the implementation of a Black Student Retention Pilot Project to study reasons for the attrition of black students at the college; to identify factors positively affecting student retention; and to develop a computerized system to monitor black student…

The relationships among students' goals, demographic variables, and attrition at Delta Community College (Michigan) were investigated. A total of 600 (out of a random sample of 1,000) fall 1976 students credit courses agreed to participate in the study and identified their goals in attending the college. In the winter 1977 semester, 493 returning…

A consortium program of eight private colleges in Southern California that focuses on student retention efforts is described. Each college has a retention task force consisting of faculty, administrators, student affairs staff, and students. A steering committee with one representative from each college, generally the dean of students, coordinates…

A review of literature from the early sixties to the present provides an understanding of problems posed by potential dropouts (disadvantaged learners) and some potential solutions to those problems. The first section describes who potential dropouts are and why they are disadvantaged; how they can be identified; some remedial projects already…

Research on college student attrition and retention is reviewed. Overall dropout rates and the reasons students give for dropping out are examined, and an attempt is made to assess the outcomes of going straight through college, as opposed to dropping out, temporarily leaving school, and not going to college at all. The demographic, academic,…

To alleviate the economic problems of youth, the Australian Education Council has expressed the need for a comprehensive youth policy whose aim should be to provide young people with options in education, training, or employment. Facts show a declining rate of retention to completion of secondary schools for males due to the present low employment…

Approximately 1,000 dropout/stopout (DOSO) students from the University of California at San Diego were surveyed in January 1978 to determine their demographic characteristics and the factors influencing their decision to dropout/stopout. The population consisted of students enrolled in winter or spring of 1977 but who did not receive degrees and…