This is a report on high school dropouts in the Los Angeles Unified School District during 1979-80. The study covered 110 secondary schools and sought to determine: 1) the frequency and rate of school leaving among tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders; 2) the characteristics of the leaver; and 3) reasons for leaving school. The data were collected…

Of 1,629 students enrolled in the fall semester of 1975 at Allegany Community College, 340 (20.9 percent) did not re-register for spring 1976. Although the fall enrollment contained almost twice as many full-time as part-time students, more than half of the non-returning students were part-time. Attrition also correlated to age of the students,…

This study attempted to find reasons for the large proportion of dropouts in the federal government's National Summer Youth Sports Program. Selected scales of the Jesness Inventory were administered (value orientation, alienation, denial, and occupational aspiration) at the beginning of the program to 66 11-year-old boys enrolled in a 1971 program…

This paper reports the results of a major research effort by the Northern California Cooperative Research Group (Nor Cal) and the Coordinating Council for Higher Education (CCHE) in California to study junior college attrition. This study differs from the original Nor Cal attrition study in that it was designed to follow up those students who…

Argues that dropout prevention programs which promote reading success while keeping students on grade level must begin early and be staffed by teachers who believe they can make a difference and who foster positive self-concepts in their students. (MG)

A study examined the rates of and reasons for students leaving New Hampshire summer vocational programs and identified models that could be implemented to reduce attrition over the summer in these vocational programs. After examining 1981 enrollment data pertaining to New Hampshire regional center vocational program leavers, researchers determined…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Stimulus Shell Game?: U.S. Department of Education's Inspector General Warns that Some States are Using Education…

What is the relationship between retention, drop-out and graduation rates? Retention of low-achieving students is one of the most controversial and complex issues educational leaders face, despite a half century of research that has shown consistently that any gains in achievement are short-lived, and the long-term effects for retained students…

We tested the hypotheses derived from investment theory that quality of alternatives and institutional preference exert additive and interactive effects on institutional commitment in a sample of 1166 first-year college students at a large state university, who were surveyed within two weeks of the start of their first semester. As predicted, a…

This paper provides important new insights into the reasons for the observed gap in educational attainment between children of immigrants and natives in Denmark using a dynamic discrete model of educational choices to determine at what stages of their educational careers children of immigrants face barriers to educational progression and how…

THE STATE'S 15,170 DROPOUTS IN GRADES 8 THROUGH 12 IN 1962-63 REPRESENTED 5 PERCENT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS ENROLLED BUT A 0.5 PERCENT DECREASE FROM THE 15,813 DROPOUTS IN 1961-62. AN ANALYSIS OF DATA SHEETS OBTAINED FOR 12,721 DROPOUTS REVEALED--(1) THE LARGEST NUMBER DROPPED OUT AT AGE 16 AND FROM GRADE 8, (2) THE DROPOUT PATTERN SUGGESTED…

This issue of CURRENTS reviews some of the general findings on the dropout, and outlines approaches that have proven effective at various types of institutions in reducing dropout rates. Most of the programs examined here are aimed at early identification of the potential dropout and prevention of his withdrawal through the provision of special…

The Metropolitan Youth Education Center in Denver (Colorado) offers flexible scheduling, small classes, and a broad range of courses to help high school dropouts earn diplomas. (MLF)

Questions the recent idea that students must stay in school through the 12th grade. Describes programs that have been developed in the Colorado Springs (Colorado) area to cope with the dropout problem. (Author/WD)