Tested the importance of temporal trends within absenteeism data for males and females. The data support previous findings of higher absenteeism rates for women when compared to men. The data also indicate the importance of temporal trends. Conclusions are drawn concerning the use of absence rates as dependent variables. (Author)

This study sought to determine if a school management system requiring self-management and academic performance as requirements for admittance to the school would effectively increase student attendance. Subjects were 73 children attending the Auburn Alternative Junior High School, a public school program for problem children. (Author/SJL)

After reading about the problems of absenteeism in recent issues of the NASSP Bulletin, the authors felt other readers would like to know about the plan the Las Cruces (N.M.) schools implemented. They say the plan curbed absenteeism considerably and report the data to support their conclusion. (Editor)

The United Kingdom has a low, but rising, rate of postcompulsory participation in education. Reasons for this are suggested. Although market-led vocational training has provided for expansion, the current system lacks coherence. The paper concludes with some suggestions for reform. (Author/KDP)

This article focuses on the issues of reintegrating the chronically ill child into the school setting, the types of school problems encountered, the process of school reentry, (including a successful school reentry plan), and the implications for the school and the family of returning the chronically ill child to school. (DB)

Reviews school behavior and attendance policies in Canada as they relate to student attrition. Discusses a sample of schools in which policies have been revised to provide alternative programs to meet the needs of all students, especially those at risk. These schools work with other social agencies to address problems associated with high dropout…

Examines the literature on school choice and desegregation, reviewing the 1997 laws that constituted Connecticut's response to the 1996 state Supreme Court Sheff v. O'Neill desegregation ruling. Presents data on how the new policies have affected the attendance patterns of students belonging to different racial groups, concluding with a discussion…

Trends in projected demand for higher education are examined, including those resulting from new economic incentives for college attendance. Topics discussed include enrollment trends among traditional-age, older, and continuing students; noncredit students at traditional institutions; and distance students. Various aspects of "capacity" are…

Investigated factors affecting high school students' attendance. Data from student, staff, and administrator interviews and review of attendance data revealed serious problems in how students perceived they were treated by staff and peers as well as problems related to school climate and curriculum and instruction, which destroyed student…

More than eleven hundred university students were surveyed to determine attitudes toward learning and accountability. Apathy, absenteeism, and grade inflation emerged as contributing to the lack of student accountability. This article suggests institutional changes to reanimate college classrooms: explicit expectations; smaller, engaged classes;…

This study examined the attendance behaviors of undergraduate students. Much of the existing literature had focused on student variables in determining attendance in the classroom. In the present study, the focus was on students' perceptions of instructor behaviors instead. Students completed questionnaires and reported their own attendance in…

Educational psychologists find that prior knowledge influences new learning. We examined whether course achievement for introductory psychology students is facilitated or impaired by their prior knowledge of psychology. We administered a pretest exam to 422 students early in the semester and gathered subsequent exam scores and other measures of…

On the first day of classes, 81% of students in an introductory biology course claimed that they would submit extra-credit work if given the opportunity. When given two chances for extra-credit work, fewer than one-fourth of students submitted one or both assignments. Students who submitted extra-credit work were more likely to attend class,…

This research examined changes in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation during the transition from junior to senior high school as well as the impact of motivational changes on various educational consequences (i.e., dropout intentions, absenteeism, homework frequency, and educational aspirations). A total of 646 participants completed a…

This paper reports issues arising from a longitudinal study of 1991 to 2002 Australian higher education equity data. The national equity framework uses an empirical performance indicator system to monitor access, participation, success and retention of six designated equity groups. The paper examines three possible approaches for defining new…