This article (1) summarizes what is know about student attrition and retention; (2) reports the results of the authors' study of the relationships between decidedness and retention; and (3) suggests four research-based principles for institutions desiring to initiate action programs designed to counter unwarranted attrition on the college campus.…

Dropout statistics for Portland, Oregon, high schools reveal that the schools themselves, and the assignment of students to specific schools, may be more important than previously thought in determining dropout rates. Thus, programs in the high schools and open transfer provisions may be cost-effective means of providing for needs of potential…

A high school in Oregon has had positive results from the development of a dropout prevention program. Students meet together each day, develop goals, and earn credits for successful efforts. Program design and implementation are described. (DF)

This manual provides a synthesis of research-based dropout prevention and intervention and offers examples of interventions that show evidence of effectiveness. This has proven to be a difficult task because the intervention research on dropout and school completion that can be used to inform practice is incomplete (Dynarski & Gleason, 2002;…

This report is the latest in a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates in 2001, and includes time series data on high school dropout and completion rates for the period 1972 through 2001. In addition to extending time series…

Discusses dropout problems in adult education courses in India. (DS)

Biographical and attitudinal characteristics of dropout college students are compared with students who did not drop out. It was proposed that these nonintellective characteristics have an effect on attrition greater than academic ability. Results are discussed. (Author/CG)

A survey of 455 special education teachers in 17 Appalachian Georgia counties examined characteristics, reasons for dropping out, and unmet school needs of disabled dropouts. The average dropout was a 16-year-old white male who was entering the ninth grade and who had not previously been employed. Implications for dropout prevention are discussed.…

The Latino population continues to have extremely high dropout rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Article provides an overview of the literature on Latino dropouts and contains a brief discussion of key policy issues that can be addressed with the development of research and data sources focusing on Latino dropouts. (Contains 97…

Analyzes the effectiveness of widely used risk factors for identifying potential dropouts, using data from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program. Findings indicate that most risk factors are not effective predictors of dropping out, and that dropout prevention programs often serve students who would not have dropped out and do not…

Nationally, millions of students in grades 7-12 are at risk of dropping out of high school because of low literacy skills, poor attendance, and class failure. The absence of a college- and career-ready education for these students is a civil rights and social justice issue that the federal government cannot ignore. Unfortunately, many of these…

The annual event dropout rate describes the proportion of students who leave school each year without completing a high school program. The event dropout rates for the school year 2009-2010 of 1.89% for grades 7 through 12th and 2.69% for grades 9 through 12th are consistent with the dropout rates for the past four years. The event completion rate…

The United States has long been a model for accessible, affordable education, as exemplified by the country's public universities. And yet less than 60 percent of the students entering American universities today are graduating. Why is this happening, and what can be done? "Crossing the Finish Line" provides the most detailed exploration…

The purpose of this study was to explore the interactions between elementary school students and school personnel, family members, and community members to identify factors that contributed to South Texas Mexican descent students dropping out of school. A second purpose is to gain a deeper understanding of Mexican descent former high school…