Explores the determining factors which influence the dropout rates among Hispanics by analyzing and comparing Chicano, Cuban and Puerto Rican student populations. Factors identified include confrontation, accelerated role taking, social background, school environment, sociopsychological motivation, and immigrant status. Suggests that school…

Correlations between delinquency among high school dropouts and a number of non-educational factors are explored. The study posits that unemployment and other labor market factors, as much as academic failure, influence dropout criminal behavior. The effects of free time, boredom, youthfulness, substance abuse, and peer pressure are also…

Reports on a study of 14,249 students to determine whether participation in specific extracurricular activities (athletics and fine arts) significantly reduces a student's likelihood of dropping out. Finds that, when all activities are examined, only athletic participation remains significantly related to dropping out. (ACM)

After teachers examined ninth-grade potential dropouts' perceptions of school success, an interdisciplinary team involved the students in mediation, identified their needs, helped develop goals, and worked to enhance achievement. Students' perceptions and attitudes significantly affected their success. Within months, students had academically and…

Examines why some children of disadvantaged homes succeed in the face of adversity while others, growing up in the same circumstances and sometimes the same family, fail. Numerous studies show that nurturing, competent adults can buffer children from the stresses in their lives. Positive role models are crucial. (SM)

Applies the explanatory model of minority group school failure of J. U. Ogbu to 12 Mexican and Mexican American teenagers (5 males and 7 females) in special education in California. These students exhibit some characteristics of involuntary immigrants but share the educational ideologies of their voluntary immigrant parents. (SLD)

Reported is a two-part study to identify factors that contribute to student success in a remedial mathematics course for first-year college students. Data from 263 students testing into remedial algebra was collected on 3 academic variables, 2 affective variables, and class attendance. Multivariate analysis results failed to find moderate…

The impact of retention in kindergarten on academic achievement and behavior was studied for 53 retained children and 53 matched promoted peers. The academic advantages indicated in the second year of kindergarten were not maintained past kindergarten. Results do not support retention as an effective policy for young children. (SLD)

Summarizes research concerning the long-range effects of teachers' controlling strategies and children's motivational orientations on achievement-related behaviors. Evidence suggests that children with an extrinsic motivation toward schoolwork suffer from important deficits that are influenced by teaching strategy. Research findings are discussed…

Examines principles and practices of the Dutch educational system, emphasizing the process of implementing new educational concepts in schools and teacher education. Discusses school failure among students at all levels and examines the failure of schools to prepare students for social, economic, and political responsibility. Notes governmental…

A recent project collected and analyzed student success indicators generated by six high schools from a large, midwestern school corporation. Schools with clear student goals and enhanced professional-development opportunities made more successful transitions to block schedules. High achievers remained successful; low-achievers struggled under…

A cumulative risk model was used to examine the relationship among failure-to-thrive (FIT), maltreatment, and four aspects of children's development (cognitive performance, adaptive functioning at school, classroom behavior, and behavior at home) in 193 6-year-olds. Risk status was negatively associated with the four developmental outcomes.…

Many young people in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development leave school unprepared for employment; this constitutes a failure of the school system. Identifies indicators of failure, policies for addressing failure, and three main policy challenges: development of a comparative knowledge base, removal of…

Examined whether the apparent absence of an egocentric bias among shy individuals is reflected in their excuse making following poor performance and whether anticipating a challenge to one's excuses would dissuade even nonshy individuals from making excuses. Shy individuals refrained form making consistency-lowering excuses regardless of…

Explored whether there were differences in IQ and achievement (at grades two, five, and seven) between students who delayed school entry and those who were retained in later elementary grades, as well as any interactions with gender. Concluded that instructional reform may be more effective for improving student success. (JBJ)