New York City's Dropout Prevention Program's success depended on more than the usual commitment of resources, shared ideals, and dedicated people. A flexible planning framework was needed to overcome collaborators' mutual mistrust, identify common ground, and gain the support of line staff and top leadership in schools and in community…

The same family and community involvement seen in the Boston (Massachusetts) Whole Village Project has guided the efforts of six Maryland high schools to create school and family partnerships. All six schools are part of Maryland's Tomorrow dropout prevention initiative. (SLD)

Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 with hierarchical linear modeling, this study identified individual-level and school-level variables influencing the decision to drop out of middle school. At the individual level, grade retention is the single most powerful predictor. (SLD)

This literature review demonstrates that dropouts follow a similar though inverse path compared to students who have attained academic excellence. Descriptions of at-risk students' characteristics lead to a discussion of the "loser's circle" of dropping out and strategies for attaining a "winner's circle" of academic excellence. (71 references)…

Reviews studies of Native American dropout rates conducted in the past three decades, highlighting the difficulties in obtaining accurate statistics resulting from small sample size of the group. Emphasizes structural disadvantages, rather than "cultural discontinuity," as the major influence to drop out. Studies of the transfer rate…

A Texas school district refined the state at-risk criteria, resulting in 22 individual at-risk categories. This study focused on the classification and followup of 4 cohorts, each of over 25,000 students, during the academic years 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, and 1990-91. Among the findings were that being overage for grade level was a strong…

As job skill levels increase, high school dropout has consequences for unemployment, the nation's economy, and the economic future of dropouts. More than ever, vocational education must investigate ways to tap the potential of dropout-prone students. (SK)

Tracked the college careers of 378 students who entered college through a special program for academically underprepared students. Results indicated that students' academic self-concept and achievement expectancies were related to their subsequent school withdrawal. Found differences in the relationship between attitudes and school withdrawal of…

Describes dropout prevention model of teamwork between teacher and graduate social work intern at inner-city alternative public high school. Notes that model provides framework for programmatic responses to problems of school dropouts among inner-city minority youths and also furnishes new opportunities for intern training in school social work.…

Youth who had dropped out of school (n=58) and their teachers (n=63) provided insight into key contextual factors that affect school dropout and general perceptions of school dropouts. Findings show significantly different perceptions between these groups about factors affecting school dropouts. (SLD)

Utilizes data from a prospective longitudinal study of at-risk children to explore multiple predictors of high school dropouts across development. Results reveal association of early home environment, quality of early caregiving, socioeconomic status, IQ, behavior problems, academic achievement, peer relations, and parent involvement with dropping…

Examines the impact of hope in the future and school climate as protective factors in school dropouts and graduates. Results reveal that dropouts rated perceived school climate significantly lower than graduates, and graduates rated the importance of attending college significantly higher than dropouts. Discusses results as evidence of the utility…

"Creating the Dropout" traces the history of school leaving and the concept of the dropout. The dropout was invented, not discovered, only being explicitly recognized after 1960. Inventing the dropout became a way to channel general concerns about the condition of cities, identifying dropouts as authors of their own troubles. (SLD)

Presents data on dropout rates and number and distribution of adolescents/young adults who were dropouts, noting background characteristics (sex, race/ethnicity, age, recency of immigration, and region) for October 1998. Data are provided on status dropout rate, number status dropouts, total population age 16-24 years, percent of all dropouts, and…

Used data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study to examine whether teachers provide students with social capital and whether that social capital increases students' likelihood of completing high school. Results show that teachers are an important source of social capital, which significantly reduces the probability of dropping out,…