To determine why some farmers drop out of the Wisconsin Young Farmer Program while others continue to enroll and to investigate strengths and weaknesses of the program, questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 500 students, who were divided into broad categories of dropouts and re-enrollees. Usable returns from 41 percent of the dropouts…

This report describes a unique institutional approach to study the causes of student attrition recently completed at Nasson College, Maine. The population of the study included all students who had been enrolled during the preceeding seven semesters and who subsequently withdrew or were dismissed for academic reasons. A questionnaire survey…

A dropout and flunk-out rate of 50% during the freshman year is occurring in many large municipal institutions of higher education, especially those operating under an open admission policy. This high rate of attrition is felt to be due, in part, to the fact that students entering college under open admissions policies often do not have the basic…

Primary validation of the Nor Cal questionnaire was accomplished in Phase 2 of the Nor Cal Attrition Study. The results of the primary validation were reported in the document entitled, "Phase 2 Final Report," (ED 039 879). The primary validation showed that the consortium-wide empirical validity varied from .65 to .67 depending upon whether or…

Reasons for the high dropout rate from high schools are discussed. The author postulates that dropouts are the result of misconceptions of the process of education, academic difficulty, a poor learning environment, and a lack of participation in extracurricular activities. Speech presented at the Convention of the International Association of…

Gives an overview of the drop-out problem, summarizes some research on alternative approaches, and discusses an alternative school that uses a Contract/Criterion-Referenced Testing approach on a highly individualized level to provide a basic skills program for dropout and potential drop-out students. (Author/RK)

The College Venture Program, a Boston-based consortium of New England liberal arts colleges, annually helps place hundreds of student clients--"stopouts" or "interruptees"--in temporary jobs while they contemplate their future college plans. Counseling services are offered and a job bank is maintained. (LBH)

Presents a summary overview of 20 school dropouts and their families, with emphasis on the features of family background. Topics discussed include environmental and social class influences, career aspirations, unemployment, and role expectations. (Author/DB)

The substance of current educational reform neglects disadvantaged students while their numbers have increased 30 percent since 1960. Raising standards without providing strategies for helping disadvantaged students will increase the already high dropout rate. Discusses ways to mobilize instructional and community resources for disadvantaged…

Describes the impact on the dropout problem of the Boston Compact, a collaboration between universities, businesses, labor unions, cultural organizations, and Boston Public School. Reviews "The Dropout Prevention and Reentry Proposal," a long-range plan developed in 1986 by a task force of school and community people, and the program…

Investigated the relationship between dropping out of high school and substance use. Controlling for other important risk factors, the 1984 longitudinal survey data of people aged 19-27 indicated use of cigarettes, marijuana, and other illicit drugs increases the propensity to drop out and that the earlier the initiation into drugs the greater the…

In 1982, the Boston Compact attempted to tackle student dropout employment problems. This paper reviews the process of this agreement made by local leaders, traces the creation of a communitywide plan to respond to Boston's school dropout problem, and summarizes Boston's Draft Dropout Prevention Reentry plan. (Author/LHW)

Presents a model based on person-environment fit that is designed to increase retention of students with unique educational needs in postsecondary vocational education programs. The specific details that surround the development of this model are examined and are related to the nature and extent of the problem. (CT)

Statistics on the drop-add tendencies of undergraduates at Clemson University were compiled. Three semesters were compared collectively, and it was discovered that numerous students had dropped at least one course in two of the three semesters and others in all three semesters. Profiles were built on these two groups. (MLW)

This report details the graduation rates for the class of 2003 for Montana High Schools. Sections include: Montana High School Completion and Graduation Rate Overview, and Montana High School Completion and Graduation Rates, 2002-03 School Year.