Results of California study that indicate, among other things, that hiring more administrators raises verbal SAT scores and lowers dropout rates. Findings also suggest that reducing class size and hiring more teachers but fewer administrators may not raise student test scores--at least in California. (PKP)

Reviews research on the connection between involvement with Greek-letter organizations and college student retention, concluding that although such organizations pose substantial risks and effort for colleges, they may also offer retention gains. (EV)

Analyzes Ph.D. education procedures for economics in The Netherlands. Finds that universities are successful in persuading students to quit who are unlikely to graduate or to graduate in a timely manner. Also finds that active researchers who supervise doctoral candidates have low dropout and high graduation rates, because they attract good…

The enrollment records of 380 medical students were compared with students' performance on clinical rotation and the National Board of Medical Examiners, Part II examination. Although students who had interrupted their progress in medical school for neutral reasons performed similarly to regular-progress students, students who interrupted progress…

The dropout rate of American Indians is about 50 percent--the highest rate in the nation. In contrast, Monument Valley High School, in an Arizona district that is 98 percent Navajo, has programs that help students learn and stay in school. (10 references) (MLF)

Twenty-six teachers from 10 special teaching units in Southeast England completed a questionnaire indicating that (1) they clearly distinguished between school refusers and truants and (2) teacher ratings of students' self-esteem, stability, attitudes, and other characteristics differed from self-reported ratings of school refusers and truants.…

The phenomenon of dropout that once plagued correspondence education can be reduced in modern distance education systems by careful recruitment techniques and counseling strategies. (Author)

Describes the Support, Tutoring, and Adventures for Youth (S.T.A.Y.) program developed by the YMCA in Manchester, New Hampshire, to assist young teens at risk of dropping out of school. The program features educational and outdoor adventures, and focuses on motivation and counseling. (SKC)

Argues that the schools have failed neither their students nor the American public. When placed in a historical context, the schools succeed admirably at educating 75 percent of all the nation's young people between ages 6 and 18. Enforced curriculum uniformity is racist, elitist, and would produce even more dropouts. Includes 17 references. (MLH)

Examines the vast differences that exist between mainstream expectations and the cultural values of Native American youth in what is referred to as cultural discontinuity. Cultural conflict in the school setting is discussed and suggestions for dealing with cultural discontinuity are offered. (CH)

Teachers' daily interaction is a powerful influence on at-risk students. Effective dropout prevention components include positive instructional environment, enhancement of self-esteem, alternative education, absence monitoring, mentoring, parent involvement, social and health services, teen parent programs, and transition strategies. (SK)

An Austin (Texas) high school's Credit Plus program accelerates high-risk students by helping them make up credits missed through failure or poor attendance and prepare them for graduation. The program succeeds because of its application and assessment process, low student-teacher ratio, positive physical and mental environment, structured…

Ethnography was applied to investigate 47 students' ability to persist in distance education courses in resource management and environment-related subjects. Results have been useful in deriving a classification of situational, institutional, dispositional, and epistemological problems shared by withdrawers and persisters in a broader context.…

Explored relationship between communication apprehension and students' decisions regarding dropping out of high school. First-year high school students (n=1,426) completed Personal Report of Communication Apprehension and were traced through their senior year. Findings suggest that students who are highly apprehensive regarding communication with…

Analyzed 145 Chinese American outpatient clients to determine how long they would stay in psychotherapy when ethnic- and language-matched therapists were provided. Results indicated that median duration of psychotherapy was 8 sessions, mean duration was 12 sessions, and drop-out rate was 12.38%. Results were comparable to those from general…