Minnie Howard School, just outside Washington, D.C., caters exclusively to 14-year olds. Started seven years ago to relieve enrollment pressures, the school protects its 747 9th graders from typical high-school pressures and has reduced suspension and truancy, enrolled more kids in honors classes, and enticed privately educated students back to…

Despite 2 decades of overall enrollment increases at all education levels, Spain's primary-school dropout rate is relatively high and permanent. A study using 1985 living/working conditions data shows that family socioeconomic-status variables significantly determine probability of dropping out; youth labor market conditions are also influential.…

Investigates the learning styles of English students identified as school refusers and compares their style distribution to that of students in regular attendance in mainstream English secondary schools. Indicates that, compared to those attending school regularly, the learning style of refusers was skewed toward the Wholist end of the…

Interviews with 58 nursing students over age 25 showed that they experienced financial, child care, relationship, and family problems. Many had considered dropping out in response to pressures of their multiple roles. (SK)

Investigated achievement loss related to transitions from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school. A comparison of three groups of 16 school districts found that the instability and adjustments required of students in school transitions related to educational outcomes. Students placed in relatively small cohort groups for…

The perspective of the National Dropout Prevention Center is that the accomplishment of Goal Two of the National Education Goals, a high school graduation rate of at least 90%, is inextricably linked to Goals One and Three, school readiness and the opportunity for all to use their minds well. Research priorities for meeting these goals are…

Examines Colorado's Second Chance Pilot Program for Dropouts, designed to reduce the number of dropouts through Second Chance Centers giving students the opportunity to complete requirements for a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Although limited in success, the program provides a model for the funding of alternative schools. (SLD)

Examines the relationship of career guidance to public-policy interventions designed to address social exclusion. Analyzes the nature and origin of the concept of social exclusion and reviews the roles of career guidance in response to it, particularly in relation to young people who have dropped out of formal education or are at high risk of…

Examines the longitudinal course of psychological distress in a cohort of 457 first-time college freshmen over 4 years. Both high- and low-risk individuals reported a clear, steady decline in distress across the four years, which appeared more a function of adaptation than an artifact of collegiate attrition. (JPS)

Examines the school adjustment process among South Asian children who immigrated to the United States with their parents, and had below average grades. Three major themes were found: congruence of parents' and children's beliefs on the value of education; congruence of parents' and children's beliefs that education is the tool to achieve goals;…

State department data on Nevada 12th graders in schools with high versus low dropout rates showed differences in school-to-career (STC) experiences. Five significant variables were unpaid school-year or summer internshps, service learning, volunteering, and other workplace experience. High unemployment in the state may have diminished some of…

Examined the relationship between student-athlete graduation rates and academic support services. Found an inverse relationship between services offered and graduation rate, indicating that schools that admit student athletes with weaker academic profiles are providing more academic support services. Also found that summer school before freshman…

Career academies now number more than 1,500 nationwide. The concept has roots in colonial times and in the German continuation model. High-risk academy students have lower dropout rates, are more engaged in the curriculum, and continue on to postsecondary education at a higher rate than their nonacademy peers. They also have improved job…

Conceptual issues related to dropping out, student engagement, and school completion are raised. Thirteen criteria are described as guidelines for designing, evaluating, and documenting programs to enhance successful school completion for all students. Recommendations for future research and practice include implementation of interventions,…

Describes what qualitative research is in theory and how mid-level student affairs administrators can best use it to enrich their understanding of the deep complexities of the student clientele. Aids administrators in initiating a qualitative research process appropriate to their own departmental needs. (EV)