Discusses problems facing minority families and their communities and identifies appropriate roles for educators, families, and community-based organizations in seeking solutions. Describes Texas' Coalition for PRIDE's (Positive Responsible Individuals Desiring an Education) five goals: (1) increase community involvement; (2) increase attendance;…

In the wake of New York State's action plan to raise graduation standards, New York City's public schools have struggled to meet the new mandates and still provide adequate remedial services to students who need them. Offering alternative crediting through independent and group work is proving successful. (MLH)

Binghampton (New York) Schools begin their dropout prevention efforts even before children are born--as early as the third trimester of pregnancy. One intervention program is PACT (Parents and Children Together), which helps parents become better "first teachers." The program's success derives from parents' effectiveness as teachers and…

A comparison of 44 semi-rural learning-disabled postsecondary-age youth with 64 urban nonlearning-disabled same-age peers found significantly higher dropout rates and significantly lower basic skills competency levels among the learning-disabled youth. No differences were found between learning-disabled graduates and dropouts in terms of…

This article proposes a retention system for at-risk postsecondary vocational educational students that coordinates curricula, instructional accommodation strategies, and support systems by making effective use of the full scope of transition services and resources available. Discussed are best practices, assessment processes, and staff…

Compares the academic achievement of students in the academic, general, and vocational tracks and those dropping out of high school. Finds that differentiation of the school curriculum has an impact on academic achievement of students. Concludes that students in all three tracks achieve more academically than those dropping out, but students in…

The keynote speech notes trends and issues since passage of Public Law 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. It also describes proposed legislation of the Council of Chief State School Officers to benefit children and youth at risk of school failure. (DB)

Examined preference of occupational environments of 65 Black adolescents by administering Holland's Self-Directed Search-E. Nearly 74 percent of subjects recorded Social as their highest or second highest code. Results suggest that Blacks' inclination toward Social occupational environments begins as early as junior high school, and that Blacks…

Reviews research on client attrition from university counseling centers, explores implications for practice, and offers suggestions for future research. Concludes that premature termination is not unitary phenomenon and that dropouts are heterogeneous group, suggesting need for greater conceptual and methodological precision in study of counseling…

Comparison of Canadian and United States school attendance patterns beyond age 17 reveals a lower rate of secondary school completion in Canada, and little indication of any trend in postsecondary or graduate study in either country. Analysis shows social factors not to be important in the high Canadian dropout rate. (MSE)

Examines the high school completion rate of students in the class of 1988 assigned to an inschool suspension (ISS) program at some time during their high school career. Clearly, ISS students are high risks for school completion, as shown by this study's less than 50 percent completion rate. Nonetheless, such programs are essential. (MLH)

Describes a south Tucson elementary school's efforts to keep its Hispanic and Native American student population actively engaged through the Educational and Community Change Project. Teachers are reinventing their own beliefs and expectations while constructing class dialog around children's interests and personal theories. A pumpkin…

Albertus Magnus College (Connecticut) has addressed the problem of declining enrollment offering a bachelor's degree program compressed into three years. Three full semesters are squeezed into an academic year. The semester is shortened by two weeks, but class time is lengthened. The third semester's tuition each year is discounted. (MSE)

A method is presented for extending full versus restricted model testing to predictive discriminant analysis when the criterion of model accuracy is classification hit rate. An example is presented involving the dropout or school persistence of 76 5th graders, and a computer program for the analysis is introduced. (SLD)

Discusses the current state of Canadian high schools. Examines the goal of competitiveness as a national policy and the debate over the purposes of education. Explores (1) a greater emphasis on basic subjects; (2) the use of performance indicators; (3) the demand for accountability; and (4) dropout rates. Argues that an economic agenda for…