The difference between educational research and educational program evaluation is discussed, and the evaluation of a German engineering program experiencing high dropout rates is described. Data were gathered through guided personal interviews, written student reports, and student evaluations of lectures. Both curriculum and examinations were…

After a review of the disadvantages of linear models for estimating the probability of academic success from previous school records and admission test results, the use of a probit model is proposed. The model is illustrated with admissions data from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Montreal. (Author/BW)

Describes the Saudi system of prevocational centers, designed to retrieve young male dropouts, prepare them for reentering general education, orient them to job skills, and prepare them for more extensive training at vocational training centers. The curriculum, emphasizing clerical and industrial skills, is also discussed. (SK)

Explanations of growth in American school enrollment point to rural-cultural beliefs or urban-economic antecedents. Examined is the influence of job opportunity structure on school enrollment separately for states and cities and between males and females. Both explanations were found to have validity, but more research on regional variation is…

The effect of education and rural development in India is assessed from the standpoint of: farmers' education; out-of-school and college education of youth and women; university education; and school education. The general conclusion is that nonformal education has a direct and important contribution for rural development. (LBH)

The typical high school has not changed significantly over the past 50 years. Faculty members are segregated into departments based on their subject, and students rush from one 50-minute class to another throughout the seven-hour day. Reform efforts, however, are growing both nationally and in California. Reformers say that high school students…

Dropout rates among American Indian young people are greater than 50% in some places in the country, and the rate of unemployment and underemployment among American Indians still far exceeds that of the majority population, despite affirmative action and other parity-seeking policies. In addition, U.S. Census trends indicate an influx of American…

About a third of students entering high school do not graduate and face limited job prospects. The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to use graduation rates to measure how well students are educated. To assess the accuracy of states' rates and to review programs that may increase rates, GAO was asked to examine (1) the graduation rate…

College attrition rates are of substantial concern to policy makers and economists interested in educational attainment and earnings opportunities. This is not surprising since nationwide, almost one-third of all first-time college students fail to return for their sophomore year. There exists a substantial body of literature seeking to model this…

To more accurately reflect student attributes and enrollment patterns of today's freshmen, and to account for the impact of a new state-funded scholarship, this study expands the set of variables typically found in retention studies by putting greater focus on first-year academic performance, concurrent enrollment, financial aid support, and…

An evaluation of the 4 x 4 block schedule in effect at Cleveland High School and East Side High School, both in the Cleveland, Mississippi School District was conducted during the 2001 spring semester at the request of the associate superintendent of the school district. Multiple sources of data were identified, and data were collected during the…

This annual report summarizes some major trends in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), North Carolina, and provides a set of benchmarks against which the progress of WCPSS can be measured in the future. In some cases data are presented to show longitudinal trends, and in others, comparisons are made with other school districts (local…

Young people who complete senior secondary education are less likely than early school leavers to be unemployed or employed in dead-end jobs. Nevertheless, in Australia around a quarter of the 15-19 year olds continue to leave school without senior high school qualifications. This paper reports on data collected at re-entry institutions in the…

This report builds on previous studies of early attrition from postsecondary education by providing a more comprehensive look at students' reasons for early total departure from postsecondary education. Using the 1996/1998 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study to examine attrition in the first 3 years of postsecondary education, the…

This study evaluated the quality of the learning experiences, accommodation and support strategies, and post-school outcomes of 40 students with disabilities who participated in Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship (YA) programs. The YA program is a rigorous 2-year school- and work-based learning program for high school juniors and seniors. Currently…