The article reviews the literature regarding the psychopathology of truant behavior, the implications of truancy, and truancy interventions, suggesting that the effectiveness of truancy intervention could be increased by implementing a multimodal approach combining student, family, and school factors. (SM)

A study investigated the effectiveness of intervention, by interview, with 111 first-year college students identified as at risk in their adjustment to college. Effects were analyzed in terms of score change on scales of adjustment, first-year grade point average, first-year course credits earned, and continuance of enrollment. (Author/MSE)

Explores, from an economic perspective, elementary school system adequacy in the rural, indigenous Guatemalan highlands. Estimates least-squares coefficients and elasticities separately for academic failure and school abandonment for each of four indigenous groups. The model explains academic failure better than school desertion. A national policy…

Each year, thousands of young people drop out of school, begin a life of unemployment, poverty, low self-esteem, violence, and even imprisonment. This article explains the sad effects of early school exits and the critical need for school-community collaboration to prevent dropouts. School leaders must be culturally sensitive and create school…

A model of direct communication in American Sign Language is presented for application in mainstreamed adult education courses. Comparisons of 12 hearing and 11 deaf students enrolled in a mainstreamed word processing class using the suggested client-centered, individual instruction format with limited lecture time showed no significant…

This research-subject attrition study evaluated differences between 45 subjects who completed a 22-month longitudinal study and 34 who dropped out. Subjects were blue-collar employees. Discriminant analysis proved to be a useful tool for determining some of longitudinal data bias. Attrition was predicted by situational rather than personality…

Discusses the problem of drug abuse in schools in African American communities. Explores the role of education in making the drug problem worse by failing to offer students alternatives to the drug culture. Discusses how reconstruction of the American educational system is a necessary component of our fight against drugs. (JS)

Examined effects of multimodal counseling program Succeeding in School with potential dropouts (N=98) in grades six to eight. Found Succeeding in School program seemed to have positive influence on middle school students' attitudes toward school. (ABL)

Studied 180 community and nursing home clients who received psychotherapy through community mental health center program. Reviewed case records to identify factors associated with persistence in therapy and drop-out patterns. Persistence in treatment was associated with nursing home residence, religious beliefs, and receiving therapy at home; not…

Presents the entire text of the Sandia National Laboratories report, "Perspectives on Education in America." The report includes detailed analyses of dropout studies, standardized testing, postsecondary studies, educational funding, international comparisons, and educator status. It also addresses future workforce requirements, changing…

Studies of 36 rural elementary schools in Kenya and interviews with 774 adolescents in the schools' attendance areas found that dropping out was significantly related to individual and family variables, with many stronger effects for girls than boys, and that girls' remaining in school was discouraged by nonsupportive classroom environments,…

Caretakers' psychological factors are related to premature termination of counseling for their children (N=85). General hostility, anxiety, depression, and paranoia were studied. Descriptive statistics, correlations of variables, and a predictive discriminant analysis are reported. Effects of caretaker variables on early termination of treatment…

Three studies focused on prediction of teen motherhood, complications during childbirth, multiparity, and close spacing of births; dropping out of school and teen parenthood; and prediction of child behavior from mothers' childhood characteristics. Found that mothers' childhood aggression predicted negative outcomes in each area of risk,…

Examined the impact of high school participation in Upward Bound on freshman-year grade point average (GPA), dropout rate, mathematics performance, and English performance among African American students. There were no differences between intervention and control group students' freshman GPA and dropout rates. Mathematics performance was…

Federal and state education policy relies on the belief that student achievement will improve if schools have incentives and disincentives--rewards if they succeed, sanctions if they fail--to raise test scores in math, reading and science. But even if this were a practical way to elevate such scores, a test-based accountability system is still…