Schools are experimenting with community service programs. Among these are service-based intervention programs for at-risk children and K-12 curricula of community service. Cites examples, the characteristics of effective programs, and proposed federal legislation. (MLF)

Notes that research suggests no significant difference in rates of dropout between adolescents and adults. Describes termination of psychotherapy with adolescent patient to examine specific quality of adolescent dropouts. Contends that strong counter-transference feelings evoked in therapist tends to maintain impression of adolescents' proclivity…

A telephone survey of 129 Iowa adults who had not completed high school determined reasons for lack of participation in adult basic education. Factor analysis of 32 reasons yielded 4 interpretable factors: low perception of need, perceived effort, dislike of school, and situational barriers. Low perception correlated with age and situational…

Using National Longitudinal Study Youth Survey data for 1,241 males and 1,143 females, runaway status in early adolescence--ages 14-15 years--was associated with subsequent--4 years later--substance abuse, alcohol problems, and school-dropout status. Gender and number of runaway episodes were considered. Repeat-runaways reported higher substance…

Dropping out from postsecondary schooling is widely considered a social problem. The two kinds of dropout behavior differ, since postsecondary enrollment is voluntary and high school enrollment is compulsory. This statistical study shows that the decision to enroll in college constitutes an experiment that might result in leaving college early.…

Presents interview and survey data collected from samples of economically disadvantaged Australian secondary school students and school leavers. Previous claims that students are unwilling to remain in school because they dislike schooling need closer examination. Blaming school structure and lack of teacher encouragement is not supported by…

A South Carolina school district is working with researchers at Johns Hopkins University on a long-term intervention plan to boost the district on-time graduation rate to 80 percent by the year 2001. Increasing students' chances of staying at grade level reduces the chances they will drop out. (MLF)

Effective schools research and techniques are useful in developing dropout prevention strategies. The success of these programs depends on a school's adherence to certain variables asssociated with teacher and administrator characteristics and behaviors, school climate, instructional emphasis, and pupil progress measurement. Includes five…

An exploratory study of five high schools involved in the Connecticut State Department of Education's Secondary School Development Project suggests that student performance factors (early termination, academic achievement, and student attendance) may be linked to effective school characteristics. This article summarizes the mixed results of the…

In response to "The Bell Curve," notes that the effects of IQ on crime and delinquency are mediated by gender and age in a fashion that is not readily explained by a reduction to genetic differences. Discusses possible interrelationships among IQ, delinquency, and school performance, and suggests that the causal link between IQ and…

Evaluated effects of Mississippi Department of Corrections' Project AWARE Program, nonconfrontational prisoner-run juvenile delinquency deterrence program. Compared offenses and school attendance records of 97 adjudicated juvenile delinquent males who attended program and 79 adjudicated nonparticipants. Program participation did not appear to…

Examined career aspirations of pregnant teenagers (n=94) enrolled in program designed to minimize their chances of dropping out of high school. Adolescents completed demographic data form that included questions on career aspirations. Data were coded by Holland type. Data revealed number of trends with implications for career counseling of these…

Synthesizes existing literature on group counseling and psychotherapy with Asian Americans. Provides some guidelines on how to prevent premature terminations among these clients. Concludes that success with Asian American clients in group counseling and psychotherapy will rest largely on the group leader's ability and willingness to acquire…

Investigated relationship between students' academic self-concept, their achievement-related expectancies, and their subsequent college persistence among 2,324 first-year college students who were tracked for 4 consecutive academic years. Results revealed that student self-perceptions of academic ability and expectations for academic performance…

Reviews the progress of Blacks in northern urban schools from World War II to the present. Finds that the problems of academic achievement among Blacks remain severe because of the persistence of racism. (DM)