You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
Most kids in the developed world finish high school—but not in the United States. More than a million drop out every year, and the numbers are rising. Dropping Out provides answers to fundamental questions: Who drops out, and why? What happens to them when they do? How can we prevent at-risk kids from short-circuiting their futures?
Abstract: The objective of this study is to describe, using national survey data, how many dropouts attempt to change the course of their lives by returning to complete their diploma requirements, what kinds of dropouts return and complete their requirements, and how the subsequent activities of those dropouts who returned to complete the diploma requirements differ from those of dropouts who remained out of school. This paper reports new findings from a recent follow-up survey of high school sophomores which indicate that a substantial proportion of high school dropouts return to complete their diploma requirements.
High school graduation and dropout rates have long been used as indicators of educational system productivity and effectiveness and of social and economic well being. While determining these rates may seem like a straightforward task, their calculation is in fact quite complicated. How does one count a student who leaves a regular high school but later completes a GED? How does one count a student who spends most of his/her high school years at one school and then transfers to another? If the student graduates, which school should receive credit? If the student drops out, which school should take responsibility? High School Dropout, Graduation, and Completion Rates addresses these issues and to examine (1) the strengths, limitations, accuracy, and utility of the available dropout and completion measures; (2) the state of the art with respect to longitudinal data systems; and (3) ways that dropout and completion rates can be used to improve policy and practice.
None
This booklet addresses the issue of high school dropouts. The dropout problem is briefly reviewed and dropout statistics are presented. A section on identifying the dropout lists early warning signs of potential dropouts and examines reasons for dropping out. Seven profiles of dropouts are included which provide personal insights, describe frustrations which led to the decision to leave school, and suggest the magnitude of the efforts needed to prevent dropouts. Key features of a comprehensive dropout prevention program are given and a variety of approaches used by schools to address the dropout problem are listed. Steps in planning a comprehensive dropout prevention program are enumerated and models of comprehensive programs are briefly described. Suggestions are made for how principals and teachers can help in the dropout prevention effort. References are included. (NB)
This study uses data from the 1988 National Education Longitudinal Study and its 1994 followup to examine the educational and employment attainment of 1988 eighth graders who dropped out of high school. About half of them ultimately completed high school. By 1994, 16% had completed a high school diploma, 29% had completed a General Educational Development (GED) or equivalency certificate, and 24% were working on a diploma or GED. The remaining one-third of dropouts had no credential and were not pursuing any further education. High school completion among dropouts was associated with socioeconomic status. Dropouts who had demonstrated academic ability, although not necessarily academic perfo...
 "I think this is the most important work I have read in over a decade on the sociology and politics of school dropouts. Fine combines a narrative structure with a rigorous theoretical discourse that allows the reader to both hear the voices of those involved in the dropout situation as well as to have the opportunity to reflect critically on the ideological and material forces that structure the dropout issue as a social problem. I am convinced that it will be a major influence in the field and will establish a new theoretical standard for inquiry into the area of school dropouts." -- Henry A. Giroux, Professor and Renown Scholar in Residence, Department of Educational Leadership, Miami U...