School Dropouts

School dropout remains a persistent and critical issue in many school systems, so much so that it is sometimes referred to as a crisis. Populations across the globe have come to depend on success at school for establishing careers and gaining access to post-school qualifications. Yet large numbers of young people are excluded from the advantages that successful completion of school brings and as a result are subjected to consequences such as higher likelihood of unemployment, lower earnings, greater dependence on welfare and poorer physical health and well-being. Over recent decades, most western nations have stepped up their efforts to reduce drop out and raise school completion rates while maintaining high standards. How school systems have approached this, and how successful they are, varies. This book compares the various approaches by evaluating their impact on rates of dropout and completion. Case studies of national systems are used to highlight the different approaches including institutional arrangements and the various alternative secondary school programs and their outcomes. The evaluation is based on several key questions: What are the main approaches? How do they work? For whom do they work? And, how successful are they in promoting high rates of completion and equivalent outcomes for all? This book examines the nature of the dropout problem in advanced industrialized countries with the goal of developing a broader, international understanding that can feed into public policy to help improve completion rates worldwide.

The vast majority of kids in the developed world finish high school—but not in the United States. More than a million kids drop out every year, around 7,000 a day, and the numbers are rising. Dropping Out offers a comprehensive overview by one of the country’s leading experts, and 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? Students start disengaging long before they get to high school, and the consequences are severe—not just for individuals but for the larger society and economy. Dropouts never catch up with high school graduates on any measure. They are less likely to find work at all, and more likely to live in poverty, commit crimes, and suffer health problems. Even life expectancy for dropouts is shorter by seven years than for those who earn a diploma. Russell Rumberger advocates targeting the most vulnerable students as far back as the early elementary grades. And he levels sharp criticism at the conventional definition of success as readiness for college. He argues that high schools must offer all students what they need to succeed in the workplace and independent adult life. A more flexible and practical definition of achievement—one in which a high school education does not simply qualify you for more school—can make school make sense to young people. And maybe keep them there.

Understanding delinquency and reasons why young adolescents disengage in education and later drop out of school has continually puzzled practitioners and theoreticians. While there have been works that have focused on delinquency and disengagement in education, the role that the family plays on reducing delinquency has generally remained unknown. Theoretical concepts that explain the propensities toward delinquent behavior and disengagement in education are discussed comprehensively in this unique book. "Adopted and cited in the 104th Congress, 2nd Session / Senate Document 104-20, Page 13, National Debate Topic for High Schools, 1996-97, (Pursuant to 44 United States Code, Section 1333)." (You may view the full citing at: http: //www.access.gpo.gov/congress/sen-rpt-104-20.txt)

Over the last decade, up to 544,000 10th- through 12th-grade students dropped out of school each year w/o completing a high school program. In Oct. 2000, about 11% of 16-through 24-year-olds who were not enrolled in a HS program had neither a high school diploma nor an equivalent credential. This report addresses these questions: what are the national and regional dropout rate trends?; what does the research say about factors assoc. with dropping out?; what state, local, or private efforts have been implemented to address the factors associated with dropping out?; and what Fed. efforts exist to reduce dropout rates and what is known about their effectiveness? Charts and tables.