Droup out Rates

This study examined factors that may influence dropouts to attain high school credentials. Participants were high school dropouts of White-Americans, and African-Americans who either had high school credentials (diploma or GED) or did not have high school credentials. This study considered students who had dropped out as early as 7th grade. This study was able to identify a set of factors that distinguished dropouts who held high school credentials from those who did not. It was estimated that 57% of dropouts return to obtain high school credentials. School capability, age at dropout, and socio-economic status significantly predicted high school credentials attainment. Later grade at dropout was associated with high school credentials attainment. The study concludes that dropping out is not the end of an individualÐŽ¦s education.

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Dropouts Attain High School Credentials:

Factors of Influence

Research Term Paper for Georanda Jackson-Richardson

PA 6601 DL T5 2005

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background Information (Situation)

Dropping out of high school is a well-known and documented problem that often presents harsh circumstances. Individuals drop out of high school for many reason reasons, some which may even appear to be good ones at that time- to assist in helping to take care of their families or even to start new ones - their decisions may be supported by their closest relatives with the belief that they have no alternative. But the long-term consequences of dropping out can be great, and there are many strategies that schools as well as families can apply to help students stay in school, or obtain an alternative education - like the GED, and meanwhile meet their personal responsibilities.

B. Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine which factors influence some dropouts to want to return to attain high school credentials-diplomas, GEDs, and why not others.

C. Theory (ies)

It is may belief that dropouts that donÐŽ¦t ever attain a high school diploma or GED face many more hardships later in life than the ones who attain their diploma or GED. They also experience lower wages, less employment opportunities, and probably more than half of them are head the households currently on welfare. Dropping out of high school does not have to be, and is not necessarily a permanent condition. It is estimated that 40-50 percent eventually receive either high school diplomas or GEDs. This factor alone can significantly reduce the drop out rate.

D. Research Question(s) and Hypothesis(ses)

Why do some high school dropouts eventually attain high school credentials-diploma/GED and others do not? H1: Dropouts who have outside positive influences have a higher probability of returning to high school than those who have negative influences. H0: Outside influences have no impact on a dropoutÐŽ¦s decision to return to High School or receive a GED.

E. Research Methodology

The data for this study were gathered as part of a Likert style survey - consisted of 25 questions relevant to dropping out of high school; personal interviews were conducted with individuals that had dropped out and later did attain or did not attain their high school credentials. Each method designed to study dropouts that later attained high school credentials or did not attain high school credentials. The sample for this study consisted of African-Americans, and White-Americans. The sample size consisted of 35 individuals. Dropouts were defined as individuals who dropped out of school while in grades 7ÐŽV12, had not attended school for at least 30 days, had not transferred to other schools, not being home-schooled, and had not received a diploma or GED.

Potential participants were individuals from two different areas of Tuscaloosa-South side, and West side. During the initial surveying and interviewing, there were no refusal rates. Therefore, the resulting sample is a population of dropouts from both areas of town.

F. Statistical Methodology

The non-parametric tabular Chi-square and the Linear Regression analysis will be used.

G. Sources of Data

Primary source of data were collected from a Likert style survey of 25 questions and personal interviews that were conducted with individuals that had dropped out and later did attain or did not attain their high school credentials. The sample size of the survey data and data collected from personal interviews was 35. The secondary source of data was collected from the Internet and online virtual library.

II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

It is a known fact that as of March 2002, dropouts or non-graduates earned an estimated $85,000 less per year than high school graduates, and over $400,000 less than college graduates per year (U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2002).

What are the factors that influence youth to drop out?

Both school problems and personal factors are reasons for dropping out. Common variables found to identify possible dropouts (NDPC/N) are poor attendance, low grade point average, low standardized test composite scores, number of grade retention, number of discipline referrals, educational level of parents, special program placement, free/reduced lunch program, number of moves (transfers), low reading and math scores, ethnic/gender distinctions, language spoken in the home, number of suspensions, interest in school, participation in extracurricular activities, pregnancy/teen parent, number of counseling referrals, and family status (single parent family, family size). During this study I also discovered that today, a drug and/or alcohol problem is also one of the most common variables found as a drop out indicator.

What are some effective strategies to prevent youth from dropping out?

Everyone has his/her own recommendations as to what should be considered as an effective strategy to prevent youth from dropping out