Dropout Prevention Programs Described

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Dropout Prevention Programs in Nine Mid-Atlantic Region School Districts describes dropout prevention programs in nine school districts serving communities with populations of 24,742–107,250. Each district has high dropout rates, large minority student populations, and high percentages of children living below the poverty line.

Key findings on dropout prevention programs include:

• The most common core strategies were advocating for student needs (64 percent of programs), engaging and supporting families (57 percent), and monitoring school attendance (53 percent).

• The most common service goals were improving academic performance (95 percent of programs), decreasing truancy (66 percent), and providing support during transitions (60 percent).

• The most common student subgroups targeted were students with academic needs (90 percent of programs), students from low socioeconomic status families (60 percent), and special needs students with behavioral challenges (57 percent).

• Only 1 of the 58 programs in the sample—Talent Development High Schools—had been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse as of May 1, 2010, and reported to have evidence of potentially positive effects based on one small study.