...Issue: School Dropout Rate Michael Neeley National University Urban Issue: School Dropout Rate The issue of quitting school and leaving a high school diploma to the wayside is an issue that has long term consequences for both the individual and society. Common media reports state that every nine seconds a student drops out of school. Various reasons for dropping out of school are cited and vary from personal to social problems. While the dropout rate for high school has steadily fallen since the 1980’s where it was 14.1, the rate in 2008 was reported at 8.0 according to US Department of Education, the issue still at the forefront of urban affairs. The reason for the alarm is due to the correlation of dropping out of school and criminology as well as unemployment, both of which are urban problems of themselves. The problem with dropping out of school is best summed up as an individual and as a societal view. The individual consequences of a 16-24 year old quitting school include they are less likely to be part of the labor force and more likely to be unemployed. High School dropouts reportedly had worse single and family income, measures of assets, and self-reported depression than their Diploma and GED accredited counterparts. (Caputo, 2005) Education and dropout rates have significant effects on criminal incarceration, specifically fifty percent of all United States inmates are dropouts. Additionally...
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...the title of a 1995 report on high school dropouts by the Educational Testing Service (ETS)—Dreams Deferred: High School Dropouts in the United States. The report uses some of the latest information from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education to discuss the hundreds of thousands of young people who drop out of school each year. The dreams of these young dropouts are said to be “deferred,” or postponed, because more and more jobs today require a high level of skill and education. By dropping out of high school, teens are “locking themselves out of mainstream society and are barred from good-paying jobs,”2 says the ETS. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, in 1996 high school dropouts earned an average salary of only $14,013, about one-third less than the $21,431 earned by high school graduates. In addition, dropouts comprise half of all heads of households on welfare and more than half of all people in jail. Despite these sobering facts, 5 percent of all teens in high school drop out each year. This percentage has remained fairly stable over the past ten years. While it may not seem high, in 1996 it represented 485,000 young people— almost half a million. Many of the 1996 dropouts were over eighteen, but almost half—43 percent—were only fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen years old. It is also important to realize that if 5 percent of students drop out each year, the dropout rate for all four years of high school can...
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...It is my personal opinion that the school dropout age should not be lower to fourteen instead of sixteen. If anything, students shouldn't be able to drop out at all. Lowering the age that students are able to drop out would not change anything. There would still be the same lack of safety, drop-outs, and low achievement scores. If anything, this would increase those. If the dropout age were lowered, it would just cause students looking forward to dropping out to start not caring about school sooner than if the age was sixteen. If that is not enough to convince you, here are three more compelling reasons why lowering the dropout age from sixteen to fourteen is not a good idea. First of all, as the world around us and our economy evolve around us, the working field continuously grows more competitive by the second. Most careers you need even more education past your high school diploma. So how do you expect people with only middle school educations to prosper and contribute to our society? They can't. If they are lucky, the best job they will receive will only pay them minimum wage. To further the growth of our society and economy, we need determined members of society with strong educational backgrounds with the will to do so....
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...Economics of a College Drop Out Research Term Paper By Eleazar Rangel 7/02/2013 South Texas College Econ 2302 Professor Oscar Plaza A. Introduction: Economics of a Dropout High cost of college and several other factors are causing the number of college dropouts to rise drastically. Understanding why this numbers are soaring is important. For example why has the rise of the cost of college nearly sextupled since 1985? Or why has the student loan debt held by Americans surpassed the $1 trillion mark? In addition to answering these questions, I will discuss the different arguments, opinions; facts regarding the toll college dropout play in this economy, and finally my final point regarding this college dropout syndrome. B. The issue: Why are students dropping out of college? This is an important topic because what factors cause students to drop out of college? According to a study from Harvard University, only 56% of students who enter college or universities graduated within a six-year period (only 29% who enter a two-year program graduate within a three year span). A main factor, according to the Harvard study, is the rising cost of the college education. Since 1985 the amount of student loan debt has surpassed the $1trillion mark and cost of a college education has sextupled. The graph below, by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, shows the difference in price changes since 1985. As you can see in the graph college tuition and fees has drastically...
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...High School Dropouts Every nine seconds, an American high school student becomes a dropout, that's approximately one in four students who enter high school as freshmen and fail to earn a diploma four years later. (Dropout Rates, 2012) America has lost sight of the single most important aspect to our future, their children’s education. The issue of high school dropouts was selected because children entering into their teenage years have a huge task in front of them, the completion of high school is not an option it is a MUST. However, this is not the case in many homes across America. American high school students may think about their future, but are high school and college completion included in those thoughts? Students that feel that they are ready for college are those who are prepared and figure they will graduate high school and succeed. What is stopping the other 30% from knowing? What are all the factors that stop these children from completing high school and then moving on to college? The questions that must be asked here are: 1. Why students leave high school before completion? 2. Who/What is to blame? 3. What social policies keep students in school? 4. How to help prevent dropouts? The Problem With every 1 in 4 high school students dropping out, the problem seems to be larger than anticipated. High school dropouts create a slew of problems, socially, locally and nationally. “High school dropouts commit about 75 percent of crimes in the United...
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...College Dropouts: Can CSM do more? Every year even a greater number of high school graduates decide to attend, four year and community, college as an extension of their parents’ “American Dream”. Yet consistently even a greater number of them become college dropouts after a short stay. Yvonne Raley states in “Why We Quit” that “Two-year public colleges have a worse record, graduating fewer than 30 percent of their students” (5). The question is: What is causing this and what may be the remedies.? College of San Mateo (CSM) has become an active participant in addressing lack of student study skills and student socio-economic background as the most important reasons for student dropout in community colleges. “Community Colleges have become dumping ground for all the educational problems in the rest of the system” Allen (14). The majority of students arrive at colleges unprepared for college work. Additionally, a great majority of us have been placed in remedial classes to which we neither relate, nor belong since a great majority us are not proficient in 8th-10th grades of either subjects. Most of the substandard students who have passed through the K-12 system lack the skills, or the focus, or the knowledge to deal with college. A vast majority of students in community colleges, some 70% of them, fail to graduate. At CSM Freshman retention rate, due to lack of basic study skills, is taken very seriously...
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...For a lot of reasons, we really want people to graduate these days, however; getting people to graduate is not easy. Thousands of students attend college every year, and unfortunately, not all of them succeed in graduating. As, Mara Tyler says, “A student is more likely to drop out -- whether for a semester or permanently -- if he is not able to strike a healthy balance with work, school, social activities and family” (Tyler). Many students find it hard to balance work, life and school especially in a time where finding jobs are difficult and there is more to getting a job than just schooling. Three of the main factors to why students are dropping out of college are causes outside-the-classroom. Many students end up getting the job they want and, because of this, drop out of college. In many cases, students who work during college gain promotions to high-paying positions before graduating. Also, students take internships in college that turn into jobs. Since most colleges require a minimum number of courses, school forces students to work fewer hours or give up the chance at a promotion (Tyler). Mark Kantrowitz says, “Nearly three-quarters (71%) of students who dropped out of college said that work contributed to the decision, with more than half (54%) identifying it as a major factor. About a third (35%) said that balancing work and school was too stressful” (Kantrowitz).Therefore, students end up putting college on hold to pursue their job opportunities. Once a student has...
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...Dropping out of high school is an issue that has always occurred and that will most likely always exist. High School dropouts have always been apparent in the United States, but the epidemic did not begin to receive attention until after the second world war. Before World War II, only a very small percent of Americans attended college. In the year 1937, only 15 percent of students went on to the next level of education. The majority of the students who went onto college came from families of wealth. This was a time of crisis in the United States with soldiers coming home with large sums of money to pay and large families to feed. After the ending of the war, enrollment rates surged in direct relation to the expensive GI bills being given out...
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...Reports by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education show that on-time graduation rates are still low (Stetser, 2014). Many studies have been conducted to identify the factors that contribute to the high school dropout rate. One of the factors that has been identified is the success or lack of success in Algebra 1. Some educational professionals have proposed that an earlier exposure to Algebra 1 in middle school could assist students with being more successful in high school. Thus those students would have a greater chance of graduating with their cohort and possibly even being accepted into a post-secondary school. This action research project studied the correlation between the use of graphic organizers and concept...
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...Although most high school students graduate within the United States, some millions do not, resulting in a weaker job market and lower pay for these individuals and a dropout number that has fluctuated over the years. Data has shown most of these dropouts are Hispanic (United States Census Bureau) and the median pay of high school and college graduates is significantly more than that of high school dropouts (United States Census Bureau.) It is important steps are taken now to prevent high-school students from dropping out, such as using the solution-focused principles and techniques program because, while data has shown various ethnicities drop out of high school in all states, all of these individuals are limited in their career options. It...
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...Strayer University The effects that the Intervention Program will have On High School Dropouts Male and female A directed study project submitted to the faculty of the Graduate school of business candidacy For the degree of masters of Education Definition of terms………………………………………………………………8 Significance of the study………………………………………………………...9 Organization of the study………………………………………………………..9 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Current Literature…………………………………………………………………….13 III. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODLOGY Research methodology……………………………………………………………….16 IV. FINDINGS Results………………………………………………………………………………..17 V. CONCLUSION Introduction………………………………………………………………………….30 Summary and Conclusion……………………………………………………………31 Recommendations……………………………………………………………………32 REFERENCES References………………………………………………………………………...33 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Context of the problem Every year the statistics reveal that more high school students are dropping out of school at an alarming rate. There are many factors that contribute to the high school dropout rate such as: teen pregnancy, substance abuse and socio-economic standards, peer pressure and familial factors. Three-quarters of state prison inmates are high school drop...
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...Examining the School Dropout Rate of Students with Disabilities Strayer University Instructor: Dr. Steven Brown Research and Communication- RES 531 August 22, 2010 Abstract This paper examines the reported school dropout rate of students with disabilities and attempts to identify determinants and interventions that are available as well as offering potential programs and interventions in the future. As our population of children identified with disabilities grows we must anticipate their growth into adulthood and prepare them for entrance into the workforce, or prepare ourselves for the financial implications of institutionalizing and caring for this population. By examining historical statistic information along with past and current program implementation conclusions will be formulated and offered regarding what has been successful and where improvements are possible. Context of the Problem There are a multitude of issues that parents of special needs children are unaware of at the onset of diagnosis. The question of what happens to your child when you are gone is paramount in the minds of all parents. One problem is being unaware of what questions to ask. My son received his diagnosis from a psychiatrist who did not make me aware of any medical testing that should be addressed. Necessary information or guidance is not always provided by the attending physician. Educational needs are also of paramount importance, however if parents are unaware of necessary...
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...opportunities for their future. High school students who are capable of doing more with their lives aren’t making the smart decision of staying on the path to becoming successful. According to Kim Wright from University of Toronto "On average high school dropouts earn less money, are more likely to spend time in jail, and are less healthy, and less happy". The dropout age should be raised in high schools to prevent students from having a troubled and difficult future. One reason that the dropout age should be raised for high school students is because it decreases job and economical opportunities for them in the future. According to a "USA today" article, "Among people with a bachelor's degree or higher, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2%. Among people with less than a high school diploma, the rate was 13.1%." This statement proves that people with less than a high school diploma have a higher unemployment rate than those with a bachelor's degree or higher. Notably, it is more likely that a person is unemployed if they have less than a high school diploma rather than a person with a higher degree of education....
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...Creating a Social Program Shanequa Young HSM 240 March 30, 2014 Lori Moon Creating a Social Program Department of Education The Shanequa L. Young Foundation is respectfully requesting a grant in the amount of $125,000, for our Youth Empowerment Program. As one of the largest teen outreach programs, we are aware of the changing demographics in our service area. We are committed to ensure our project meets the needs of the addressed purpose. Our intentions are to (1) provide comprehensive access to social services for teens in low income communities to decrease the dropout rate, and (2) educate our staff, board and volunteers of the Youth Empowerment Program of our mission, goals and objectives and cultural competency. Our Board of Directors is eager to launch this project, in an effort to be the most successful and culturally competent program for teens within the demographic area. With our commitment to the program, we would like to integrate some of the profits into the annual operating budget. This will ensure after success, to continue the program for another year. Thank you for your consideration, and schedule a follow up with any questions or concerns you may have. I will be honored to meet and discuss the merits of our proposal. Please feel free to contact Douglas D. Griffin, our Director of Development, at (972)-480-2125 or griffin_doug@yahoo.com Sincerely...
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...Alan Bird Kimberly King English 1301 June 25, 2012 You’re Cutting Our Future In the last two years, the federal government has seen fit to decrease the funding for public education in order to alleviate the stress from the numerous financial problems the country faces. On a state level further cuts are being made to compensate for the lack of funds. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has proposed cuts to funding education because of the state’s $27 billion budget shortfall. This creates fewer funds for programs to enrich the students. If funding gets cutting state educational funds will doom this nation by decreasing the quality of Texas instructors, decreasing Texas students’ likelihood in succeeding in college, and increasing the crime rate in Texas. Cutting funds to education decreases the quality of Texas’ instructors by reducing the funds available for promising upcoming teachers. Without scholarships or loan forgiveness many civilians will not choose a career in education because there is no longer an incentive to pursue this path. Grow Your Own, teacher’s aide tuition exemptions, and Access to Success funding programs all rely on federal and state funding. The Government substantially reduced or canceled the funding for these programs because of the cuts. This is thanks to Texas Gov. Rick Perry and state Republican leaders, who proposed a slash of $4.8 billion in state school aid over the course of two years. The educational cuts have already resulted in 100,000 school worker layoffs...
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