“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.” - B. F. Skinner

Dropout Discussions

Richmond High School (IN) Asks Researchers for Help with Dropout Problem – Palladium-Item, 1/14/08

Educators at Richmond High are hoping that the research of Robert Balfanz, from the Center for Social Organization of Schools (CSOS), can assist them in curbing their dropout rate, which was nearly 46 percent in 2006. CSOS, part of Johns Hopkins University, is the organization behind the now infamous “dropout factory” study released in late 2007. While Balfanz and his colleagues have many suggestions for high schools, they say the real wake-up call is for middle schools. By creating multi-tiered prevention and intervention systems in middle schools that target poor attendance, misbehavior, and course failure, dropout rates will be curbed. Read more here.

Jharkhand (India) Puts Cash into Guardians’ Hands to Curb Dropping Out – Livemint.com, 1/14/08

The Education Department of the state of Jharkhand has put together a plan for keeping students living below the poverty line in school by offering their parents and guardians a financial incentive. While high school freshmen will receive monetary awards, the proposed blueprint includes giving each college-bound student a laptop computer.

MetLife Awards Support Educators Aiming for Improved Retention

Six colleges focusing on recruitment and retention of underrepresented and workforce students have been selected as finalists for two $30,000 grants from the MetLife Foundation. The institutions are the Community College of Baltimore County (MD), Harry S. Truman College (IL), Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MN), Queensborough Community College (NY), South Texas College (TX), and Yakima Valley Community College (WA). The two winners of the MetLife Community College Excellence Award, to be announced in April at the 2008 American Association of Community Colleges annual convention, are required to demonstrate significant institutional commitments to helping first-time college-goers, new immigrants, working adults, welfare recipients, high school dropouts, and others with limited college experience prepare to continue higher ed pursuits or launch family-supporting careers. Established in 1976, the MetLife Foundation has contributed more than $90 million to education programs that cultivate effective learning environments, including community colleges dedicated to lowering dropout rates, raising enrollment, and fostering the academic accomplishments of all students. For more information, visit www.metlife.org.

Forthcoming Books of Interest

Wang, Victor C. X. Vocational Education and Training and Global Issues: Perspectives from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Jamaica. Information Age Publishing, January 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59311-627-9, $39.99.

Hondo, Caroline. Latino Dropouts in Rural America: Realities and Possibilities. State University of New York Press, March 2008. ISBN: 978-0791473887, $21.95.

High School Dropout Summits, sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance
Nashville, TN – February 1
New York City – February 22
Mississippi – February 28, 2008 (tentative)

Have news you’d like to share? E-mail us at NewsEditor@ScholarCentric.com

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