Secondary Youth Perspective on Dropping Out of School.pptVIP

Secondary Youth Perspective on Dropping Out of School Lois C. Knapton, Ed. D. July 2005 Introduction High school dropouts are elusive population Paucity of information What can they tell us about their experiences? Purpose of the study The purpose of this study was to glean insights from the dropouts themselves, regarding their decision to leave school before completion and to codify their perceptions, beliefs and attitudes toward dropping out of school. Research Questions Research Question one: What are the reasons for students’ disengagement from school? Research Question two: What factors contributed to their decision to leave? Research Question three: Can the dropouts themselves reveal the critical junctures in their decision to interrupt their education? Research Question four: What can school administrators and educators do to prevent students from dropping out? Design of study Examined the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions through interviews, surveys, and a review of records. Qualitative research methodology grounded in theory framed this study Presents the informants’ point of view Ability to discover themes and relationships at the case level Survey 103 surveyed (54 were tallied) 49 surveys were handed out 54 were mailed out to former dropouts Of the 54 surveys mailed out 6 were completed and mailed back to the researcher (11%) nine were sent back by the post office “attempted- not known” (16%) Interview Questions 1. Was dropping out of school a good decision or a bad decision for you? Explain why. 2.? Describe your reasons for leaving school early. 3.? When you think back over the years, describe any specific events that lead up to your dropping out of school. 4.??Describe the process you went through in deciding to come back and get your GED or high school diploma. 5.?What can school administrators and teachers do differently to help prevent students from dropping out of school? 6.? Would you do anything differently if you had