Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Mary Ellen Sapp
Committee Member
Grace M. Murphy
Keywords
academic advising, adolescent development, career exploration, dropout prevention, high school freshman, parental involvement, school counseling, school orientation, school-related activities, study skills, student attendance, student discipline, student transition, transition programs, at-risk students
Abstract
This practicum was designed to assist incoming. at-risk, 9th-grade students to acquire the knowledge, motivation, interest, and skills necessary to make a successful transition to the writer's school. The major outcomes were to reduced the number of disciplinary infractions, to decrease school absences, to involve more students in school-related activities, and to increase student awareness of study skills, career education services, and counseling assistance.
The writer analyzed students records: examined possible solution strategies; developed and implemented a 10-component program geared to meet the needs of the at-risk 9th-grade students. The solution strategy utilized teachers, students, counselors, and parents to ease same of the difficulties encountered by at-risk students during transition to high school.
Analysis of the data revealed that the transition program was successful in reducing disciplinary infractions and school absences. As a result of program participation, at-risk students became more involved in school-related activities. In addition, at-risk students were able to demonstrate an increased awareness of study skills, career education services, and counseling assistance as a result of participating in the transition program.