Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Thomas Olin Huffman
Committee Member
Carolyn Buckenmaier
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
academic performance, Alabama, attendance rates, disciplinary reports, dropout prevention, dropout prevention program, dropout rate, dropouts, evening classes, Florence, grade point averages, high schools, learning environment, parental involvement, potential dropouts, Project Second Chance, qualified teachers, school officials, self-esteem, student feedback surveys, students, summer school students, vocational-based curriculum
Abstract
During the 1998-1999 academic year, 8.78% of the students in grades 11 and 12 dropped out of the two high schools located in Florence, Alabama. This percentage increased each year and was projected to reach an unacceptable rate of 18.51% during the 2001-2002 academic year.
The researcher initiated a dropout prevention program, called Project Second Chance, in order to reduce the dropout rate. Project Second Chance allowed students to retake failed or lost-credit courses in evening classes. The project had the additional objectives to improve students’ self-image, prevent them from missing regular courses due to the necessity to repeat core subjects, increase grade point averages and attendance rates, and reduce disciplinary and academic course failure rates. The goal for each category was a 15% improvement over the preceding year.
Four strategies were used: (a) specially oriented and qualified teachers, (b) parental involvement, (c) a vocational-based curriculum, and (c) enhancement of the learning environment. At the end of the year, the researcher compared dropout rate statistics; analyzed student self-esteem feedback surveys; charted students’ academic performance data; analyzed teacher opinion feedback on students and on program effectiveness; and compared grade point averages, attendance rates, academic course failures, and disciplinary report rates. Improvements were shown in all of the target areas. The improvement in the overall dropout rate was 11.18% rather than the 15% reduction goal; however, the dropout rate for Project Second Chance students was a striking 6.67% as compared with 15.53% for summer school students.
The researcher, school officials, and others involved in the program judged it successful; and it has been continued during the 2002-2003 academic year. A second successful year should provide a sound basis for future operation of the program.