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Descriptors:
Profiles; Minority Groups; Academic Persistence; College Admission; Graduation Rate; Admission Criteria; College Applicants; Student Characteristics

Abstract:
A profile-oriented retention strategy embraces the admission process as a powerful lever in improving retention and completion rates and recognizes that the student profile can be shaped by changes in admission policies or priorities--even within the current market position of the institution. In addition, the student body can be oriented toward success and defined by retention and graduation through approaches that do not trade access for selectivity. This article suggests three approaches to a profile-oriented retention strategy, in relation to B. Alden Thresher's prescient themes, through a discussion of test-optional policies, use of non-cognitive variables in the admission process, and varied approaches to curricular and degree pathways. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Educational Change; Urban Areas; Low Achievement; Grade 9; At Risk Students; Educational Improvement; Student Needs; Identification; Intervention; High Schools; Program Effectiveness; Educational Indicators; Dropout Prevention; Graduation Rate; Student Characteristics; Gender Differences; Racial Differences; Student Mobility; Reading Achievement; Mathematics Achievement; Age Differences; Socioeconomic Status; Grade Point Average

Abstract:
Chicago has been in the forefront of the country in its use of 9th-grade indicators of dropout. Catalyzed by the development of the freshman on-track indicator and research around it, Chicago school administrators, central office personnel, and external partners have developed a number of mechanisms using 9th-grade indicators to stimulate school improvement. This article describes 3 ways in which early warning indicators are useful for improving student achievement: (a) focusing conversations and efforts on actionable problems; (b) identifying students for intervention; and (c) using indicator patterns to address low performance in a strategic way. Examples from high schools in Chicago suggest that knowledge of the on-track indicator and its use in district accountability were not enough to change practice. However, the availability of data tools that make it easy to act on information about on-track rates have changed the ways in which teachers and school staff interact with each other, students, and parents regarding improving student performance. The strategies they have developed with the data tools have provided a systematic focus to their efforts, which appears to be paying off in substantially improved ninth-grade achievement. (Contains 1 table, 4 figures, and 11 footnotes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
High School Students; Academic Achievement; Grade 8; Grade 9; Grade 10; Educational Indicators; Predictor Variables; Educational Attainment; Graduation; Graduation Rate; Urban Education; At Risk Students; Dropout Characteristics; Reliability; Credits; Evidence

Abstract:
Students' engagement and performance in their first year of high school offer strong signals about their prospects for earning a diploma 4 years later. These performance measures can be used to construct "on-track" indicators to measure a school's performance and to identify needs of specific students who are at risk of dropping out. This article undertakes a systematic reanalysis of several on-track indicators that predicted the likelihood of graduating with a New York State Regents diploma in New York City. The analytic dataset contains comprehensive longitudinal information for first-time 9th graders who are enrolled in high school between 2001-2002 and 2010-2011. The results show that the current New York City Department of Education indicator (earning 10 or more course credits in the 9th grade) offers a reliable prediction of graduation with a Regents diploma. However, an indicator based on earning 10 or more credits and passing at least one Regents exam represents a substantial improvement on the current indicator and was used as the primary indicator for additional analyses. These analyses showed that this on-track indicator has been reliable and stable across seven cohorts of entering 9th graders. The analysis also shows that the substantial increase in 9th-grade on-track rates offers a reliable foreshadowing of increases in Regents diploma graduation rates in New York City. Additionally, the on-track indicator was highly predictive for a wide range of student subgroups and helps to highlight the prominent gaps in performance along racial, gender, and economic lines. Finally, the article highlights significant variation in on-track rates across schools, that should be investigated in future research. (Contains 7 tables, 5 figures, and 11 footnotes.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Charter Schools; Special Education; Caring; Traditional Schools; Graduation Rate; Investigations; Virtual Classrooms; Nontraditional Education; Online Courses; Disabilities; Educational Technology; Public Schools; Educational Environment; Curriculum; At Risk Students; Learner Engagement; Distance Education

Abstract:
For students with disabilities who are at risk of leaving high school without graduating, virtual schools have become a popular alternative to traditional schools. One promising approach to increasing graduation rates is to design learning environments that serve students with disabilities through the 5 Cs framework designed to increase school completion: Connect, Climate, Control, Curriculum, and Caring Community. A utilization-focused evaluation guided our investigation to determine the presence of and application of the 5 Cs in a special education program in a public cyber charter school. Specific examples are provided, and recommendations for practice and future research are discussed. (Contains 1 table.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Disabilities; Evidence; Outcome Measures; Emotional Disturbances; Response to Intervention; Reliability; Graduation Rate; Low Achievement; Interpersonal Relationship; Educational Legislation; Federal Legislation; Program Implementation; Learning Disabilities; Screening Tests; Outcomes of Treatment; Incidence; Rating Scales

Abstract:
Outcomes for students classified as emotionally disturbed (ED) are among the poorest for any disability group and include disturbingly low graduation rates, poor academic achievement, high rates of school suspensions and school dropouts, and chronic interpersonal problems. Additionally, these students are often underserved within the school setting with an overall prevalence rate of less than one percent. This underservice may be partially due to the definition of ED provided in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004), which is vague, contradictory, and redundant. Additionally, IDEA does not provide guidelines for how to assess for ED, thus, assessment procedures and prevalence rates widely differ by state. We propose the use of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model for the assessment and treatment of students with ED. Within an RTI model, students are provided evidence-based interventions implemented with integrity, and their response to these interventions is continuously monitored. This article defines RTI and describes methods of screening, assessment, treatment, and outcome evaluation for ED within the model. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
National Surveys; Student Surveys; Undergraduate Students; Learner Engagement; Validity; Benchmarking; Graduation Rate; School Holding Power

Abstract:
Surveys play a prominent role in assessment and institutional research, and the NSSE College Student Report is one of the most popular surveys of enrolled undergraduates. Recent studies have raised questions about the validity of the NSSE survey. Although these studies have themselves been criticized, documenting the validity of an instrument requires an affirmative finding regarding the adequacy and appropriateness of score interpretation and use. Using national data from NSSE 2008, the present study found that the NSSE benchmarks provided dependable means for 50 or more students and were significantly related to important institutional outcomes such as retention and graduation rates. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Academic Achievement; Grade Point Average; College Attendance; Student Attitudes; Paying for College; Parent Financial Contribution; Graduation Rate; Probability; Student Characteristics; Financial Support; College Students; Family Income; Socioeconomic Status; Educational Attainment; Family Structure; Racial Differences

Abstract:
Evidence shows that parental financial investments increase college attendance, but we know little about how these investments shape postsecondary achievement. Two theoretical frameworks suggest diametric conclusions. Some studies operate from a more-is-more perspective in which children use calculated parental allocations to make academic progress. In contrast, a "more-is-less" perspective, rooted in a different model of rational behavior, suggests that parental investments create a disincentive for student achievement. I adjudicate between these frameworks, using data from nationally representative postsecondary datasets to determine what effect financial parental investments have on student GPA and degree completion. The findings suggest seemingly contradictory processes. Parental aid decreases student GPA, but it increases the odds of graduating--net of explanatory variables and accounting for alternative funding. Rather than strategically using resources in accordance with parental goals, or maximizing on their ability to avoid academic work, students are satisficing: they meet the criteria for adequacy on multiple fronts, rather than optimizing their chances for a particular outcome. As a result, students with parental funding often perform well enough to stay in school but dial down their academic efforts. I conclude by highlighting the importance of life stage and institutional context for parental investment. (Contains 26 notes, 6 tables and 2 figures.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Student Loan Programs; Loan Repayment; College Students; Institutional Characteristics; Proprietary Schools; Public Colleges; Private Colleges; Two Year Colleges; Graduation Rate; Minority Group Students

Abstract:
This paper examines the institutional determinants of federal loan status for a recent cohort of college students. We first set out how institutions influence loan accumulations and repayment rates, with particular focus on for-profit colleges. We then test a set of hypotheses about loan status and repayment using national data on loans, defaults, and repayments merged with college-level data. For all measures of loan status there are significant raw gaps between for-profit colleges and public and not-for-profit colleges. After controlling for student characteristics, measures of college quality, and college practices, large gaps in loan balance per student remain: students in for-profit colleges, especially the 2-year colleges, borrow approximately four times as much as they would have at a 2-year public college. For a student attending the "average" college, their repayment rate is predicted to be 5 [9] percentage points lower if that college is for-profit compared to public [non-profit]. Repayment rates are also lower for colleges with higher proportions of minority students and with lower graduation rates; contrary to some claims, single-program institutions appear to have higher repayment rates. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
School Holding Power; Experimental Groups; Higher Education; Introductory Courses; Persistence; Graduation; Graduation Rate; Teacher Student Relationship; College Entrance Examinations; Values; Multivariate Analysis; Scores; Academic Achievement; Self Efficacy; Learner Engagement; Regression (Statistics)

Abstract:
The researchers examined the effect of a course, Introduction to Life Calling (LDR150), on retention and persistence to graduation at a private, Midwestern university. The course emphasizes self-assessment, student-faculty engagement, personal values, and the student's developing sense of Life Calling. The subjects consisted of 3338 students who entered the university between fall 2001 and fall 2005, including 638 course participants who composed the experimental group. A significant relationship was observed between course participation and graduating status. Multivariate analysis suggests that the relationship between the course and graduation is small, relative to the effect of SAT and ACT scores. The findings are discussed in light of the many factors that commingle with student retention and graduation in higher education. A well-rounded introductory course such as LDR150 may represent another valuable resource for students and universities in the pursuit of student success. (Contains 3 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Grants; Private Colleges; Institutional Characteristics; Universities; Graduation; Scores; Full Time Equivalency; Predictor Variables; School Size; College Entrance Examinations; Expenditure per Student; Correlation; Graduation Rate; Probability; Undergraduate Students; Academic Persistence; Student Characteristics; Personality Theories; Regression (Statistics); Models

Abstract:
Graduation outcomes are analyzed at public and private baccalaureate colleges and universities in the United States. The purpose is to determine the effect of institutional characteristics on a binary indicator of college graduation. The effect of the percentage of Pell grant recipients on graduation outcomes is of primary interest, controlling for other covariates. Institutional characteristics have a major effect on college graduation outcomes. Key institutional variables that appear to have the largest effect on graduation outcomes include percent Pell recipients, private college status, and institutional average SAT scores. College size and expenditures per FTE student have a direct but more moderate relationship to graduation outcomes. Implications for baccalaureate education are discussed. (Contains 1 figure and 9 tables.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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