Understanding and Addressing the Issue of the High School Dropout Age
Conclusion
The dropout problem is so alarming in many high-poverty urban high schools that "powerful comprehensive reforms" are needed to realistically produce significant improvements, according to James McPartland of the Center for the Social Organization of Schooling at Johns Hopkins University (Clowes, 2001). Increasing the compulsory attendance age can be an important component in a comprehensive effort to limit the number of students who drop out of school each year. Research indicates there is no single reason students drop out of school, but that a combination of factors acting together increases the probability.
Family backgrounds combined with student experiences provide insight into why students drop out of school. Socioeconomic factors, together with academic achievement status, are great predictors in determining which students are at risk of dropping out (Bryk & Thum, 1989; Woods, 1995). The economic implications for both the individual and society are some of the reasons for the increased attention to reducing the dropout rate. Millions of dollars in lost revenue, dependency on the welfare system, and higher criminal activity are just a few examples of the costs of dropping out (Rumberger, 1987). The gap in academic success between minority students and that of white students and students from higher income levels is also an issue of great concern.
Understanding the dropout crisis is not a simple task, and improvement requires improvement at all levels. There must be greater consistency in how schools define dropouts, how grades are reported, and how enrollment is calculated if we are to fully understand the issue. According to Richard Fossey, "African-American and Latino children are probably most harmed by inaccurate dropout information. It is in urban systems, where a majority of children of color attend school, that the contrast between published dropout reports and reality is most stark" (Fossey, 1996).
School districts, communities, and parents all play important roles in preventing students from dropping out of school. Implementing a consistent auditing procedure to guarantee that dropout data is being accurately reported by local school districts is an important step. A thorough analysis of truancy rates across school districts nationwide concludes this to be a consistent indicator in predicting students at risk of dropping out. Eileen Garry (1996) suggests in her research study on the importance of combating truancy, "Students who miss school frequently are often unable to develop interpersonal relationships or gain the knowledge and skills they will need for future employment" (p. 6). A successful tracking program will keep a consistent record of student progress and be readily available to school staff. This information will enable staff to work with students to find the educational environment in which they will excel.
In attempting to decrease the dropout rate, in addition to raising the compulsory attendance age, emphasis should focus on meeting the needs of all students, employing such measures as alternative programs, supervised work experience, and additional counseling. For an increase in compulsory attendance age to be effective, alternative means of educating students who are continually truant, misbehaved, and pose a threat to themselves or their classmates have to be considered. Students in alternative schools are often there because they have shown poor academic performance, they are negative about schooling, or they have had disciplinary problems. Alternative schools are generally better equipped to provide quality education to at-risk students and can often bring dropout-prone students to graduation.
With demands for higher standards and greater accountability, it is critical to offer services to students who require a different educational atmosphere to be successful. Increasing the compulsory attendance age can be an important component in a comprehensive effort to limit the number of students who drop out of school each year.
