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Degree

Doctor of Education, Ashland University, College of Education, 2009.

Abstract

There have been limited qualitative case studies exploring effective urban dropout prevention programs. Specifically, few studies have presented a conceptual orientation based solely upon the polyphonic voices of dropouts themselves to solve the dropout crisis in America's public schools. The aim of this study was to bridge this literature gap by presenting the collective stories and ideas from 12 adult urban dropouts who left their public high school to attend an urban dropout prevention program. Framed upon three major strands to predict reasons students depart from school, data produced new knowledge of what I refer to as a potential cure to the silent epidemic. Consequently, this study added to the literature by emphasizing (a) social/emotional concerns that are associated with students' decisions to quit school, (b) interventions and practices implemented by effective dropout recovery programs to increase graduation rates, (c) reasons students desire alternative educational designs, (d) reasons students do not desire online recovery programs, and (e) vital warnings for administrators of dropout recovery programs.

Subject Headings

Education

Keywords

adult urban dropouts; case study; African-American dropouts; urban dropout prevention programs

Committee / Advisors

Judy Alston, PhD (Advisor)
Constance Savage, PhD (Committee Member)
Amy Brady, PhD (Committee Member)
Donna Villareal, PhD (Committee Member)

Pages

121p.

Document number: ashland1260899676
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1260899676

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