NCJ Number
52770
Date Published
1978
Length
213 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE DROPOUT RATE FOR NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, ITS CAUSES, AND SCHOOL SYSTEM RESPONSES TO TRUANCY AND DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS. DATA WERE DRAWN FROM INTERVIEWS OF DROPOUTS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS.
Abstract
INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL AREAS OF NEW YORK STATE, AND ADDITIONAL DATA WERE GATHERED FROM THE RECORDS OF VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES, FROM THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEMS OF THE STATE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT. ESTIMATED DROPOUT RATES FOR NEW YORK STUDENTS IN 1976 LIE BETWEEN 6 AND 41 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION, WITH THE RATE FOR BLACKS BEING SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THE RATE FOR WHITES. REASONS GIVEN BY STUDENTS FOR DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL INCLUDE FINANCIAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS, LACK OF INTEREST, ACADEMIC FAILURE, INVOLUNTARY EXCLUSION, AND PREGNANCY. THERE WAS A PATTERN OF ACADEMIC INSUFFICIENCY IN ALL BUT TWO SCHOOLS EXAMINED, ACCORDING TO STATE EVALUATION SCORES, WITH THE ACADEMIC DECLINE BEGINNING AFTER THE 3RD GRADE. THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF DISCIPLINE USED WITH DEVIANT STUDENTS ARE DETENTION AFTER SCHOOL AND SUSPENSION. THE USE OF SUSPENSION IS EXAMINED IN RELATION TO STATE LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS. REACTIONS TO ITS USE BY STUDENTS AND PRINCIPALS ARE CONSIDERED. IT WAS FOUND THAT ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF ABSENCES IN THE URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS EXAMINED WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO TRUANCY. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AND TRUANCY SANCTIONS ARE DISCUSSED. SECTIONS OF THE REPORT ALSO DISCUSS EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 16 AND FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILD, STUDENTS WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH, AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. MAJOR STUDY FINDINGS ARE THAT THE STATE DOES NOT PROVIDE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED COMPENSATORY EDUCATION OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS; DISCIPLINARY POLICIES ARE SELDOM DISCLOSED PUBLICLY AND USUALLY LACK CLARITY; STUDENTS OVER 16 OFTEN ARE EXCLUDED ILLEGALLY FROM SCHOOL; FEW SCHOOLS PROVIDE A CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO THE INDIVIDUALIZATION THAT STUDENTS SAY THEY NEED; AND THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS NOT MONITORING THE INDICES OF SCHOOL PROBLEMS ADEQUATELY. LISTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED TO COUNTER THESE PROBLEMS. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT, STUDY DATA, AND STATE LEGISLATION ON PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE APPENDED. (DAG)