Drop out prevention, programs, and truancy solutions: social skills, seeing the value of education, creating a life vision, and committing to graduation

Dropout Prevention

Dropout prevention programs are not always offered in your area or they may lack certain components that render them less helpful. In addition, certain segments of the population are at a much greater risk of becoming high school dropouts. If you can imagine certain home situations, it is easy for you, as a parent or teacher, to see why some kids feel that dropping out of school is the answer to their hardships. Take for example, a teen that comes from a home with a single mother who works three jobs just to put food on the table. This teenager may live in a bad neighborhood, surrounded by violence, drugs, and alcohol.

Taking it a step further, you must try to put yourself in the shoes of this teenager. Imagine how difficult it would be living in these circumstances, and getting yourself up and to school each day, when you may be hungry, alone, or even scared to walk down the street to the bus stop much of the time. A teenager in this situation may feel like dropping out of school now in order to get a job, earn some money, and help take the burden off of his or her mother may be the ideal solution.

Dropout prevention is more important than ever in situations like these, where teens may not realize that by dropping out they are continuing the cycle of poverty and hardship. Our Peak Mastery program is geared towards at-risk youth and teens who may feel that leaving school is the answer. The curriculum is designed to emphatically demonstrate to kids the consequences of dropping out of school. All aspects of dropout prevention are addressed, including the use of drugs and alcohol, learning life skills, and career planning.

The Importance of Dropout Prevention

Parents, teachers, and organizations need to understand that the dropout rate in some segments of the population is close to 20 percent. This is far too high and the results of such a high rate are extremely detrimental not only for each teenager but for society as a whole. It is vital that we include dropout prevention programs in areas of high risk, and that we also discuss the consequences of dropping out of school with our children who do not seem to be at-risk. Only with effort will this serious problem begin to subside.

Drop out prevention: In some geographic and ethnic segments of the population, drop out rates approach 20%. Comprehensive drop out prevention programs must include ways to vividly show the consequences of dropping out. Peak Mastery's approach to drop out prevention is guiding the teen through a process of envisioning their future, and showing how choices made today will create their future - for better or worse. All drop out prevention programs and curriculum need to be designed with the needs of the local population, should include adult and mentor opportunities, and integrate programs for helping the "whole person," such as drug prevention and job readiness training. This page has links to national drop out prevention programs and resources.

RESOURCES FOR DROP OUT PREVENTION

Dropout prevention: When teens see the value of school and the consequences of their actions, dropout prevention is more effective - they have another voice helping them see the risks of dropping out. Even for those students who choose to leave school, who don't benefit from traditional drop out prevention programs, Peak Mastery helps enhance their job readiness and build key life skills. Drop out prevention only works when students buy into the outcomes, and Peak Mastery guides them to create their own future plan, showing in detail the outcomes of their choices.

National Dropout Prevention Center/Network: Serves as a research center and resource network for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to reshape school and community environments to meet the needs of youth in at-risk situations so these students receive the quality education and services necessary to succeed academically and graduate from high school. The premiere dropout prevention organization in the U.S.

U.S. Department of Education School Dropout Prevention Program: Assists schools with annual dropout rates above their state average to implement effective dropout prevention and re-entry efforts.

U.S. Department of Education Research on Dropouts and Dropout Prevention Strategies

National Council for Community and Education Partnerships: Promotes student achievement and increase access to postsecondary education for all students. A quality higher education is one of the single most important factors in determining an individual’s chance at success in life, yet today millions of young people from economically impoverished, minority, and rural communities find this door all but shut for them.

Dropout Prevention Resarch Center from the Ad Council

Operation Graduation: Here you can find sites and resources for dealing with everything from homework to addiction, college applications to gang violence, with dropout prevention solutions.

Texas Education Agency's Dropout Prevention Web site: Important component of efforts to help school districts reduce the school dropout rate and ensure that all students graduate from high school.

California Dropout Prevention Network: Dropout prevention and student achievement programs in targeted California public schools; supports learning environments through the dissemination of educational information on model dropout prevention programs and strategies to California communities.