Journal Article

Author

McCall, Herman Joseph

Title

When Successful Alternative Students "Disengage" From Regular School

In

Reclaiming Children and Youth

Imprint

vol. 12, no. 2, 2003

Url

http://reclaimingjournal.com/sites/default/files/journal-article-pdfs/12_2_McCall.pdf

Abstract

This study explored factors that lead alternative education program completers eventually to drop out of school. When compared with alternative school peers who went on to graduate, certain differences emerge. Those disengaging are more likely to be students of color with lower achievement scores who do not easily engage with school or prosocial peers. Follow-up questionnaires also showed a discrepancy between the reasons educators gave for students dropping out, in contrast to perspectives of students and their parents. Positive staff-to-student relationships and individual attention were crucial to success in alternative school, but the challenge is to be able to provide these in a regular school setting. The author provides suggestions for reaching this population of students.