Effective Dropout Prevention and College Attendance Programs for Latino Students

Abstract

This paper reviews research related to effective secondary school programs aimed at dropout prevention and increasing college enrollment rates for at-risk Latino youth. The review identifies programs that have demonstrated a significant impact on dropout rates, college attendance, school performance, or related outcomes in rigorous evaluations; that are replicable across a broad range of secondary schools; and that have been successfully evaluated among or at least frequently applied to schools serving Latino students. Two dropout prevention programs and four college attendance programs were identified as meeting the criteria: the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, the Achievement for Latinos through Academic Success (ALAS) program, Upward Bound, SCORE, Project Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), and Project GRAD. Also included are brief analyses of nine college attendance/dropout prevention programs in California that did not meet the criteria of the review, but that are used on a fairly broad scale with Latino students. While successful program interventions vary considerably, common program themes include creating meaningful relationships between students and teachers and among students, connecting students to an attainable future, giving students help with specific courses as well as more generic study strategies, recognizing students for academic efforts, and providing activities to increase parental involvement. Contains 45 references and information on program contacts. (LP) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Effective Dropout Prevention and College Attendance Programs for Latino Students Olatokunbo S. Fashola Robert E. Slavin Johns Hopkins University