Citation
Buschmann, R., & Haimson, J. (2008). Bring them back, move them forward: Case studies of programs preparing out-of-school youths for further education and careers. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.
Highlights
- This study examined the work of six dropout recovery programs to explore how similar programs might more effectively prepare youth for postsecondary education and employment. It focused on the key services the programs provided to school dropouts, challenges related to implementing program activities, and strategies to address and resolve these challenges.
- The researchers conducted one- to two-day visits to each program site, during which they interviewed principals or program directors, instructors, counselors, records administrators, and participating students. They also gathered individual participants’ record data and aggregate reports of key outcomes.
- The study found that incoming participants’ academic ability varied greatly and that large class sizes sometimes limited the extent to which teachers could adapt their lessons to meet diverse needs. Program staff tried to develop relationships with participants and help them resolve personal problems, but found it difficult to address the most serious problems. Some participants had positive short-term outcomes such as enrolling in education or finding a job.
- The authors suggested that similar programs might want to consider collecting more cost data for planning purposes, track participants’ progress on educational and employment goals after program completion, and conduct rigorous impact studies to understand how individual program features influence their participants’ outcomes.
Intervention Examined
Dropout Programs
Reviewed by CLEAR
March 2014