Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Brocato, D. Kay

Committee Member

Prince, Debra L.

Committee Member

Karriem, Dinetta

Committee Member

Williams, Frankie K.

Date of Degree

5-11-2013

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Leadership and Foundations

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Leadership and Foundations

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand teachers’ perceptions of dropout prevention strategies used in one alternative school and describe how the teachers perceived the dropout prevention strategies used to decrease the dropout rates and increase the graduation rates of alternative school students. The study examined the primary research question: How are dropout prevention strategies used in this alternative school? The National Dropout Prevention Strategies for Alternative Schools were used to frame this research. The strategies were grouped in three areas: building student skills, promoting teacher quality, and promoting a positive school culture and climate. The relevant data regarding the case of this alternative school were collected using an alternative school teacher interview protocol, demographic survey, and the researcher’s field notes. Support data included existing state, district, and school data files. The results of the research study showed that teachers’ perspectives of the National Dropout Prevention Center’s (NDPC’s) most effective strategies for alternative school to decrease dropout and increase graduation rates were present in varying degrees of implementation. The teachers’ responses indicated the strongest area of implementation was in positive school culture and climate. Teachers’ responses also indicated that specialized staff development was limited.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20533

Comments

dropouts||strategies||alternative school

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