PROPOSAL

Proposal

Proposal

Executive Summary

This study will investigate the impact of local school budget and the impact of the open enrollment program on the high school dropout rate. The results are consistent with other studies that have concluded that while many recent reforms in K-12 education, including No Child Left Behind, may be improving the quality of education for college-bound students, needs for at-risk students are not met. This situation will exacerbate inequality if many of the at-risk students are from low-income families and they do not complete high school. Changes have recently been made in high school graduation requirements and school budgets are under stress. It is predicted that the dropout rate is likely to increase and more children will be left behind by design.

Problem Statement and Significance of Study

Each year, nearly 30 percent of all public high school undergraduates- and approximately 50 percent of all blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans - do not succeed in graduating from public high schools among their class. A lot of these students dropout from school with less than two years remaining for completion of their high school learning program. In 1997, the dropout rate for students aging from 16 to 24 years was recorded at 11 percent, signifying a minor reduction as compared to the 1990 figures. (Reyes, 1991) The dropout rate for white students was found to be lesser than the figures for Hispanic and black students. For instance, in 1997, an 8 percent the dropout rate was recorded for white, non-Hispanic students while figures for black students and Hispanic students stood at 13 percent and 25 percent respectively. (Jimerson, 2002)

The consequences of this problem are unfavorable for mostly students. However, it has adverse effects on teachers, schools and the economy as a whole. A steadily increasing dropout rate across the nation amplifies the threat to the states' potency and prosperity. Various studies reveal a constant raise in the number of students who fail to graduate, and authorities are disturbed by those figures, as it would signify increasing costs for social programs and prisons, along with bad debt and decreased tax revenues owing to the abridged earnings competency of dropouts. Dropouts are also inexplicably treated by the criminal regulation system, and they account for nearly 75 percent of state prison convicts. (Egyed, 1998)

Research Objective

Schools should realize the significance of including dropout prevention programs in their budgets. They should shoulder responsibility, take initiatives such as providing free schooling for economically backward students, a dropout recovery program, an adult advocacy/parent involvement projects, and make efforts to incorporate corporate firms in work-study and service education programs. (Aloise-Young, 2002)

There consistent standards of reporting or examining dropout rates do not exist. This hinders the proper implementations of measures. Proper reporting and investigative conventions must be established across the state to make some progress on the problem at hand. (Bradshaw, 2008)

Hypothesis

H0: School budgets impact dropout rates.

H1: School budgets do not impact dropout rates

Literature Review

The dropout predicament is a complex social and economic problem and necessitates a multifaceted assortment of ...