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Antecedents and Patterns of Academic Growth of School Dropouts SCAT STEP

Author(s):
Evans, Franklin R.; Patrick, Cathleen
Publication Year:
1969
Report Number:
RB-69-81
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
11
Subject/Key Words:
Office of Education, Academic Achievement, Achievement Tests, Aptitude Tests, Dropouts, High School Students, Longitudinal Studies, School and College Ability Tests (SCAT), Secondary Education, Sequential Tests of Educational Progress (STEP), Study of Academic Prediction and Growth

Abstract

In an attempt to better understand the phenomenon of early school leaving ("dropping out"), relationships among several areas of academic achievement (STEP) and ability (SCAT) and early school leaving were investigated. The study focused on early identification of school dropouts using ability and achievement measures and growth from fifth to seventh grade as measured by difference scores on several achievement tests. The dropouts were found to be about a year older than their classmates in the fifth grade and to score significantly lower on several ability and achievement measures in the fifth grade. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that data relating to a student's academic growth from fifth to seventh grade would significantly increase the ability to predict future dropouts, or that patterns of academic growth were different for dropouts and nondropouts.

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