Drop-out Prevention Programs Help Students Graduate

Several studies have found poor academic performance to be the strongest predictor of risk of dropping out. When students cite reasons for dropping out of school, they report various factors: peer pressure, teaching that didn't match student learning styles, and lack of personal attention.

According to the National Dropout Prevention Center, students usually dropout between the ages of 15 and 17, depending on district compulsory education requirements. And students often drop out at critical points such as a transition from middle school to high school.

Focusing on the transition years is critical in preventing at-risk students from dropping out of school. The review of research on transition programs finds that students are less likely to drop out of high school if they participate in programs that help them transition from middle school to high school. The National Dropout Prevention Center has identified 15 strategies that have had positive effects on the drop-out rate:

• Systemic renewal
• Professional development
• Early childhood education
• Alternative schooling
• Instructional technologies
• Service learning
• Conflict resolution
• Out-of-school experiences
• Community collaboration
• Family involvement
• Reading and writing programs
• Individualized instruction
• Mentoring/tutoring
• Learning style/multiple intelligences strategies
• Career education/workforce readiness

PLATO Learning has been at the forefront of developing instructional technologies that help students keep up, catch-up and stay-on-track to graduate. Specifically, PLATO Learning offers state-of-the-art, web-based assessment programs that assist with both progress monitoring and reporting requirements. They include diagnostic and prescriptive tests, lesson progress tests, standards-based fixed benchmarked tests, simulated tests, and summative tests.
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PLATO Learning also offers the industry's most effective, proven credit recovery solutions. PLATO® instructional content gives students a needed alternative and second chance to learn online and be challenged by rigorous, standards-driven content. The innovative and engaging real-world learning is self-paced, and is combined with offline activities and Internet resources that reinforce learning in areas of greatest weakness. PLATO® Credit Recovery Solutions allow students to complete course requirements more rapidly, recover credits, regain self-confidence, and graduate on time.
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In addition, PLATO® Test Packs with Prescriptions provides grade-level reading/language arts and mathematics fixed benchmark assessment solution for grades 2-11. PLATO Test Packs provide personalized, prescriptive assignments to PLATO® content targeted to each student's specific areas of need. Test offerings include three cumulative, comparable test version—a pre-test, a mid-test, and a post-test—which automatically adjust instruction over time to track student progress against standards.
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With PLATO Learning solutions, instructors have the necessary tools to identify at-risk students and quickly assign appropriate intervention programs. In addition, instructors can accurately track student progress, diagnose skill gaps, and intervene with targeted instruction as needed. To learn more about how PLATO Learning can reduce your drop-out rate.
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