Across the country, there is a crisis that must be addressed because its economic impact has an ill effect on all of society. Students are dropping out of school, and they risk being incarcerated, unemployed, more dependent on government assistance, etc. More disturbing are the rates associated with young males of color. In 1991, one quarter of African American males between 20 and 29 were part of the dropout statistics. By 2006, the National Council for Education Statistics found that Latinos had the fastest growing population and owned the highest dropout rate. Thus, this research targeted African American and Latino males.
The focus is to explore whether a program can support students' needs while preventing their dropping out of school. The research also investigates how parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakers can positively influence students.
The participants were students in The MORE Program at Geneva High School. The program was created as a result of school data, which indicated that only 3 of the 16 African American and Latino students who started their junior year graduated two years later. The eight students participated in weekly mentoring, tutoring, and counseling sessions and monthly activities. Research shows that programs designed with the planning and implementation stages focusing on participants' needs are most likely to succeed.
The evaluation took place over 8 months, using qualitative and quantitative research methods. The analysis took into account research done decades ago and compared it to more current research. My analysis combined the participants' responses with research to advocate for programs designed for the participants' actual needs: hiring teachers dedicated to working with at-risk students, designing programs that create culturally responsive teachers as well as making other recommendations that respond to the dropout crisis. The questionnaires were analyzed and showed that the participants were supported throughout the year. The participants were able to voice their opinions about the program components. The findings suggest that the program's approach was successful.
