How to Help Teenage Dropouts

Many parents put heightened importance on their child̵7;s high school graduation and anticipate it with mixed feelings of pride, nostalgia and hope for the future. The opportunity can be denied if the child drops out before he finishes high school. Dropping out of school can have long-term effects on the individual, family and community. Helping those who drop out of school to get back on track offers a way to limit the consequences of dropping out.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consider a home-school program. Such programs offer independent study options for teens who find it challenging to handle traditional school programs. Parents might consider home-schooling if their child has the ability and interest to learn academic skills but does not fit in at school.

    • 2

      Seek the help of professional educators to enhance the home-schooling experience for your child. Go for a fully accredited, diploma-granting, non-traditional school program that will enable your teen to learn with a guided curriculum. The Stratford Career Institute and the Stanford University Online High School are some of the modern schools offering independent, at-home programs to enable teenage dropouts to earn their high school diploma (See reference 3, p.246).

    • 3

      Research career academies. Career academies provide meaningful opportunities to connect school to work through vocational training and work-based learning, according to the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. As small learning communities, career academies offer a highly active, personal learning atmosphere that allows increased student engagement and formation of positive relationships to help students attain the credentials necessary for professional and career development. Career academies can also provide learning opportunities for many at-risk youths with disabilities and those from the juvenile justice system. This enables them to lay a strong learning foundation from which to pursue their college and career goals.

    • 4

      Consider alternative learning centers in your area. For example, a vocational training college could provide opportunities for teens to pursue skill-oriented courses that can help them to get a job after graduating. A community college that offers day care services may provide learning opportunities for teen moms to attain education, career development and other life goals, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy Initiative. The Gateway to College program, established in 2000, is also one of the national programs that can be utilized to help teen dropouts complete their high school diploma at community and technical colleges.

    • 5

      Learn when to go for second-chance programs. Such programs for teenage dropouts come in the form of employment and education-focused programs. They can act as an effective engagement tool for young people who are more seriously disconnected and unlikely to go back to high school. Enrolling teen dropouts in National programs such as the National Guard Youth Challenge and YouthBuild can help them access learning opportunities in vocational training, employment and social services.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Make Teens Want to Read
      As teens spend larger amounts of time watching television, communicating with peers via cell phones or social networking Web sites and playing video games, they devote less time to the brain-building practice of reading. The National Endowment for th
    • Starting High School