Curriculum Track And Its Influences On Predicting High School Dropout Likelihood

dc.contributor.authorMohd Kamalludeen, Rosemalizaen
dc.contributor.committeechairPrice, William T. Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairMiyazaki, Yasuoen
dc.contributor.committeememberStewart, Daisy L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberLichtenberger, Eric J.en
dc.contributor.departmentCareer and Technical Educationen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:14:06Zen
dc.date.adate2012-08-08en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:14:06Zen
dc.date.issued2012-07-06en
dc.date.rdate2012-08-08en
dc.date.sdate2012-07-17en
dc.description.abstractDropping out of school is a major concern as high school graduation credentials have been used as an important measurement tool to define post-secondary success. Numerous researchers presented a multitude of factors that predict dropouts at individual and school levels. Curriculum track choice, or high school course-taking sequence, defines students' schooling career and ultimately the post-secondary path that they choose (Plank, DeLuca, & Estacion, 2008). Scholars have debated on various outcomes related to dropouts influenced by various curriculum choices, namely academic, career and technical education (CTE), dual enrollment, and general curriculum. Several argued students following academic tracks are more likely to graduate. Others claim that CTE benefits students who are at-risk and suppresses dropout likelihood (Rumberger & Sun, 2008). New vocationalism or dual enrollment has proven successful at reducing dropout rates. This study attempted to investigate the influence of curriculum track and CTE program areas on dropout likelihood while controlling for possible individual differences. Analysis was conducted via Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) due to the nested data structure of Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS). Variables included were academic background, academic and career aspiration, school-sponsored activity participation, school minority composition, school average student socio-economic status (SES), school type (private or public), school urbanicity, CTE courses offered at the school, and demographic indicators (gender, race, and SES). Findings reflect higher dropout likelihood among general curriculum participants than academic and occupational concentrators after controlling for all possible individual differences. Dual concentrators had 0% dropout rate, and therefore comparison with other curriculum tracks was not possible via HGLM analysis. Results suggest substantial importance of academic background, post-secondary education plans, and school-sponsored activity participation in predicting dropout likelihood. Comparing CTE program areas, Family and Consumer Sciences, Human Services, Public Services, Health and Education (Human Services area) participants were more likely to drop out than other program areas while Technology Education participants were less likely to drop out than Human Services and 2 or more CTE program area participants. Results suggest 9th grade overall GPA and school-sponsored activity participation as substantial predictors of dropout likelihood among occupational concentrators. Variability across schools was insignificant.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-07172012-221045en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07172012-221045/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/28324en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartMohdKamalludeen_R_D_2012.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartMohdKamalludeen_R_D_2012_IRB.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecthigh schoolen
dc.subjectcurriculum tracken
dc.subjectDropouten
dc.subjectcareer and technical educationen
dc.subjecthierarchical generalized linear modelingen
dc.titleCurriculum Track And Its Influences On Predicting High School Dropout Likelihooden
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineCareer and Technical Educationen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
MohdKamalludeen_R_D_2012.pdf
Size:
6.4 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
MohdKamalludeen_R_D_2012_IRB.pdf
Size:
239.53 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format