Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to investigate transitional programs effectiveness for increasing incoming ninth grade student’s academics, behavior, and grade promotion in light of effective transitional program components. Across the United States in middle and high schools, the student dropout rates are increasing at alarming rates. This problem disproportionately affects students of color and students from low poverty school districts. Data further confirm that dropouts in 9th grade occur more often than any other grade. This study used literature from three programs to identify successful components of transitional programs. The researcher then assessed their level of effectiveness through an analysis of 15 transitional programs. Moreover, the results showed that a successful transition program may or may not use all of the best practices named from literature. However it is clear that the most effective programs pay attention on to activities that increase academic skills, work to improve student behavior, and focus on student’s promotion from grade to grade.

Keywords:

Transition Programs, At-Risk Students.