Dissertation
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON PUSH OUT AND PUSH IN FACTORS FOR HIGH SCHOOL LEAVING
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006579
Abstract
This study centered student perspectives from one high school in Southwest Washington on push out and push in factors related to high school leaving. While there has been significant research conducted on risk factors associated with early school leaving, there has been very little published research that centers student voice and their experiences that lead up to deciding not to complete their high school diplomas. This study focused on local, student-centered perspectives that can support individual schools and their districts in responding directly to the needs of their students. Using an emergent qualitative research approach, this study explored two topics: (1) student perspectives on push factors that have led to students consider leaving high school prior to completion and (2) student perspectives on push in factors that have kept students in high school. The Push, Pull, Fall Out Framework was utilized to contextualize risk and protective factors associated with early school leaving as reported by students. The Student Voice Research Framework centered the role of student voice throughout this study through student focus groups. Six themes associated with high school leaving were identified: relationships with school staff, overall climate and culture, bullying and other social interactions, COVID-19 and negative mental health, lack of attendance, and post-high school connections. Recommendations made as a result of student input include: (1) more research in schools should be localized and conducted by staff and students who work in and attend those schools, (2) relationships with school staff are key to keeping students in school, (3) additional research needs to be conducted on the effects of COVID-19 on the potential for early school leaving, and (4) increasing post-high school connections with day-to-day expectations of students could lessen early school leaving.
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
14 Record Views
Details
- Title
- STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON PUSH OUT AND PUSH IN FACTORS FOR HIGH SCHOOL LEAVING
- Creators
- Morgan A. Parker Money
- Contributors
- Susan Finley (Co-Chair)Sara Waters (Co-Chair)Marcelo Diversi (Committee Member)Katherine Rodela (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 114
- Identifiers
- 99901121535801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation