Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: The nation is dealing with a crisis in education – teacher retention. Many teachers are entering the teaching profession without the preparation of a four-year teacher education program. The question examined in this study: Are there any school system retaining any of these teachers and if so, how were the new teachers prepared?

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Students who repeat a grade prior to high school have a markedly higher risk of dropping out of high school than those students who are continuously promoted through school. In this paper, we draw on transactional developmental theory and argue that the factors influencing both early and late dropout processes for retained and continuously promoted students differ. We argue that a lack of engagement with school contributes to the dropout probability of both retained and continuously promoted students, but that a lack of engagement particularly hurts retained students. Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study, we find that the factors influencing dropout behavior do differ for early and late dropout and for retained and promoted students. We also find that academic engagement, but not social engagement, predicts dropout probability for both retained and promoted students.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Often two areas of study proceed along similar paths without intersecting. In cases like these, neither benefits from the unique approach nor the subsequent findings of the other. While studies in enrollment management have shown that teacher/student relationship is one factor that can positively affect retention especially in the case of minority students, very little of that research has explored how to accomplish this sense of relating via communication. On the other hand, human communication researchers have studied many aspects of teacher immediacy in intercultural contexts without exploring its application to retention. Given the understanding that both of these areas of study have been rightfully focused on their own objectives, it is expected that a fusion of the two could have sustained positive effects on keeping students in school. The goal of this paper is to connect these two areas of research as a foundation for first understanding the role of teacher communication in retention and in making subsequent research-based proposals for maximizing the potential of teachers as key players in the enrollment management funnel.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Retaining low performing students in grade has become a central though disputed component of current standards-based reforms. This paper examines the political and organizational determinants of school district retention rates across racial groups.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines the effect of a regime change on a party's ability to recruit and retain campaign workers. Using the partisan turnover in Illinois' Governor's office in 2002, this paper analyzes the impact on local party organizations recruitment