Under-age school leaving: A report examining approaches to assisting young people at-risk of leaving school before the legal school leaving age

A report to the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme in 1997 by Michael Brooks, Chris Milne, Karen Paterson, Klas Johansson and Kerry Hart.

This report is the property of the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme.

Contents of Report

Two parliamentary inquiries recommended the development of a cohesive national policy framework aimed at reducing under-age school leaving in a coordinated manner. This report integrates academic literature and reports with in-depth primary research, to provide coherent descriptions of the diversity of Australian programs designed to assist under-age school leavers, including examples modelled on:

1. community-based partial withdrawal
   
2. school-based partial withdrawal
   
3. community schools
   
4. outreach services
   
5. integrated whole schools
   
6. event-based experiences

The report also explores the context of approaches by investigating:

1. the factors which affect early school leaving
   
2. the barriers faced by early school leavers
   
3. the economic and social costs of early school leaving

Thirty four principles of 'best practice' are identified as reducing school leaving, and these form the basis of recommendations for adoption as part of normal school processes. For schools with large numbers of potential under-age school leavers, special initiatives and support services are recommended. The report also identifies principles and issues which should be considered in any policy response to under-age school leaving. Under-age School Leaving is of interest to a wide cross-section of readers, including educators, counsellors, district guidance officers, home/school liaison officers, youth and community workers, social workers, and policy-makers.

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