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Resource

Building Blocks of a GradNation: Assets for Keeping Young People in School

September 19, 2015

Much has been written about how to prevent students from leaving high school before graduating, and which life experiences or risk factors may lead a young person to drop out. Less is known, however, about what promotes the attainment of a high school diploma.

In order to help all young people stay on the path to graduation, it is important to consider the influences in their lives that lead to on-time graduation.

The Center for Promise research team reviewed the last 25 years of empirical studies on high school graduation (182 articles in total). Using Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological framework as a guide, we looked at five categories, or what Bronfenbrenner refers to as “ecological levels,” that impact a young person’s development – individual (attitudes and beliefs), family, peers, school and community. Within those levels, we identified specific assets which may positively impact a young person’s decision to stay in and graduate from high school.

The latest research brief from the Center for Promise, The Building Blocks of a GradNation: Assets for Keeping Young People in School, reveals the following assets that emerged through our analysis:

Individual Assets

  • Expectations for academic attainment or achievement
  • Intrinsic academic motivation or personal desire to achieve
  • School engagement
  • Internal locus of control – a sense of control over ones’ future

Family Assets

  • Parent Academic Involvement
  • Parent-Adolescent Connection

Peer Assets

  • Peer Academic Norms, how peers achieve academically

School Assets

  • Positive Student-Teacher Relationships
  • Extra-curricular Activities

Community Assets

  • Out-of-school Time Programs

These influential assets provide policymakers, practitioners and others with insight into where programs and investments can be directed in order to optimize students’ chances of finishing high school. Four specific considerations for policy and practice emerged from this review:

  • Encourage students to believe in themselves and continue to remain engaged in school.
  • Promote connections with parents, peers and teachers.
  • Schools and community-based institutions can foster positive attitudes and connect young people with social resources.
  • A holistic approach is needed.

The Center for Promise is the research institute for America’s Promise Alliance, housed at Boston University’s School of Education, dedicated to understanding what young people need to thrive and how to create the conditions of success for all young people. For questions or comments about this research brief, email [email protected].

About the Author

Center for Promise Squared
Center for Promise

The Center for Promise, in collaboration with Boston University School of Education, is the first-ever research center for America’s Promise Alliance. The mission of the Center is to develop a deep knowledge and understanding about what is needed to help create the conditions so that all young people in America have the opportunity to succeed in school and life. The Center’s work will add to the academic exploration of these issues and help give communities and individuals the tools and knowledge to effectively work together to support young people.

Family Engagement Re-engaging Youth Grad Rate Data
The 5 Promises

The 5 Promises represent conditions children need to achieve adult success. The collective work of the Alliance involves keeping these promises to America’s youth. This article relates to the promises highlighted below:

Caring Adults Caring Adults Safe Places Safe Places A Healthy Start A Healthy Start Effective Education Effective Education Opportunities to Help Others Opportunities to Help Others

Other Resources

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Where Do We Go Next?
October 27, 2020
Finding A Way Forward: Young People's Experiences Navigating the World of Work
September 23, 2020
What Drives Learning: Young People’s Perspectives on the Importance of Relationships, Belonging, & Agency
June 11, 2020
The State of Young People during COVID-19
January 28, 2020
Creating Cultures of Care: Supporting the Whole Child through Trauma-Informed Practice
April 24, 2019
Achieving a 90 Percent Graduation Rate Webinar: Making Effective Work-Based Learning Real for All Students
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