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This systematic review sought to understand the individual characteristics of incarcerated youth within the major risk factor domains identified by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). A comprehensive search of the literature from 1979 to 2013 identified 85 articles of individual-level risk characteristics that relate to mental health, personality, psychological factors, social/emotional-behavioral issues, cognitive-intellectual development, academic achievement, victimization history, and substance use. Understanding the characteristics that place youth at risk of incarceration is important in the development and implementation of effective educational interventions to prevent incarceration and rehabilitate incarcerated youth. Considerations regarding how educators can use a multi-tiered prevention system to deliver a continuum of academic and behavioral supports to target students’ risk characteristics are discussed. In addition, future research is highlighted in response to the characteristics that place youth at risk of incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent review of the research by the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences has resulted in the recommendation of six promising practices to ensure that all students are actively engaged in school and on a path to post-secondary success (Dynarski et al. in Dropout prevention: A practice guide (NCEE 2008-4025)). The purpose of this study was to explore the experience and perspective of an Asian American high school dropout and the extent to which his story aligns with dominant thinking, including the six recommended dropout prevention practices and the model minority myth (MMM) of Achievement Orientation, a common belief that Asian Americans exhibit greater success than any other minority ethnic group. The adolescent dropout was interviewed on eight occasions. Findings revealed that the MMM may have contributed to the lack of intervention provided to this student and that the most worthwhile recommendations from his perspective include: assigning adult advocates to at-risk students, the use of a systematic data-tracking system to target and individualize interventions, and the ability of the school to provide academic support and a personalized learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Benner, G. J., Nelson, J. R., Stage, S. A., & Ralston, N. C. (2011). The influence of fidelity of implementation on the reading outcomes of middle school students experiencing reading difficulties. Remedial and Special Education, 32, 79–88. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: This research was supported in part by funding from the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board using Title II, Part A (Improving Teacher Quality) funds from the U.S. Department of Education; the original authors of this research report no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Schools are tasked with the challenge of not only raising graduation rates for students with and without disabilities but also preparing these students to meet college and career readiness standards. Recent studies and reviews of the literature suggest promising practices to ensure that educators meet these goals by increasing students’ engagement in school. This article provides an overview of the research on evidence-based drop-out prevention practices organized within the framework of the six recommendations provided by the Institute of Education Sciences. After an explanation of each drop-out prevention intervention component, implications for practice are highlighted, with particular emphasis on academic and behavioral practices that can be readily implemented to prevent students with and without learning and behavioral disabilities from dropping out of school. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]