Recent research indicates that academic dropouts are increasing (Weissmann, 2014). How is it possible for academic dropouts to be increasing when the ability to attend school has grown beyond the traditional face-to-face learning? While the ability to attend school through online courses provides a wide range of possibilities for people of varied backgrounds and educational levels to excel academically and achieve a degree through higher learning, there are multiple factors contributing to the dropout rates, not only in the United States, but also in other countries throughout the world. Some of the contributing factors are financial, time management, family, educational preparedness, and mental health issues.
Initially, mental health is a …show more content…
Murray (2014) cited a South African report that there is “a significant articulation gap between secondary education and higher education” as one of the main causes for dropout rates (p. 39). Students are now capable of obtaining a high school diploma through online education. While there are pros and cons to online education, one of the faults is the ability to search for answers while completing the schoolwork. These distance learning high schools do not check for plagiarism, nor the students actual understanding of the material. This allows students to graduate high school without little to no knowledge. Once these students reach higher education, they are unable to perform at the level required and lack the skills of independent thought in order to succeed. Also, for those students attending traditional face-to-face high schools, their homework and schoolwork loads are significantly lighter than what they will be facing attending higher education in a full-time student status. However, states that have adopted an in-state resident tuition for undocumented immigrants have seen a reduction in academic dropout rates for immigrants (Potochnick, 2014). This may be due to those states having better curriculum or practices in place to prepare students for higher …show more content…
During the past decade, while the average family income grew 0.4 percent, the cost of college tuition grew 3.5 percent (“Average Rates of Growth of Published Charges by Decade,” 2016). The lack of family income keeping pace with the cost of college tuition places a financial strain on families. While the in-state resident tuition for undocumented immigrants reduced the dropout rates for immigrants, it did not have an effect on the academic dropout rates for state residents (Potochnick, 2014). Sahin, Arseven, and Kilic (2016) noted, “It can be said that particularly the obligation of boys to work at a job and contribute to the economy of the family are important factors in school dropout” (p. 204). This is evident in low-income families. Even if the students have scholarships, the need to support their family for day to day needs outweighs their need to attain a degree and earn more money in the long
Initially, mental health is a …show more content…
Murray (2014) cited a South African report that there is “a significant articulation gap between secondary education and higher education” as one of the main causes for dropout rates (p. 39). Students are now capable of obtaining a high school diploma through online education. While there are pros and cons to online education, one of the faults is the ability to search for answers while completing the schoolwork. These distance learning high schools do not check for plagiarism, nor the students actual understanding of the material. This allows students to graduate high school without little to no knowledge. Once these students reach higher education, they are unable to perform at the level required and lack the skills of independent thought in order to succeed. Also, for those students attending traditional face-to-face high schools, their homework and schoolwork loads are significantly lighter than what they will be facing attending higher education in a full-time student status. However, states that have adopted an in-state resident tuition for undocumented immigrants have seen a reduction in academic dropout rates for immigrants (Potochnick, 2014). This may be due to those states having better curriculum or practices in place to prepare students for higher …show more content…
During the past decade, while the average family income grew 0.4 percent, the cost of college tuition grew 3.5 percent (“Average Rates of Growth of Published Charges by Decade,” 2016). The lack of family income keeping pace with the cost of college tuition places a financial strain on families. While the in-state resident tuition for undocumented immigrants reduced the dropout rates for immigrants, it did not have an effect on the academic dropout rates for state residents (Potochnick, 2014). Sahin, Arseven, and Kilic (2016) noted, “It can be said that particularly the obligation of boys to work at a job and contribute to the economy of the family are important factors in school dropout” (p. 204). This is evident in low-income families. Even if the students have scholarships, the need to support their family for day to day needs outweighs their need to attain a degree and earn more money in the long