According to the U.S. Department of education (2012), the definition of an at-risk student or high-needs student is a student who is at-risk of academic failure due to any of a number of reasons such as: poverty, being significantly behind academically, previously dropped out, attending a high minority school, homelessness, placement in foster care, past or present incarceration, disabilities, or being an English language learner. These “high-needs students” may require extra support to increase the chances of graduating on-time (U.S. Department of Education, 2012). The “at-risk” designation can be caused by various reasons or a combination of reasons, which is an important factor to consider when developing an educational plan to effectively maximize their learning (Tobin & Sprague, …show more content…
Department of Education, 2012; Watson & Gemin, 2008; Wilson, Stemp, & McGinty, 2011). Low socio-economic status of the student’s family is a strong indicator of not graduating from high school (Archambault et al., 2010; Barbour & Siko, 2012; Brownell et al., 2010; U.S. Department of Education, 2012; Watson & Gemin, 2008). Substance abuse is another indicator which strongly influences the likelihood of high school graduation (Archambault et al., 2010; U.S. Department of Education, 2012; Watson & Gemin, 2008). Other important indicators of reduced graduation rates include: lack of academic success, designation as an English language learner, emotional disorder, attendance issues, being a teen parent, and legal issues, to name a few of the more prevalent indicators (Archambault et al, 2010; Barbour & Siko, 2012; Brownell et al., 2010; Lange & Sletten, 1995; Simonsen & Sugai, 2013; Tobin & Sprague, 1999; U.S. Department of Education, 2012; Watson & Gemin, 2008, Wilson et al.,