Compulsory Attendance: Research Proposal Project

1. Compulsory Attendance: Research Proposal Project Danny Janklow Katie Albers Cher Daniels Brad Jungwirth

2. Purpose/Background Review of Literature Methodology Ethics

3. Purpose This is a qualitative study designed to gather and analyze perspectives from various groups of South Dakotans about the impact of raising the compulsory age of school attendance to 18.

4. Graduation rates are one of the criteria used to determine (AYP) Annual Yearly Progress under the NCLB Act of 2001(Education Commission of the United States, 2007). Background

5. Consequently in 2006 , the South Dakota Legislature increased the compulsory age for attendance from 16 to 18. Eighteen other states have recently raised the compulsory age to 18 (ECS, 2007).

6. All states have compulsory attendance laws set at 16 years of age or older (ECS,2007).

7. Most laws concerning compulsory attendance were passed between 1870-1910. With a shift from an agrarian to a more technological based economy a high school education has become deemed as a bare minimum for success (Bridgeland, Dilulio & Morrison, 2006).

8. Literature Review The following are fromstudies that address the problems and benefits of raising the compulsory age from 16 to 18.

9. Angrist and Krueger publishing their study in The Quarterly Journal of Economics found: • Requiring students to stay in school when they don’t want to be there can have deleterious effects on the learning of others. • Students who attend school longer are • more likely to earn higher wages rather • than becoming a drain on the economy.

10. Bhanpuri and McReynolds made the following findings in their 2003 study using information from The National Center for Educational Statistics: • The Pasadena School district in Texas was able to reduce their dropout rate to 1.6 percent when the dropout age was raised from 16 to 17.

11. Raising the compulsory age alone will not solve the problem. • A comprehensive approach • including areas such as poverty, • quality of education and • accountability need to be • addressed.

12. Philip Oreopoulos, in two separate studies using information from various surveys and information from other countries such as England and Ireland found: • Students who are compelled to complete at least one more year of school will earn 12% more than those who choose to drop out early. • A decrease of 1.2 and 2.1 • percentage points in overall dropout • rates.

13. Policy alone does not affect the dropout rates; factors such as funding and alternative options must be put into place.

14. Justification There is a lack of longitudinal data concerning the affects of raising the compulsory age to 18. The law in South Dakota passed in 2007 and has not yet taken effect. Community viewpoints have not yet been systematically gathered and analyzed.

15. Methodology A survey will be sent to various groups of South Dakota Citizens obtained randomly from a database including: • Law enforcement • Education Professionals • Business Community Surveys will be color coded for analyzing purposes.

16. Surveys will be differentiated between parents and non-parents. Each sub-group will be identified and compared with the overall sample. The sample is to be representative of South Dakota citizens, not of total population or other states. Chi Squared will be used to determine the differences between subgroups.

17. Self-addressed stamped envelopes will be provided. Three reminders will sent out to participants to maximize response.

18. Limitations Opinions only represent that of South Dakota residents. We do not presume that information will be representative of any other state or the Nation.

19. Sample Cover Letter Dear Sir/Madam: Thank you for your time while participating in our survey. This survey is intended to take only a few minutes of your day. The information you provide will be incredibly valuable to the policy makers who have asked our organization to identify the citizens’ opinions about the new compulsory attendance laws. The new law states that all South Dakota students will attend high school until age 18 or successfully complete high school. Please take a brief moment to read our questions and answer the questions. Please return the questionnaire as soon as possible in the self addressed stamped envelope. There are no right or wrong answers, just identify how you feel on a scale of completely agree to not agree. Just place your mark on the line relative to where your level of agreement would fall on the line. There is also a space provided below each line to elaborate or clarify your thoughts. Thank you for your time, SDSU Compulsory Attendance Research Study Group 111-2222

20. Questionnaire Sample Compulsory Attendance Questionnaire This survey should take you only five (5) to ten (10) minutes to complete. Please mark on the line where you believe your answer would fall between 1 (totally disagree) and 10 (totally agree). Example: Totally Disagree Totally Agree 1------------------------------------------------X---------------------10 The above example is someone who agrees with the statement more than not. If you need to explain your answer please do so below each question. Thank you, we know you are very busy and appreciate your effort. Totally Disagree Totally Agree Minors required to go to school until age 18 earn a better living. 1-----------------------------------------------------------------------10 Comments

21. Informed Consent and Participant’s Rights • Overview • Gathering of Data • Participant’s Rights • Risk/Benefit Analysis • Confidentiality • Parent Letter of Minors

22. Study focuses on information collected from community and school resources including: • Teachers • Administrators • Counselors • Law Enforcement • Parents • Students • Former Students

23. Surveys will be completed anonymously and returned in self-addressed stamped envelopes. Surveys and information from the individual surveys will be viewed only by the research project team members. Individual surveys and their answers will not be available for viewing to those outside the research team.

24. Participant’s Rights All information gathered from the survey will be anonymous and confidential. No first names or other identifying information will be used. No names will be given on individual surveys, only position/role identification using the subgroups listed above.

25. Participation in the survey is strictly voluntary. There will be no monetary compensation for any completion or returning of questionnaire. Research team members will not coerce or persuade participants in their answers.

26. Completion and returning of survey implies informed consent on participant’s part and the understanding of the purpose and uses of the information given by the participant. Participants may request their information be removed from the data at any time.

27. Participants will receive a complete summary of information gathered in written form upon conclusion of the study.

28. Risk /Benefit Analysis and Confidentiality The risk of the compulsory attendance survey has been determined to be minimal. The survey administration process, data gathering and sharing of information does not personally affect each participant. There is no sharing or intrusion of personal information, financial impact or legal liability. Due to the anonymous nature of the study and survey tool used, it is determined there is minimal risk to participants.

29. Copy of Parent Letter of Minors December 11, 2007 Dear parent or guardian, You child is asked to fill out a brief survey regarding compulsory attendance law to age 18 in South Dakota. The survey is strictly confidential and voluntary. The information gathered will be shared anonymously in both written and verbal form. Your child or you may request your child’s information not be included in the survey at any time throughout the research study’s date gathering process. Your child’s completion of the survey does indicate implied consent by you as guardian. We appreciate your time and please contact us with any questions or concerns. SDSU Compulsory Attendance Research Study Group 111-2222

30. Due to the fact that compulsory attendance until age 18 is a recent law in South Dakota we feel this qualitative study will provide valuable information representative of the views from various groups of South Dakota citizens. Questions?