The Dropout Prevention Act - also known as: Title I, Part H, of No Child Left Behind - is responsible for establishing the school dropout prevention program under No Child Left Behind. This part of No Child Left Behind was created to provide schools with support for retention of all students, and prevention of dropouts from the most at-risk youth. It is estimated that 1.2 million American students drop out of high school each year. The US Department of Education assesses the dropout rate by calculating the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who are not currently enrolled in school and who have not yet earned a high school credential. For example, the high school dropout rate of the United States in 2008 was 8.1%.
The Dropout Prevention Act is, just as No Child Left Behind, based on scientifically based research (SBR). This research is monitored by The US Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General.
This particular grant program provides funding to State Education Agency, and/or the local school districts. These funds are used for research-based, and coordinated, school dropout prevention programs for students in grades 6-12.This research based approach is a major component of the No Child Left Behind Act. The specific grants are used for the support of programs such as: professional development, reduction of teacher-student ratios, counseling for at-risk students, and mentor programs for those same at-risk students.
Finally, the act provided that the US Department of Education would create a national recognition program that would identify schools that have been effective in lowering their dropout rates.