title: The identification of high-school dropouts identified as learning disabled: evaluating the utility of a discriminant analysis function.
abstract: This study examined the utility of a linear discriminant function to distinguish between students identified as learning disabled (LD) who had either been released from high school under codes suggestive of school dropout (n = 213) or graduation (n = 92). The discriminant function was comprised of six variables--student ethnicity, reading ability, family intactness, family socioeconomic status, school transfers, and school-initiated interruptions. The analysis determined that differences between the LD dropout sample and LD graduate sample were sufficient to allow for a discrimination between the groups. On the basis of group differences the discriminant function that was constructed correctly classified 83% of the school dropouts and 46% of the school graduates, for an overall 73% accuracy rate. Those factors contributing most to the function were the number of district-initiated interruptions, school transfers, and family intactness. Based on the findings, implications for school districts and future research are noted.
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kortering
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haring
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klockars
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*