Publication year: 2011
Source: Children and Youth Services Review, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 16 August 2011
Angelique, Day , Amy, Dworsky , Kieran, Fogarty , Amy, Damashek
This study uses administrative data from Michigan State University to examine whether students who are former foster youth are more likely to drop out of college than low-income, first generation students who had not been in foster care. Former foster youth were significantly more likely to drop out before the end of their first year (21% vs. 13%) and prior to degree completion (34% vs. 18%) than their non-foster care peers. This difference remained significant even after controlling for gender and race.
Highlights: ► We model dropout rates of students using administrative data from a 4-year college. ► We examine differences in dropout rates by foster care status, race and gender. ► Foster care youth were significantly more likely to drop out. ► This difference remained significant even after controlling for gender and race.