Introduction

 There has been a high rate of high school dropout rates in America. According to  Lynch (2014), the leading state with the highest rate of high school dropouts is New Mexico, which had 63% in the entire American ratings. These alarming rates have raised concern especially when considered that majority of these victims are female students, who drop out in large numbers due to pregnancy. Other students drop out due to behavioral and psychological factors that include poor performance and lack of motivation by either parents or teachers. Another significant number leave high school due to poor financial situations in their families. Hence, they do so in order to search for income generating tasks. Nevertheless, most of these dropouts resume school to further their education so that they can attain knowledge and skills which will grant them better futures. However, individuals joining post-secondary education at a later stage in life do not find it smooth. The purpose of this qualitative Study of High School Dropouts is to explore the challenges they face for attending post-secondary school education at NMSU 1780 E. University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88003 DACC 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011. At this stage in the research, the Issues Facing High School Dropouts will be generally be defined as all drawbacks unique to these drop outs and such could not have been experienced if they attended secondary school at their normal age.

Background of the Problem

            Dropping out of school is not an instant activity but a systematic and sophisticated process that is fostered by behavior or psychological aspects.  This depicts that school dropping can be prevented if detected early and school drop outs can return to school and attain certificates and diplomas. According to Estêvão and Álvares (2014), early or teenage pregnancy is among the top reason female students drop out of school. Their conditions push them to stop schooling so that they can cater for parenthood. The other cause of school dropping is the low economic status that most high school students are exposed. Harsh economic situations push these students to search for other sources of generating income so as to cater for their education. Rumberger (2011) also contributes by arguing that the other reason students could be dropping out of school at such high rates is because there are diverse circumstances within the school environment that minimize their motivation. These circumstances are psychological and occur in the sense that students lack motivation or concern from both the parents and the teachers. Therefore, parents and teachers are the appropriate people to notice and dress these psychological aspects.

Despite the vast possible reasons that push learners to forfeit high school many of them return to school. However, vast challenges await them in such endeavors; hence, diminishing the efforts of high school dropouts seeking further education. Among the main challenges are financial constraints of adult learning programs which have hiked over the years. Nevertheless, most states in U.S sponsor such programs; hence, a little percentage of post-secondary learners experience financial problems. The other challenge is the setting of the adult education centers. These institutions differ with that of high schools; hence, most are not fortified to deal with behavioral and academic challenges. These facilities are extremely essential in such a setting because most of the school dropouts have behavioral challenges.

The other challenge is the value of GED because high school diplomas are more recognized and are given priorities compared to GED. Therefore, post-secondary students face various challenges in the future job market and earning capabilities. Studies show that post-secondary holders of GED experience financial constraints compared to the high school diploma holders. For instance, female workers with high school diploma earn 65% more than the females who lack diplomas. Drop outs are usually side-lined on various job opportunities because they lack certain skills that their learned counterparts have. These kills are obtained from colleges and technical institutes; hence, the school drop outs return to school to pursue these skills. Rose (2013) argues that GED certificates are important credentials that increase the rate of American literacy index and help the post-secondary students to acquire recognition and job opportunities but the high school diplomas out-do them.

Conceptual Framework and Review of theLiterature/Themes

Conceptual Framework. This analysis will be guided by the path-goal theory. Success planning will be explained as the steps of identifying and classifying the various challenges faced by individual taking post-secondary education. Different individuals are likely to face different challenges based on their age, institution of attendance and motive to take this education. However, most challenges are similar because of the equality of individual characters at this stage. Consequently, systematic process will be implemented on the where challenges will be ranked based on their severity.

Review of the literature themes

Succes planning explained

Contents of sequence planning

Individual challenges and the sequential planning

Similar challenges and succession planning

Strategies to counter these challenges

Components of this strategies

Appropriate methodologies

Problem Statement

It is not clear the challenges faced by School drop outs that pursue post-secondary education, later in life. These individuals are usually the young adults who end up finding different learning environments that are either beyond or below their expectations. Therefore, the study will be crucial to vastly concerned parties. The study is of great help to the education sector, the government, the parents and teachers regarding various aspects that lead to school dropping. These parties will understand various factors that affect high school students and how these factors push them to the extent that they drop out of school.  More so, the study will enlighten parents on various psychological aspects that their children face while pursuing post- secondary education. In addition, the study will offer valuable information to the education sector and the county governments regarding the entire framework of adult education program. These two bodies will be equipped with insightful information, which will act as the platform of inflicting change and strategies that will motivate adult learners to complete their education.

Research Question(s) and Phenomenon

Phenomenon. This study will focus on the challenges and solutions to issues faced by post-secondary school attenders. Numerous authors offer different perspectives on challenges faced by high school dropouts seeking higher education. Alison Lake (2011) argues that age difference between such students is among the challenges that psychologically affects the older students and push them to acquire low self-esteem. This arises because such educational settings incorporate different groups of high school drop outs because they decide to return to school at different intervals. Thus, while others return at 20, others return at 25; hence creating an age imbalance. Lisa (2009) brings in a different picture by claiming that such students who seek post-secondary education have unique challenges that include responsibility burdens. Most of these students are young parents; hence, they find it hard leaving their children behind and attend to lessons.

Research Questions

R1: Are there problems that influence high school dropouts who decide to attend post-secondary school education later in life?

R2: do students face similar challenges in their quest for post-secondary education?

R3: what are the possible solutions to the challenges faced by students taking post-secondary education?

R4: what is the community doing to facilitate a hospitable environment for students taking post-secondary education?

Significance of the Study

According to investigated phenomena of factors that challenge post-secondary students pursuing adult education, the study is a great piece of research that will greatly contribute to current and future studies on the same or related subject. Therefore, future researchers that study any subject that relate to high school drop out issues and post-secondary education will refer to this study for helpful hints and insights. In addition, post-secondary education facilities that aim at seeking assistance from the local government can use this study as evidence of their concerns.

Rationale for Methodology

            The methodology that the researchers plan to use in the study is quantitative because it incorporates observations and questionnaires from retrievable research literature previously carried out by other researchers on a similar phenomenon. The research methodology that is to be used in the study is the appropriate methodology because it answers the research question and addresses the problem statement. For instance, incorporating previous studies will help in answering the question whether there are challenges that affect high school dropouts who decide to attend post-secondary school education later in life.

Nature of the Research Design for the Study

            A qualitative study was applied, and data was collected from previous studies that had explored various variables that push high school drop outs to desire and return to post-secondary school programs. Most of these studies applied surveys, where they interviewed students in post-high school programs. The purpose statement of these surveys was to understand what pushed the students to drop out of school and what pushed them again to change their minds and return to school. Among the articles used for the study are Estêvão and Álvares (2014) that interviewed 50 individuals. Groups interviewed included teachers, students, and parents at the Stanislaus County in U.S. The 50 interviewed individuals were divided into eight groups. The outcome of the study showed that factors like family economic status, academic performance and parent’s engagement in their children’s’ learning contributed to 25% of high school dropout rates in Stanislaus County (Estêvão and Álvares 2014).

Another study was carried out by Rose (2013), with an aim of determining the value of post-high school education.  The study carried out a survey that incorporated interviews in 6 high school classes that had built youth programs. More so, the author surveyed 24 community college campuses that had an adult education program in Maryland and Virginia. The outcome of the study depicted that post high school and adult education credentials had a significant role in the American society. This is because these credentials increase the literacy rates and at the same time grant postsecondary students equal employment opportunities and economic status with their learned counterparts. However, the study is refuted by many scholars who include Perin, Flugman, and Spiegel, who argue that the certificate has less impact on the current society and that it is among the challenges faced by those pursuing post-secondary educations.

The Purpose of the Study

The drive of this qualitative study is to scrutinize the dynamics that challenge high school drop outs who decide to attend post-secondary school education later in life. Thus, the study explores these challenges through a qualitative methodology that draws out data from previous studies. The main phenomenon to be studied is psychological and physical challenges that affect these adult students in various American adult education programs.

Sources of Data

 Considering that the study incorporates previous studies as part of data collection, the study will base its findings from the documented collected data. In this regard, the study will not indulge in any observations or interviews.

Data Analysis Procedures

The documented presentations show that the studies applied comparative case analysis because it tried to weigh the phenomenon on a comparative basis by comparing different demographics.

Ethical Considerations

The ethical issues surrounding this study are the protection rights of the articles used in the study from the original owners. For this reason, copyrights were sought from the owners of the articles incorporated in the research. This is to ensure that ethical responsibilities and scholars’ rights are respected.

Conclusion

            Post high school education is rising in alarming rates and the concerned parties in the education sector should intervene and address these issues. More so, the government should implement programs that ensure that students are motivated to remain in school and complete their high school studies. This is because high school completion grants these individuals recognizable diplomas that will allow them to acquire well-paying jobs compared to post-secondary GED. More so, parents should be involved in their children education progress so as to motivate them and push them to complete their studies.

References

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