Rural Youth Education Project: Third Wave

This study is designed to include four waves of data collection, conducted approximately every other year, beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2011. This report briefly describes the procedures used for the third wave of data collection, completed in 2008-2009, and the results from a sample of Pennsylvania's rural 11th grade youth and youth who are 3 years out of high school. As this is the third wave of data collection, key findings for Waves 1 through 3 only are addressed in this report. Results from this study will contribute to the understanding of the educational, career and residential choices of rural youth, how these are related, and how they are influenced by family, schools and communities. The results from the entire longitudinal study may be used in developing effective state and local policies that aim to promote youth educational aspirations and achievement, and, at the same time, promote viable rural communities where youth want to live as adults. (Contains 2 tables.) [This study was conducted by Diane K. McLaughlin, Mary Ann Demi and Anastasia R. Snyder.]