Mentoring Students Back On-Track to Graduation: Program Results From Five Communities

This quasi-experimental study examines the impact of a mentoring program for low-income and minority middle and high school students displaying early warning indicators of dropping out on attendance, behavior problems, and course passing. The study was conducted over 3 years in five districts throughout the country and used a comparison group identified through propensity score matching. Although students reported positive experiences with mentoring in surveys, significant program effects on student attendance, behavior, and course passing were not found. Such interventions may have little demonstrated effect not only due to implementation issues but also because they do not address school experience variables that influence student outcomes.