A meta-analysis on the outcomes of adolescents at risk for school drop-out attending nonresidential alternative educational facilities

Abstract

In this multilevel meta-analysis the outcomes of adolescents with complex problems at risk for school drop-out attending nonresidential alternative educational facilities were examined. Ten studies (87 effect sizes), examining outcomes on social-emotional functioning, academic achievement, academic attitude, externalizing and internalizing problems, were included. The findings indicated a small but significant overall effect (d = 0.15, p = .03), providing preliminary evidence that these facilities may be associated with positive outcomes for adolescents. Study quality, measurement type and reliability of the assessment instruments were significant moderators of the overall effect size. Results of this study urge for more high quality research on nonresidential alternative educational facilities, because they can contribute to positive youth outcomes, which in turn may prevent school drop-out and other negative life outcomes.

Keywords:

• Adolescent functioning
• alternative education
• meta-analysis
• nonresidential
• school drop-out

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ‘Netwerk Effectief Jeugdstelsel Amsterdam’ (NEJA), funded by The City of Amsterdam. We thank Merrit ten Haaf and Hellen Vergouwe, master students of the University of Amsterdam, for their contribution to the data collection.

Notes on contributors

Sanne Pronk

Sanne Pronk is PhD student at the University of Amsterdam and working as a researcher at Altra Education and Youth Care (united in the alliance iHUB) in the Netherlands.

Chris Kuiper

Chris Kuiper PhD is quality controller at Horizon Youth Care and Special Education (united in the alliance iHUB where he is innovation manager). He also works as a professor (lector) at the University of Applied Sciences Leiden.

Dafne Smit

Dafne Smit MSc is a school psychologist at Altra Education and Youth Care.

Geert Jan Stams

Prof. Dr. Geert Jan Stams is professor at the University of Amsterdam, Department of Child Development and Education.

Arne Popma

Prof. Dr. Arne Popma is professor at Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Eva Mulder

Eva Mulder PhD is program leader of the Academic Workplace Youth at Risk, linked to the Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Germie Berg, van den

Germie van den Berg PhD is head of the department of integrated youth care at the Netherlands Youth Institute in Utrecht.