Engaging schools: What works to keep young people engaged in meaningful learning in low SES schools

Mainstream schools in Queensland are responding to young people who are in danger of disengaging. However, schools' initiatives, philosophies and strategies in this regard have not been researched, recorded and disseminated. There is also limited research on whether these initiatives/strategies may be adapted and adopted system-wide. This research seeks to determine: a) strategies which work at a school level to keep students who are in danger of disengaging from education in school and enthused about learning; and b) how such strategies can be developed and utilised across the system. This research will also give consideration to issues beyond retention to include the concept of meaningful learning, and what constitutes schooling achievement for students who would have otherwise disengaged and/or dropped out of education.