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What is the High School Transition Study (HSTS)? The High School Transition Study is a
research study that evaluates a program designed to assist students in the
transition from middle school to high school. Why is HSTS important? Parents
and teachers realize how important children’s emotional health is to their
success in school, at home, and in the community. Difficulties managing
stress and moodiness put adolescents at risk for many poor outcomes like
school failure, alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency, and even suicide. The High School Transition Study can
make a very important contribution by helping us understand how 8th grade
students deal with stress and by providing youth with the skills and support
they need to move successfully into high school. Why middle school students? The
move to high school is associated with declines in school performance and
increased depression and behavioral problems. Children who are already
feeling very stressed are particularly vulnerable to the stress associated
with the high school transition. What are the anticipated benefits? ¨ Students
who participate in the HSTS intervention
program should gain skills and support that will help them succeed in school. ¨ Parents
of students enrolled in the HSTS intervention
program can gain additional skills, strategies, and knowledge about how to
parent and support their adolescents. ¨ Participating
schools will receive help and resources for youth that are distressed and/or
are not having a good school experience. In
prior studies using the CAST curriculum
with high school students, students who participated in the intervention
program made significant improvements in the skills that were targeted, such
as: ¨
improved school performance (better grades) ¨ decreased
drug involvement ¨ decreased
depression and suicide-risk |
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Study Information |
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High School Transition Study |
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Background and Rationale |