This report, written 15 years after the Pathways to Education program was developed, is an attempt to update the original “review of best practices” by capturing what we currently know about dropout prevention and effective interventions and approaches. It also offers a section on what we know and are continuing to learn from the Pathways to Education community partners throughout Canada and their front-line staff who, years after the original community consultations in Regent Park, implement the program in a wide variety of diverse communities, serve youth and their families, engage with their communities, and continue the legacy of the community-based dropout prevention program first envisioned by Carolyn Acker and Norman Rowen.

The report continues the Pathways to Education tradition of listening to other voices, considering their views, and asking critical questions. While far from definitive, it surveys the research landscape, brings together what we consider to be some of the most relevant research on dropout prevention, and answers some of our most pressing questions about the educational attainment of youth in low-income communities. Designed to be practical, it offers a way in, allows for a quick perusal of key findings, and serves as a convenient starting point for those interested in deeper, more sustained inquiry.

By sharing this report, we hope to start a conversation on what works, on what’s needed, on how to best learn from and with our youth, community and school programs designed for their success, and professionals across the country who support, engage, and listen to young people on a daily basis. In short, this is not a definitive statement of what we know but a snapshot of learning, a list of practical resources and key findings.