Eldridge, Mark G.
Abstract:
The transition to high school may be difficult for new freshmen and may actuallybe feared by some. Several high schools have adopted freshman transition programs as away to assist freshmen with many complex issues inherent in the first year experience ofhigh school. This study used an experimental design by using three high schools inFranklin County, Kansas to investigate one particular freshman transition program whichhas a unique leadership component, the LINK program. Its purpose was to see if theLINK program had a significant effect on the level of success experienced by freshmen intheir first year of high school. Success in the freshman year was measured by threevariables – the perceived level of positivity, the perceived level of participation andinvolvement, and the perceived level of feelings of support freshmen experienced fromtheir school in their first year. The study found the LINK program did not significantlyeffect the level of success experienced by freshmen, but suggested how the LINKprogram and other freshmen transition programs may continue to be viewed in terms oftheir contribution to creating a more positive first year experience for freshmen.