School dropout prevention: What arts‐based community and out‐of‐school‐time programs can contribute

Out‐of‐school‐time programs, especially arts‐based programs, can be critical players in a community's efforts to prevent school dropout. This research review suggests the following approaches for arts‐based programs: (1) recruitment and retention of target populations with multiple risk factors; (2) long‐term skill development that engages youth behaviorally, emotionally, and academically rather than a drop‐in culture; (3) an emphasis on the critical ingredient of real‐world applications through performance; (4) staff development and mentoring; (5) a strategic community‐level plan for dropout prevention; (6) and program content reframed toward competencies that underlie better school performance and prosocial behavior, such as communication, initiative, problem solving, motivation, and self‐efficacy.