Florida State University

The purpose of this study was to collect information related to school music programs facing challengin circumstances in educating at-risk students. At-risk students are defined as those who are in debilitating social-emotional, socioeconomic, physical, academic, or criminal difficulties, as well as those where circumstances may diminish their likelihood of graduating from school and/or becoming successful in society. Specifically, this study will assist educators, and primarily music educators, in addressing four important issues that include:
1) defining the problems associated with at-risk students
2) identifying intervention programs that can help at-risk students success and achievement.
3) identifying strategies, policies, and actions that will improve at-risk students' performance in music programs, and
4) allowing music teachers to provide recommendations/suggestions that have been helpful during their tenure as researchers. For this study, 500 music educators will be forwarded surveys.

For this study, at-risk students are defined as those who are in debilitating social-emotional, socioeconomic, physical, academic, or criminal difficulties, as well as those where circumstances may diminish their likelihood of graduating from school and/or becoming successful in society. Music programs have been beneficial to at-risk students because of the social, emotional, and cognitive learning behaviors that help nurture their success.