Principal Mirna Ortiz recalled. Brislina had problems at home, became a runaway, was seen with gang members, then dropped out of her second stint of summer school. Along the way, she worked in a factory putting sausage on pizza. Ortiz said Brislina is her first dropout in 11 years as a principal. Brislina said last August.
Many studies indicate retention greatly enhances students' chances of dropping out.
For double-retainees such as Brislina, one Chicago study in 1985 put the likelihood at 70 percent. Her first time through sixth grade, Raquel said, she talked a lot in class and cared more about her friends than her schoolwork. But forced to start sixth grade a second time this fall, Raquel buckled down and more than doubled her study time at home.