392 Volume 21 ✤ Number 3 ✤ Spring 2010 ✤ pp. 392–425 a The Ste pping Stone Phenomenon: Exploring the Role of Positive Attrition at an Early College Entrance Program Nancy N. Heilbronner Western Connecticut State University Elizabeth E. Connell The University of Georgia Sally M. Dobyns University of Louisiana at Lafayette Sally M. Reis University of Connecticut Acceleration is one way to meet the academic needs of gifted stu- dents, and early college entrance programs represent one type of acceleration. Students typically enter these programs between the ages of 14 and 16, sometimes leaving home to live on campus if the programs are residential. Students who transfer out prior to graduating often do not return to high school. Instead, they choose to enter universities that are more selective or provide a larger selec- tion of majors. In the current study, researchers used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the reasons for student attri- tion at one all-female early college acceleration program. Review of the Literature Acceleration may take place by enabling talented students to move more rapidly than usual through a curriculum or by