With increasing numbers of students receiving gifted services every year, it is more important than ever to make certain we are meeting their unique learning needs in the classroom. Differentiated instruction for these learners must go beyond adjusting content levels, task complexity, or product choice--it must truly challenge and support learners…

This guidance report offers early years professionals seven practical evidence-based recommendations to provide every child--but particularly those from disadvantaged homes--with a high quality and well-rounded grounding in early literacy, language and communication. One recommendation focuses on the importance of high quality interactions between…

This paper looks at recent trends in Government policy and practice around supporting and involving parents of children with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN) in their care, development and education. In particular, the paper examines the opportunities offered in the Children's Plan ( DCSF, 2007) and "Aiming High" (HM TreasuryDfES,…

Discusses the national trend toward full-day kindergarten scheduling and a 2-year experiment involving alternate-day and half-day programs in Pasco, Washington. Early findings show no significant differences in children's achievement, classroom study habits, or social skills. Poor and minority children benefit from increased conversational…

This issue of the "Quarterly Resource" focuses on Head Start's role in complying with federal regulation concerning Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for young children with disabilities. The report spells out the responsibilities of the local education agency and of the Head Start program. It discusses membership on the…

This document, prepared by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory's (AEL) School Family Relations Program, contains research of six special needs families: families with handicapped children, families with low socioeconmic status, minority families, rural Appalachian families, single-parent families, and two-job families. The synopses are based on…

Rather than promote access, college admissions and financial aid processes often create a series of barriers that the poorest student must overcome to get to college. The Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) of the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California directed a three-year research initiative,…

The federal government is devoting millions of dollars to charter and voucher programs that currently require parents to abandon regular public schools. The goal of the authors of The School Choice Hoax is to expose the misleading hyperbole that has been driving the school choice movement and to show how charter schools can become more effective…

Deploring children's declining political leverage because of greed, adult self-interest, and mindless military pursuits, this article analyzes six circumstances confronting today's children. These include lack of political will, a negative view of government, changing demographics affecting social strategies, recent business interest in children,…

This paper discusses the problems faced by Minnesota's Supporting Diversity in Schools organization in communicating their goal of making schools responsive to students of differing ethnic backgrounds. It was found that using terms such as "multicultural curriculum" and "isolation of schools and communities of color from one…

This newsletter describes the 6-year Supporting Diversity in Schools (SDS) project that seeks to create school environments free of racial prejudice and privilege. It briefly describes the program's working themes: (1) giving a voice to people who have traditionally been silent in the shaping of classroom practices; (2) developing pride in…

This paper discusses major issues having to do with definition of terms and implementation strategies implicit in the first national education goal, which states: "By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn." The principles articulated in the paper by a collaboration of agencies and the private sector are…

Chapter 1 is a federal assistance program that provides supplementary financial aid to public school districts, attempting to improve the educational opportunities of educationally deprived children residing in high poverty areas. The program assists qualified students in both public and private schools. This brochure answers questions that…

Demographic changes are causing leaders in education, business and civic affairs to address new questions about racial and ethnic diversity. What opportunities does diversity provide? What difficulties does it create? What changes are needed in the ways that people look at problems, define solutions and do the everyday business of their lives? The…

This monograph investigates and discusses the various approaches of innovative financing initiatives in higher education which have developed over the last few years. The 16 chapters and authors are as follows: "Stresses in the Student Financial Aid System" (Martin Kramer); "Evolution and Prospects of Financing Alternatives for…