In England, parents make "choices" (in reality, "preferences") for the state-maintained secondary schools they wish their child to attend. If there are more applicants than places, the school's published admissions criteria are used to give priority to applicants. This article examines how school composition in London varies by…

Describes a study that investigated the effects of promising pupils that a letter would be sent to their parents if they showed "good" progress in English comprehension. Results indicated a larger significant increase in scores for those pupils who had been promised a letter to their parents than for those who had not been given this promise. (NRJ)

The issue of student success is a common concern in the typical community college, and no less so at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) in New Mexico. As a result of a comprehensive program review of student success rates in mathematics, the Mathematics Departments in the Divisions of Arts and Sciences and Developmental Studies collaborated on…

This issue of ETS Policy Notes highlights the ETS Symposium on Latino Achievement in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), held by ETS, the College Board, and the Hispanic Research Center at Arizona State University in Princeton, NJ, November 20-22, 2005. The conference had three major goals: (1) Exploring the challenges,…

Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study, the achievement growth of students in magnet schools, Catholic schools, and secular private schools was compared to that of students in public comprehensive schools during the first two years of high school. Some advantages of magnet schools and Catholic schools are discussed. (SLD)

IN THIS REPORT TO THE COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS, THE NATURE AND IMPACT OF EXISTING COMPENSATORY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED, GENERAL CRITERIA FOR THE SUCCESS OF SUCH PROGRAMS ARE DETERMINED, AND THE COST FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS IS ESTIMATED. AFTER A REVIEW OF NINE CURRENT COMPENSATORY PROGRAMS THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT…

This newsletter summarizes the work of a committee, set up by the Ministry of Education, which sought to define the objectives and the methods of student evaluation and to draw up a proposal for reforming and standardizing student evaluation in the comprehensive and the secondary school. Deficiencies of current methods of student evaluation are…

Examines the relationship between statewide implementation of comprehensive guidance and counseling programs and indicators of success and safety for seventh graders (N=22,601). Students attending schools with more fully implemented comprehensive programs reported: feeling safer attending schools; having better relationships with their teachers;…

Examines the relationship between statewide implementation of comprehensive guidance and counseling programs and indicators of success and safety for seventh graders (N=22,601). Students attending schools with more fully implemented comprehensive programs reported: feeling safer attending schools; having better relationships with their teachers;…

Describes the integrated comprehensive school (ICS) in Germany, where, as of 1988, 90 percent of all students attended traditional schools. Traces the history of comprehensive schools in Germany and examines their philosophy and objectives. States comprehensive schooling cannot create equal social entitlements but can encourage all students to…

James Bryant Conant issued his famous report, "The American High School Today," in 1959, giving voice to a clear and influential reaffirmation of the comprehensive secondary school. Conant's vision in this, and in another work, "Slums and Suburbs" (1961) makes an interesting point of departure for consideration of the forces…

In this age of greater school accountability, some the country's larger comprehensive high schools have lost their allure with the public. Because of significant achievement gaps between White and minority students, many of these schools have been blamed for not meeting the needs of poor and disadvantaged students. Detractors point out that these…

Chris Barbic, a Teach For America corps member, started Project Youth Engaged in Service (YES) in 1995. He wanted to offer his former elementary-school students an alternative to the low-performing middle schools they otherwise would attend. Since then Barbic has led a high-energy team of educators in refining a comprehensive approach to helping…

Project Support, a 3-year project funded by the federal government, was designed as a demonstration of the impact of a comprehensive school-based drug and gang prevention program for high-risk students in six elementary schools in Los Angeles (California). In addition to providing some programs for entire grade levels, the program planned to…