By devolving authority to local schools, the 1988 Chicago School Reform Act sought to weaken central power in the school system and to promote greater site-based control. This report presents the voices of Chicago Illinois public school students regarding their school experiences--how they describe their teachers and peers, their classes, and…

A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College, in Maryland, to investigate the relatively low pass rates associated with General Chemistry 1 (CHM101), a lower-level science course that satisfies a general education requirement and serves as a prerequisite for Chemistry and Biology students. To identify correlates of student success,…

The 1990s are being labeled as the era of juvenile crime and violence. This program was developed, implemented, and targeted for adolescent minority males (n=25), in order to: (1) help identify at-risk students; (2) provide guidance; (3) provide strategies for academic success; (4) provide mentors; and (5) reduce the number of suspensions. Faculty…

The media has criticized the American education system for being slow to implement technology in schools. To remedy that perception, the federal government and private corporations have planned additional funding for technology. This paper reflects on previous attempts to change, such as "New Math" or the "Follow Through" post-Head Start program,…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of educators regarding the impact of grade retention on K-5 elementary students. Principals (N=384) and teachers (N=384) in K-5 elementary schools from 11 southern states were surveyed. The study included 169 responses from principals and 140 responses from teachers. The data revealed that…

In 1989 the Education Ministers of the European Community passed a resolution to combat school failure. This document was prepared by EURYDICE, the information network formed by the Council on European Communities and the Ministers of Education. The document describes the overall situation in which school failure arises in the various education…

Many sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students in this nation are intelligent and talented, but are nevertheless performing at unacceptably low levels. Many middle-school initiatives do not address the need for comprehensive change in the policy and practices of district and state educational systems, nor do they address the content, quality,…

The Illinois Prekindergarten Program for Children at Risk of Academic Failure was a grant program for public school districts to enhance growth and development of children ages 3 to 5 who are at risk of academic failure. The program has experienced significant growth since its initial implementation, and the number of participating projects…

This paper explores the scope of "failure" in the period of practice immediately prior to teacher certification, by examining personal experiences of 25 preservice teachers who "failed" or hovered in failure-like circumstances. Indicators of failure included poor interpersonal skills, lack of primary focus on students, lack of commitment and…

This report summarizes two joint sessions held by the Indian Nations At Risk Task Force and the National Advisory Council on Indian Education to hear testimony on issues related to the academic performance of Native American students. Educators, employers, parents, and tribal officials testified on the following topics: Native students' high…

This paper analyzes the value of student retention practices, or of flunking students, and presents viable options. Advocates of retention argue that it prevents future academic failure, ensures mastery of the basic skills necessary for success in higher grades, and motivates students. However, others argue that retention is associated with…

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of minority students who take the General Knowledge Test of the National Teachers Examination (NTE) Core Battery. Low minority pass rates on these tests demonstrate the need for interventions to increase the supply of minority teachers. Data were analyzed to determine candidates': (1)…

Many colleges continue to report high attrition rates among distance education students. This study included a survey of students at Coastline Community College to determine why they dropped or failed their distance-learning courses and to identify methods that might improve their success and retention. Questionnaires were sent to a group of…

To examine clinical implications for using maternal language as a dimension of assessment and intervention, a linguistic and behavioral analysis was completed on a mother suspected of neglect during interaction with her 5-month-old failure-to-thrive infant. Results of the videotaped sample were compared to previous research on maternal language…

Millions of school children are currently at risk of academic failure; the potential costs to society are staggering. If the central factors causing a child's poor social adjustment can be addressed, both the rate of school failure and social service costs can be reduced. Attempting to control the school failure issue, the Wisconsin State…