The rapid increase in the number of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students is especially significant in the nation's large urban school districts. The numbers of LEP students in special, bilingual education programs has exploded due to the constant stream of immigrants into the United States and the inability of so many children, even those who…

Based on extensive research with children and young adults, this book examines adaptive and maladaptive cognitive-motivational patterns and shows how these patterns originate in people's self theories; their consequences for one's achievement, social relationships, and emotional well-being; their consequences for society; and the experiences that…

Summarizes a study on educational conditions for Hispanic children within the context of school desegregation. Reports that continued segregation generates and sustains Hispanic school failure. (ST)

The author responds to alarm over declining national test scores by outlining possible improvements for educational practice and policy. (LH)

A survey of 1,250 foreign and local students enrolled at 3 South Australian universities investigated their attitudes about study-related and personal experiences, and issues in student choice of university and subsequent evaluation of the institution. Results indicated that while foreign students experience more problems and more severe problems,…

The relationship between performance on tests of minimum competency (MCT) required for high school graduation and dropout behavior was studied with 76,664 Florida students. Results indicate that MCT failure increases the likelihood of leaving school only for students doing well academically, but not for minority students or those doing poorly.…

This article explores conceptual and technical issues associated with options for specifying three assessment components for implementing an intervention responsiveness approach to the identification of learning disabilities: the timing of the measurement of student response to intervention; the criterion for demarcating learning as inadequate;…

Examines school roles, school factors, and peer-group influence in predicting Mexican-American adolescents' inhalant use. Surveys 599 adolescents to determine whether unconventional peer associations promote inhalant use. Links academic performance, conduct to drug use. Concludes negative social identity often defined by schools. Makes…

Large numbers of African Americans learn early in life that they fail to perform adequately in mathematics and science, resulting in helplessness syndromes. Learned helplessness in science and mathematics can be ameliorated through desensitization of mathematics phobia, freeing educational environments of crowding and noise, and special career…

Reviews the literature on home-school disjunctures in language use. Argues that social inequalities are the true source of the academic failure of minority students and that attention must be given to the political link between school and society. (FMW)

Discusses the drop out rate and the at-risk youth problem. Summarizes what some implemented federal and state programs are doing and what some will do. Lists goals of several states. (MVL)

Field observations of and interviews with 13 low-skilled 6th graders in physical education indicated that they all exhibited symptoms of learned helplessness. Students had knowledge of being low-skilled, and they experienced teachers communicating low expectations to them. Students were unwilling to expend effort to learn skills, so they were…

Eight kindergarten teachers identified 53 students who were likely to experience difficulty in school and profiled the students in terms of pupil characteristics that are, according to research, implicated in early school performance. Low scores in student behavior, family structure, language, personality, and age were most representative of the…

Seventy-four retained students in grades 3 through 6 were compared with 60 randomly selected students, 69 matched-ability students, and 35 students who were socially promoted. Early academic difficulties tend to persist. Although retention does not eliminate academic problems, social promotion may exacerbate them. (SLD)

Sixty-two college students with learning disabilities were compared to 58 peers matched on gender and American College Testing composite score. Groups were compared on age, high school preparation and performance, college grades, grade point average at the end of each year of study, graduation and academic failure rate, and time taken to complete…