Reviews research on minority school failure. Contrasts work of microethnographers, which has resulted in"cultural difference" explanations, with more comprehensive work of Ogbu, who advocates a multilevel macroethnographic approach. Describes research in South Texas that does not support certain aspects of Ogbu's caste theory. Advocates…

A theory is presented explaining some gifted students' tendency to underachieve after showing promise in younger years. It is argued that reductions from originally high levels of empowerment and support from parents may cause reduced academic effort and performance. Guidelines for avoiding this pitfall while empowering children are offered. (PB)

Describes how basal readers manufacture reading failures among students from less-privileged economic and social backgrounds. Reviews the history of reading instruction in the United States. Calls for educators to speak out against reading practices that protect the privilege of the upper and upper-middle classes by encoding their values and…

Examines the complex social and educational problem of school failure in Portugal. Defines school failure's place within the Portuguese educational system and traces its causes. Explores forms of assessment in elementary and secondary education, analyzing them in terms of student achievement rates and dropout rates. Discusses measures currently…

Reviews the definition of failure to thrive (FTT) and its relationship to theories of child development as FTT is an early physical marker of risk with long-term consequences. These children are often eligible for services through PL99-457, and psychologists can play an integral role in multidisciplinary evaluation and on intervention team.…

Describes Project ACHIEVE, a comprehensive reform process focused on helping schools deal more effectively with at-risk and underachieving students. Presents the seven components of the project, three-year implementation process, systems-level data, and impact on one elementary school. Describes results from multiple systems, teacher, student, and…

Examines contributions of academia to widespread underperformance and failure in information technology investments. Cites the dominance of economic-technological considerations over human-organizational ones. Concludes that interdisciplinary collaboration and dialog are needed to integrate the knowledge and expertise of information technology and…

In a Texas study, six successful women superintendents identified vision, passion and commitment, promotion of leadership in others, integrity, knowledge, and stamina as important leadership qualities. Family support, varied work experiences, mentors, formal education, turning points, and failure played important roles in their leadership…

To allow variable amounts of time for students to complete Algebra I, a gateway course, schools must address four issues: curriculum, instructional methods, assessment, and scheduling. The Algebra I curriculum should be divided into four parts; assessments should be designed to measure students' mastery of each part. Also, a two-period block of…

An ethnographic analysis of the cultural constructs of various disabilities, such as deafness, learning disabilities, and illiteracy, reveals identifications attuned to the workings of institutions serving political and economic ends through formal educational means rather than identifications of truly disabled persons. (MMU)

Evaluated the academic achievement of 601 Australian university students (N=601) in an early childhood second-year language, literature, and literacy unit. Although previous research findings concerning effects of study mode, previous university qualifications, and past academic performance on achievement were supported, a significant relationship…

Studies a new approach to ipsative analysis of children's profiles on a test of ability. Uses the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) processes measured by the Cognitive Assessment System to illustrate how profile analysis could be accomplished. Results suggest that the ipsative approach may offer promise for identification of…

Investigated identity development, self-esteem, and career development of 164 academically dismissed college students. Found that these students needed career information but did not view a systematic exploration of career opportunities as useful. Degree of identity development correlated positively with career development variables for upper…

Unsuccessful mature applicants to University College Dublin (n=74) identified barriers encountered in the application process: low number of older applicants admitted due to demand from younger applicants; lack of standardized assessments for mature applicants; and lack of recognized access routes. (SK)

Timing of first fatherhood was examined in a sample of 206 at-risk, predominantly White men, followed prospectively for 17 years. An event history analysis was used to test a model wherein antisocial behavior, the contextual and familial factors that may contribute to the development of antisocial behavior, and common correlates of such behavior,…