A method was developed for identifying students who may be at high risk for failing the State Board Licensing Examination (SBE) for registered nurses. The subjects used in developing prediction equations included 50 students who graduated from the nursing program at Saint Joseph's College (SJC) in North Windham (Maine) during the years 1983-84.…

This practicum proposal was directed at a targeted group of 10th grade students (n=40) failing after the first 3 weeks of school in either mathematics, science, or English. The Teacher-Parent Communication Program was designed to increase communication between teachers and parents to improve the academic performance of low-achieving high school…

Noting that illiteracy in the workplace is currently a major problem for American businesses and corporations, this booklet, developed by the National Commission for Employment Policy and Project Literacy U.S., suggests ways in which companies can help their workers become literate. The booklet first outlines the extent of the problem of…

This newsletter describes the Reading Recovery program, developed in New Zealand to help low-achieving first-grade students "recover" 90 percent of average first-grade reading and writing skills after 12 to 18 weeks of intensive instruction. It is currently being implemented by school districts in the United States as well--statewide in…

The progress of 243 students repeating first grade in 1981-82 was compared with matched low achievers in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District. Mean achievement scores were obtained for each year between spring 1981 and spring 1986 for the two groups and compared to the national average. Regression analyses were used to compare the…

Attrition for various demographic groups in the several major disciplinary areas represented by graduate students enrolled at New Mexico State University during the fall semesters of the years 1979, 1980, and 1981 are presented. Questions addressed include: overall rate of attrition; significant variance among students from year to year; sex ratio…

In a study of academic attribution patterns, teachers were asked to suggest causes for the successes and failures of students whose backgrounds had been manipulated to provide various combinations of social class (middle, lower), race (White, Asian American), and gender. It was found that teachers cited causes internal to the student more often…

Societal trends and related pressures on children have generated a greater need for school support of independent reading, which can help students develop lifetime literacy and prevent school failure and dropping out. Providing opportunities for free reading during the school day is a qualitative way of filling a literacy gap for children.…

The number of students retained in grade in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) has increased dramatically since new promotion policies were instituted in 1981 and Texas House Bill (HB) 72 was passed. Elementary school promotion is now tied to mastery of essential skills; secondary students must meet attendance requirements, as…

In an effort to determine success characteristics of introductory chemistry students, 135 enrollees in seven introductory chemistry classes at Oakton Community College were surveyed in the spring semester, 1977. Of the 120 respondents, it was found that 75% had enrolled because of curricular requirements in a career field, and only 8% did so…

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the effect of non-promotion on the self concept of pupils in public elementary schools. First graders (N=585) from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania were administered the FACES self concept scale at two different times during the 1973-1974 school year. Of these first graders, 25 non-promoted pupils,…

This report examines some myths and stereotypes in the light of factual information about cultural and learning characteristics of minority group children in urban school settings. Cited among the most prevalent myths are that the academic failure of urban children results from genetically determined intellectual inferiority, and that the failures…

Drawing on more than 11 surveys conducted over more than a decade, this book investigates the relationship between personal characteristics and economic success among American males aged 25 to 64. Responding to the controversy that followed the publication of "Inequality: A Reassessment of the Effect of Family and Schooling in America," this book…

A study was carried out of the 15 to 20% of immigrants enrolled in French second language classes in the "Centres d'Orientation et de Formation des Immigrants" (COFI) in Quebec, who learn little or no French after 8 weeks of an intensive course and repetitions of the course. This report presents the data gathered in the course of the…

Techniques and procedures used to evaluate the outcomes of the student development program, and to use the evaluation results, are presented. Specific evaluation questions are posed that address overall outcomes, not individual student outcomes, and quantitative measures are suggested to accompany the questions. The measures include statistical…