The concurrent validity of three types of reading ability assessments was evaluated with 312 Australian primary-level children. Results suggest that the nature of the skills required for success in reading changes in the primary years, and that both teacher-based and test-based assessments concur more closely as children progress through the…

Five articles review drawbacks of traditional programs for at-risk youth, discuss alternatives based on a new definition of risk, and cite examples of helpful programs. They focus on identifying at-risk youth, providing caring and services, measuring service demand, removing obstacles to learning, and special needs of migrant youth. (SLD)

Montgomery County High School in Mount Vernon (Georgia) revised the U.S. history course as an initial step in making provisions for gifted and talented students. The curriculum and evaluation process are described. The course helps address concerns about underprivileged students and middle-class youth who may require more challenge. (SLD)

This article describes a service delivery system for limited English proficiency students in regular and special education programs using problem-solving teams and criterion-referenced and/or curriculum-based assessment, with an emphasis on reciprocal interaction teaching. Goals include improved academic performance and more reliable referral of…

This article reviews normal processes of hearing and speech perception, including developmental stages involved in audition. A historical review of nonelectronic and electronic amplification systems, including cochlear implants and vibrotactile aids, auditory assessment procedures, and acoustic and multisensory auditory training methodologies and…

Discusses how national unity can be maintained in countries such as Canada while accommodating ethnocultural diversity. Compares the human capital, cultural capital, and social capital of young boys from culturally mixed backgrounds. Suggests a situational identity that allows one to choose and to live according to the current milieu. (KS)

As part of the Chapter 1 program, the U.S. Department of Education conducts research activities and uses nominations from a variety of sources to identify promising practices and document their success. The department disseminates this information through its award process in the Chapter 1 School Recognition Program. (SLD)

In its most recent phase of return and reconciliation, autobiography of the Black south demonstrates the regaining of freedom on southern soil, an act of transcendence that transforms the previous scene of oppression into a sanctuary of beloved community. Examples of autobiographical works of reconciliation are reviewed. (SLD)

Discusses computer simulations in science education and presents the results of a study of 39 ninth-grade earth-science students to determine the effects of computer-simulated mineral identification activities on test performance. Results indicated no difference in test scores between the group using real minerals and the group using a computer…

A rural New Mexico project identifies gifted Hispanic and Native American children in the visual arts. Committees of parents, teachers, artists, and administrators use identification procedures sensitive to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences and community ethnic identity. Program elements include culturally relevant differentiated…

Examines developing cultural and linguistic identities of three French/English bilingual children reared in two linguistic cultures: American and Quebecois. Results indicate the adolescent boy, who speaks more English than French, identifies with his American peers, from whom he conceals his bilingualism. The twin girls, in a French-immersion…

A study of 26 Asian-American students with learning disabilities in grades K-5 found that although the district policies reflected desired professional practices, there were no guidelines for documenting how variables such as second-language acquisition, culture, socioeconomic status, and other differences were accommodated. Policy recommendations…

This article describes the Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, an assessment designed to evaluate the intellectual ability of students ages 6 to 18.11 years for whom other mental ability tests are inappropriate or to enable comparisons between verbal and nonverbal intellectual ability. Its administration, standardization, reliability,…

Discusses the inappropriate referral of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students for speech-language therapy. Preassessment considerations that should be considered and the interrelatedness of culture, language, and communication as they impact on an individual learner's behavior are explained. Culturally appropriate assessment…

Qualitative data about the Baltimore (Maryland) Educational Scholarship Trust, a program to place disadvantaged and talented African-American youth in private schools were analyzed. The study reveals that peer networks of African-American students in predominantly White elite independent schools support these students' academic success, allow them…