This document presents a guide to help students, who are entering the ninth grade, and their parents prepare for the transition from middle school to high school. The booklet is organized around a series of questions that students might ask themselves as they begin to plan for their high school careers. Each question is considered and discussed to…

Economists use nonrandom sampling and self-selectivity models to analyze a variety of issues. Individuals are not homogeneous and self-select into those alternatives where they have a comparative advantage. Examples where self-selection models have been applied include analyzing schooling, labor supply, and career choices. A student's…

Argues that the general public must be educated in the mission and methods of home economics educators or the profession will not receive the support it requires during budget cuts and decreasing enrollments. Presents implications for curriculum development. (CH)

The purpose of this study is to compare the academic performance of male and female students in high school elective science courses. The data for this study were drawn from the grade books of six teachers of elective science courses and consists of the grades earned by the males and females during one academic year. The number of students…

This booklet discusses the need to expand advanced placement programs for high school students and gives some examples of programs that are giving more students the opportunity to take advanced placement courses. The greatest challenge is to increase the numbers of poor and minority students taking Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,…

This study investigates how the structure of the high school curriculum influences how far graduates get in the secondary mathematics course pipeline, and their level of achievement in that subject by the end of high school. The study draws on data from the High School Effectiveness Supplement (HSES) of NELS:88, a broad-based longitudinal study of…

Minors and certificate programs focused on service-learning, leadership, and/or community service are becoming increasingly available for undergraduate students throughout the U.S. Minors and certificate programs tend to focus in one of three areas: (1) A minor or certificate earned by engaging in community service and service-learning activities;…

Analysis of National Education Longitudinal Survey data indicates that a balance between career-technical and academic course taking influences test scores and dropout. A ratio of approximately three career-technical credits to four academic credits was associated with the lowest likelihood of dropping out. (Contains 26 references.) (SK)

Features a one page "at a glance" planning sheet for mapping out a student's high school coursework and for monitoring progress as the years go by. The objectives are to plan coursework selection; monitor progress; and show what courses have been completed, what courses are required, or elective courses that are yet to be completed. (JPS)

National Longitudinal Survey data were used to estimate the effects of specific high school curricula on wages and educational attainment. Return to additional academic courses was small, suggesting that the value of a year of high school cannot be accounted for by estimates of the value of courses taken. (SK)

Comparison of scores of 166 undergraduates on the Mathematics American College Test, Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale, and an outcome expectation scale showed that self-efficacy mediated the effects of past achievement on interest in math. Achievement and self-efficacy predicted math grades; outcome expectation and self-efficacy predicted interest…

In Australia, apprentices and trainees can choose training providers using public funds to finance training. User choice raises policy issues in several areas: access in remote locations, impact on equity groups, competitiveness of training markets, and tensions among stakeholders (government, employers, providers, apprentices). (SK)

A study of 719 men and 464 women (of whom 416 were studying advanced-level economics) found no gender differences in attitudes toward economics once they are studying it. Among those who chose not to study it, women identify lack of knowledge as the principal reason. (SK)

Explores why men and women decide to major in engineering. Results show that the most significant determinant of selecting an engineering major is gender. Indicates that advanced math and science courses are more important determinants for women. (Author/CCM)

Used the statistical technique of conjoint analysis to examine students' choices of elective courses. Computed the relative contributions to student satisfaction, or "utility," of five course- and instructor-level attributes hypothesized to influence registration decisions. Found that students' choices are in large part a function of the course's…