This digest includes several articles relating to perceived gender differences among early adolescents. "Middle School Voices on Gender Identity" (Cynthia Mee) describes a study in which 2,000 middle school students in grades five through eight were interviewed with a 52-item open-ended questionnaire. Three statements from the questionnaire were…

This study examined the effects of individual differences, attitudes, past performances, and teaching behaviors on 286 undergraduate college students' achievement, attribution, affective, and motivational outcomes. The study was conducted at the University of Manitoba using a theoretical model based on Weiner's theory of achievement motivation.…

The Spanish speaking Mexican immigrant population accounts for the fastest growing population in California, where one in six students is an immigrant. This study utilized organizational theory to relate school characteristics such as interdependence, coordination, and information processing to working with immigrant students. The sample consisted…

There is abundant theoretical support for the value of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) at the elementary school level, but there has been relatively little research to document its effects. This paper explores the relationship between DAP and student achievement among low-income students in St. Paul, Minnesota, using research from an…

Examining the characteristics of school districts against the characteristics of 55.3 million "school-age children" (3- to 17-years-old) plus 18- and 19-year-olds who had not graduated from college) provides important insights into observed interrelationships. This report describes ways in which the characteristics of the children, such as…

A survey of 419 Kentucky regular public schools was conducted to investigate how special education services are presently delivered to children with disabilities in the context of the statewide educational reform movement. The study examined: (1) how many regular public schools in Kentucky are practicing full inclusion; (2) how full inclusion and…

The increasing diversity of students in today's schools has led to much categorization and labeling and to a set of fragmented categorical programs. While in principle an inclusive school system should provide for the diverse needs of all students, in practice a disjointed and separatist system for special students continues to be the norm.…

This manual contains the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CCSAQ), a measure designed to assist service agencies working with children with disabilities and their families in self-evaluation of their cross-cultural competence. The measure is based on the Child and Adolescent Service System Program Cultural Competence Model. This…

This is one component of an in-depth, longitudinal case study investigating the deliberate attempt to infuse a science multicultural perspective throughout an elementary teacher education program at a major research university. Intending teachers' perspectives of being inducted into a profession overtly signifying its commitment to multicultural…

According to self-efficacy theorists, people's judgments of what they can accomplish are influential arbiters in human agency and, as such, powerful determinants of their behavior. In large part, this is because these self-efficacy beliefs are said to act as mediators between other acknowledged influences on behavior, such as skill, ability,…

This analysis of the retirement plans of college and university faculty and staff used data from the 1993 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty. It first determined the proportion of faculty who are age 55 or older by institutional type, discipline, gender, and minority/nonminority status and then analyzed their retirement plans using the same…

This book examines the role of religion in U.S. education. The book argues that public schools and universities must take religion seriously. Written from the perspective of a philosopher and generalist, the volume asserts that people need to have a better understanding of the deep assumptions that shape their thinking about religion and education…

Focusing on the states of California and New York, this book highlights the political aspects of educational policy, the configurations of power and how they play out with respect to history-social studies curriculum policy. The volume examines the politics of multicultural curriculum policymaking in these two states within the context of the…

This study, conducted at Northeastern Illinois University, examined gender differences in professional goals of 95 degreed, professionally experienced students seeking secondary certification in mathematics and science (50 females and 45 males). An analysis of the stated goals found that all goals could be assigned to the following 10 categories:…

Self-understanding is critical to effective teaching and leadership. This article reviews the importance of self-knowledge as a cornerstone in education programs, then describes a process for developing self-understanding and some of the assessment instruments used in these programs. Finally, the paper summarizes the data provided by 281 students…