Examines the effects of poverty on parenting, noting the work of the Kennedy Center at Peabody College and discussing parenting as a process, how parents are influenced by poverty, how parenting in poverty influences children's development, how children are directly and indirectly influenced by poverty, and factors that mediate the debilitating…

Despite the profession's historic commitment to poor people, little advanced social work practice is reported in work-enhancement programs. Outlines employment-related needs among poor people in the context of economic and policy change. Discusses successful work programs. (Author/JDM)

A program to mesh the skills of counselors and tutors was implemented in an educational-opportunity program designed to serve underprepared and economically disadvantaged students at a New York four-year college in the late 1980s. The model's success resulted in additional private funding at the original site and incorporation of the model into…

Discusses the large-scale reemergence of homelessness within the last 20 years. Examines the characteristics of the newly and chronic homeless. Considers a number of economic and public-policy factors contributing to this situation. Outlines a classroom presentation using graphs, statistics, and discussion questions to illustrate this information.…

According to a Michigan State University study of auto workers, the equivalent of an eighth-grade mathematics education is adequate preparation for nonprofessional, high-tech work. Another MSU study by Nell Duke discovered that children in higher SES classrooms have richer print experiences than do less advantaged children. (MLH)

Highlights the body of available service-learning knowledge in the United States as found via a literature review of the National Clearinghouse for Service-Learning. The authors show that, while urban, suburban, and rural programs are often similar, urban programs focus more on disadvantaged youth and at-risk students and deal more with literacy…

Provides a critical perspective on service learning, and raises issues about focusing on the growth of students, which often ignores the service recipients and fails to ask how service is affecting the communities in which it is being performed. A new service-learning paradigm is offered to overcome some perceived inconsistencies in the existing…

Describes two-generation programs and how they differ from earlier single-focus approaches to serve children and families. Results from six programs are reviewed and indicate mixed and modest success in promoting the development of children and improving the parenting skills and economic self-sufficiency of parents. Recommendations are presented…

Describes urban school instability in Chicago public elementary schools and explores its causes, namely residential mobility and school-related reasons. The impact of mobility on students, schools, and urban education is also examined. It indicates that improved schools lose their accomplishments as students transfer, and mobile students forfeit…

Argues that urban public schools' multicultural curriculum either bridges or fragments students' racial and ethnic differences. Further, it maintains that racial and ethnic conflict intensifies when school officials attempt to design their multicultural curriculum around the themes of citizenship and community which makes student differences…

Argues that society ought to provide all its school children with access to computers. The authors explain that the dearth of computers in inner-city schools is compounded by the students not having access to computers in their homes. A New York City project that evaluated how technology can improve learning among at-risk students is described.…

The rural poverty rate declined and family income grew in 1998, but poor family incomes declined considerably. Most rural poor families had at least one worker. Poor rural workers tended to work part-time, live in female-headed families, and have a high school education or less. Rural working poor families relied more on assistance programs than…

Discusses U.S. economic trends for the past century. Notes that distribution of wealth is more concentrated at top than is distribution of income, with income inequality growing worse in the 1990s. Maintains that wealth disparity explains achievement test score gaps between white and minority students. Presents proposals for asset-building,…

This study examined the relationships among academic achievement, dropout patterns, and welfare reform strategies. Findings suggest that welfare reform has not translated into better educational trajectories for children from poor families. Findings suggest the need for stronger linkages between welfare departments and school systems for adopting…

Describes programs and activities at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, distinguished Title I school in Vancouver, Washington. With nearly 40% English-language learners and a diverse group of immigrant students, the school uses bilingual staff assistants to ensure that all students' needs are met and to promote parent-school connections. Features a…