Outlines the six factors for successful educational reform: (1) key parties working together; (2) a strong base of teacher support; (3) teachers at the center of curricular revision; (4) sufficient funding from a variety of sources; (5) commitment to school-based decision making; (6) a close connection between curriculum and technology. (AEF)

A consultation framework with strong theoretical and conceptual support is presented, called the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS). The overall goal of COMPASS is to provide indirect intervention to help students with autism achieve competence. COMPASS was also designed to provide collaboration among educators and…

Research on the construct of teachability is reviewed. Teachability refers to a teacher's views of students' amenability to instruction and their likelihood of success in school. A critique of the sparse research indicates disagreement about whether the concept is an absolute student condition. (SLD)

The effectiveness of health care for high risk adolescents was studied. Seven funded clinics were compared to three non-funded clinics. Funded clinics detected and treated a wider range of medical and behavioral problems than the others. Males must be encouraged to seek these services. Specific interventions for adolescent patients are needed. (VM)

Examination of 10 small private successful liberal arts colleges identified the following key characteristics: clear and articulate leadership, strong management support, collegial atmosphere, well-focused institutional mission, and continuous innovation. Colleges were Bates (Maine), Beloit (Wisconsin), Berry (Georgia), Centre (Kentucky),…

Carefully reviewed Merton's writings on anomie theory to construct a more complete and rigorous test of the theory for respondents in early, middle, and late adolescence. Concluded that misspecified models of strain theory have underestimated the predictive power of strain theory in general and of anomie theory in particular. (JBJ)

The experience of the school-choice program in Alum Rock (California) illustrates how a determined effort to reach all parents and provide them with information about choices and programs can have a reasonable degree of success. Parental information is essential in avoiding inequities of opportunity. (SLD)

A survey of 150 poor rural students in grades 4-8 revealed that age is relevant in choosing role models, that there are major gender differences in the types of glamour figures selected as role models and as simple figures of success, and that age and gender appear to affect youth's perceptions of success and their occupational choice. (LP)

The Toronto area Learning Consortium, a partnership among two universities and four school districts, was established in 1988. The partnership's success hinges on several factors, including long-term commitment, stable finances, university faculty credibility, and a collegial management model. Consortium activities have mobilized a critical mass…

The status of female African American college faculty is reviewed, career success at teaching and research institutions is examined, and dynamics of the transition from teaching to research institutions are discussed. Some coping strategies useful in making this transition are offered. (Author/MSE)

A longitudinal study investigated differences in the experiences of women at women's colleges (n=160) and women at coeducational colleges (n=764) as they related to a variety of outcome variables. Results confirm the important role of institutional climate, student involvement, and the particular priorities and goals often found at women's…

The relationship between grade point average (GPA) and scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for 60 male and 7 female Asian graduate students in engineering was studied. The TOEFL is not an effective predictor of total GPA, although it measures English communication skills. (SLD)

An attempt was made to improve the argumentation skills and scientific thinking skills of 24 Swedish college students through argumentative on-line (computer-mediated) studying. Comparison with about 200 students studying in traditional ways reveals better learning outcomes for the traditional group but better argumentation by the on-line group.…

This study evaluated the achievements of 65 young entrants as beginning undergraduates in a highly selective university. Compared to nonaccelerants, subjects tended to graduate in a shorter period of time and earn more honors. Starting college with a large number of Advanced Placement Program credits was the best predictor of outstanding academic…

Examines attitudes of first-year Michigan State University students about the importance of foreign language (FL) study, focusing on possible differences according to measured abilities to use the English language, amount of success in previous high school FL study, sex, racial/ethnic heritage, major, and anticipated college-level FL study. (LB)