Argues that educators have not developed curriculum and instruction models tailored to lower-achieving students. Discusses characteristics of lower-achieving students and to teaching methods and instructional materials. Presents suggestions for making history and social studies more relevant for these students. (CFR)

Processes and criteria used in assigning students to honors English classes in 5 communities (n=approximately 1,800 students) were studied through qualitative and quantitative data. Similarities and differences in the five districts are detailed, with attention to past ability-group positions and the role of socioeconomic status. (SLD)

Briefly reviews research on ability grouping and points out effects of such grouping on student achievement, self-concepts, and attitudes. Suggests ways in which educators can make significant differences with learners by implementing effective organizational practices as alternatives to ability grouping. (BB)

This volume uses research to examine the symbolic processes in which teachers and students negotiate definitions of their roles, relationships, and knowledge in the context of educational tracking, particularly lower-track classrooms. The research on which the book is based includes interpretive accounts of curriculum differentiation and an…

This study investigated the effects of classroom composition on achievement. The analysis focused on the assessment of classroom homogeneity with respect to the socioeconomic background and general intelligence of the students. In addition, the extent to which classroom composition affects the standards the teachers employ and how these standards…

The attitudes of principals toward ability grouping in the public schools of South Carolina were studied, emphasizing the degree to which principals feel that ability grouping contributes to the quality of education. Also examined were differences in attitudes of elementary school and secondary school principals (black and white, male and female,…

In 1988 the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld a previous decision that the state public education system had failed to provide an efficient system of common schools. The Kentucky Educational Reform Act (KERA, 1990) came from this decision. This paper reviews the restructuring of a primary school under the KERA, focusing on one collaborative effort…

The observable effects of curricular tracking were investigated for a cohort of students in six Vermont high schools during the years 1981-89. The outcome variable was persistence in school as predicted by grades in academic subjects from grade 4 through 9, or time of withdrawal, and the level of courses in which students were enrolled. Three…

Originally developed for the Department of Defense Schools (DoDDS) system, this learning package on grouping students and pacing instruction is designed for teachers who wish to upgrade or expand their teaching skills on their own. The package includes a comprehensive search of the ERIC database; a lecture giving an overview on the topic; the full…

Reliability and validity of multiple-choice examinations as a function of the number of options per item and of student ability were computed for 435 junior class parochial high school students in the tri-county area of Portland (Oregon). The verbal section of the Washington Pre-College Test Battery was used. The least discriminating options were…

Many education reformers criticize the mediocre state of learning in high schools in the United States. In order to insure that all students have equal access to high quality teaching, it is argued that educators must explore the potent connections among school setting, ability grouping, teaching methods, and student opportunity to learn. The…

The effectiveness of traditional models of remedial education of students has been called into question. Current research supports models that would merge remedial and regular education and provide all students with broad curriculum access and the opportunity to receive instruction that is adaptive to their needs. Guidelines for addressing…

The study reported in this paper quantitatively integrated the recent research findings on ability grouping in order to generalize about these effects on student achievement and student self-concept. Meta-analysis was used to statistically integrate the empirical data. The relationships among various experimental variables including grade level,…

This module presents information on the provisions of Public Law 92 318 (Title IX) that affect the teaching of secondary school physical education. Title IX ensures equal educational opportunities for both sexes in any federally assisted educational program. It is designed to enable teachers to identify educational practices inconsistent with the…

This research investigated the development of interracial interaction patterns among peers in a new open enrollment desegregated middle school. The student interaction analysis conducted for the study attempted to answer the following questions: Is race a significant determinant of the amount of student interaction? Does grade level or sex…