In 1987, the Board of Education of the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Public Schools set goals for reducing the achievement gap between black students and white students and improving the educational outcomes of all low achievers, regardless of race. This paper summarizes programs, most involving parents, community leaders, and the corporate sector in…

The following papers were produced by participants and resource persons on specific issues of planning, management and implementation of literacy and post-literacy strategies: "People's Participation and Mobilization: Characteristics of the Literacy Campaigns in China" (Yanwei); "Strategies for Mobilization and Participation of…

The purpose of the research project was to assess the needs, satisfaction, and concerns of international students attending Eastern Oregon State College. The international student population consisted of students from Micronesia, Netherlands, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Japan, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Belgium, Canada, Nigeria, China,…

The five chapters of this book on teachers' need and responsibility to prepare themselves for criticisms and attacks on their teaching methods and materials deal with the scope of censorship issues, the significance of academic freedom, recent judicial rulings, school-community tensions, and case studies of censorship cases. The first chapter,…

The high percentage of students not participating in or completing a science research project has been a recurring problem for science teachers. In this project, three variables influencing the problem are identified: (1) students' failure to engage in an active search for science research topics; (2) inadequate resource materials at the middle…

This special report briefly presents information about innovative programs targeted toward at-risk youth in the United States that are provided by many institutional members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Twelve model programs out of 250 were selected for the report. Among the issues the programs address…

The causes and types of student underachievement and suggestions for remedying the problem are discussed. Because the reasons for underachievement are numerous, different for individuals, and often overlapping, solutions must consider the unique context. Recommendations include increasing students' self-esteem; increasing community involvement;…

The state of the art in using student portfolios in the schools is summarized, based on an annotated bibliography of over 50 articles produced by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NREL). This set of materials is an addendum to a previously developed workshop series designed to assist educators in developing their own…

This document is a guide for incorporating sequenced career education and life planning into the high school curriculum. It is divided into five sections. "Orientation" (ninth grade) includes three sessions designed to continue the exploration process that many students began in eighth grade, leading the students through an assessment of…

The 1989 Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS) was administered on 18 of the 19 California State University (CSU) campuses to obtain a representative sample of student opinions and perceptions regarding important educational factors. This report supplements the systemwide report with a focus on the Fresno campus student population.…

A review of studies of at-risk students is presented in this document. Two recurring themes that occur in the studies reviewed are structured involvement and high expectations of students. The following items are reviewed: "Sex, Race, and Grade Differences in the Locus of Control Orientations of At-Risk Elementary Students," by Beverly D. Payne…

The impact of class size reduction at the early levels on student achievement in various states is discussed in this report. The Tennessee Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) study, a statewide longitudinal evaluation of the effects of class size on student achievement and development in primary grades K-3, analyzed demographic and basic…

Project Reach, serving 390 students of limited English proficiency at William H. Taft high school in New York, was fully implemented in 1988-89. Project Reach endeavored to help students develop their English and native language skills and make academic progress through bilingual content area courses. During the school year, participating students…

The manual provides information and suggestions to parents of youth with psychiatric disabilities, based on the program at Thresholds, a psychiatric rehabilitation center in Chicago, Illinois. The manual includes case examples, exercises, and space for parent responses. Chapters have the following titles and topics: "The Importance to You of Your…

This project provided 360 students at South Bronx High School (New York) with instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL); Native Language Arts (NLA); the bilingual content area subjects of mathematics, science, and social studies; and computer literacy. The goal of the project was to provide instructional and support services to…