School systems are perpetuating racial segregation within integrated schools through intelligence tests and special education classes. Disproportionate numbers of blacks, American Indians, Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican Americans have been placed in classes for the emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. Suits have been brought against the…

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF THE DIFFERENCES AMONG PUPILS OF DIFFERING ABILITY LEVELS BOTH IN PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT. A COMPARISON OF THESE DIFFERENCES WAS THEN MADE WITH THOSE USING CONVENTIONAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. TWENTY-THREE HYPOTHESES WERE TESTED TO DETERMINE IF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES EXISTED AMONG LOW-, AVERAGE-, AND HIGH-ABILITY STUDENTS…

College students, ranked as high, medium, or low ability, were assigned to homogeneous or mixed-ability groups of two through five members for a test. Performance proved proportional to the number of high ability group members. The underlying group process was inferred through social decision scheme analysis. (Author/SJL)

This article examines the relationship between track placement, peer involvements, and youth misconduct and deviance. Some of the findings presented indicate that certain peer attachments serve to further heighten the significant impact of track placement on a range of negative student behaviors. (Author/EB)

Reviews arguments for and against mainstreaming and presents strategies for using newspapers in elementary school mainstreamed social studies classrooms. Gives examples of newspaper learning activities related to community affairs, social competencies, safety, and prevocational skills. (DB)

Hoffman won his case on the basis of being misclassified, placed in a school for the mentally retarded, and thus deprived of 12 years of learning opportunities. School officials are appealing on the grounds that damages are excessive and that the adminstration of an IQ test contraindicates malpractice. (WI)

Four articles on the topic of grouping by achievement level in the upper grades of the Realschule are discussed. (IFS/WGA)

Focuses on the characteristics of schools with differing internal grouping policies, particularly regarding comprehensive schools. The intent was to learn whether mainstreamed or non-mainstreamed schools tend to have significantly different intakes of children, in terms of their social background. (Author/RK)

Analysis of seating patterns in a newly integrated middle school suggests that while race is an important grouping criterion, sex is a more important criterion; and girls show more racial aggregation than boys. Racial aggregation decreased over time in seventh grade, but increased in eighth grade, perhaps due to academic grouping. (Author/MV)

Investigates covert linguistic behavior of two groups: above-average and below-average users of language. Found that the below-average group manifested higher levels of subvocal motor activity than the above-average group during simulated tasks, but that during pausing episodes while writing, the remedial group manifested lower levels of subvocal…

Provides a brief overview of the research on cooperative learning, and describes several classroom grouping techniques useful for all grade levels and subject areas. Discusses group retellings, associational dialogue, dyadic learning, needs grouping, the buddy system, cybernetic sessions, and research, interest, ability, tutorial, random social,…

Review of research of between-class and within-class ability grouping on the achievement of elementary students. Ability grouping appears most effective for specific subjects with students remaining in heterogeneous classes most of the day. Cross-grade assignment for selected subjects can increase achievement. (SLD)

Slavin's 1987 review of research of between- and within-class ability grouping on achievement of elementary students is discussed, and its assumptions examined. It is suggested that recent theory and research make the Slavin review most useful from the perspective of historical analysis. (SLD)

Studies the effects of varying levels of interactivity on the learning rate of 98 high school students using four increasingly interactive versions of computer-based interactive video instruction. Students are grouped by ability levels and results are compared for recall rate, instructional time, and acquisition rate. Twenty-two references are…

One of the major barriers to effective schools is the tracking and ability grouping system, which socializes children to trajectories of failure or success throughout their school lives and adult careers. Since schools play a major role in forging adolescent identity, such a process systematically disadvantages students given negative labels and…