In order to ensure that American students are competitive with students in other countries, since the 1980s, U.S. policymakers have been trying to improve the K-12 public school system. Recent reform efforts have led to the current high-stakes testing movement, which measures student achievement and school effectiveness mainly by standardized test…

The author explored spiritual identity constructions and intersections among 24 African American male undergraduate students enrolled across 12 different colleges and universities. The author drew on grounded theory, phenomenology, and case study approaches in all aspects of qualitative research design. After conducting semi-structured interviews,…

A research synthesis was conducted including three meta analyses, a review of the relevant literature, and supplemental analyses examining the relationship between personal faith and the reduction of the achievement gap. Personal faith included belief and adherence to any religion. The results of the three meta-analyses indicated that: (a)…

In view of the Jencks group's inference that noncognitive or personality traits play a greater role in economic success than do cognitive skills, this paper explores findings regarding important factors ignored by the Jencks group, namely need achievement and mental health. (Author/JM)

Emphasizes the importance of motivation in improving academic achievement among Black children; outlines what Black parents can do to develop achievement motives in their children; and suggests that Black parents can generate a motivating environment by understanding how their children perceive the world. (MJL)

Explores factors that can enable children reared in impoverished environments to use their conditions of adversity to succeed. Discusses essential components to development of achievement motivation, including innate potential; family ties and roots; creative manipulation of the environment; expectations; and the roles of religion, parents, and…

Specifically, an empirical test of the following hypothesis is presented: variations in fate control among black adolescents are brought about by exposure to variations in socialization experiences within the black family. (Author/AM)

Urges that the impact of race on achievement motivation be reinvestigated, especially the tendency for ethnocentric beliefs in this area to lead to a culture-specific definition. Reviews the literature on comparative studies of Black and White motivation and suggests new research directions. (RDN)

Examines family achievement orientation (parental beliefs regarding education) perceived by 73 fifth-grade and 75 sixth-grade African-American students (59 males and 89 females) in an urban school district. Studies how these perceptions affect students' achievement orientation. Family demographic variables contribute little to achievement…