It is not the kind of atmosphere most adults would find helpful if they needed to study and learn-high dropout rates, kids promoted without learning, schools short on money, profanity and disrespect, fighting, drug and alcohol abuse. Yet these are "very serious" problems in schools, according to surprisingly large numbers of the nation's black and…

Follows up an earlier age cohort study done in the 1980s. Discovered that, although differences in achievement related to gender and socioeconomic factors remained consistent and generally increased over time, greater change was found in patterns of ethnic differences. Discusses possible explanations for the findings and implications for…

Reviews the year's most decisive school developments as they relate to the publication "A Nation at Risk" and examines areas largely untouched by recent reforms. Includes a chart comparing all 50 states in 15 education-related categories and reports on some recent reforms that could become trends. (IW)

Maintains that, in spite of state efforts to reduce educational inequities, stratification actually increased during the Soviet period. Removing gender preferences for men corrected some inequity. However, parents' education, occupation, and geographical origin contributed to the stratification. Contains a concise history of Soviet educational…

This report summarizes the characteristics of physics education in 12 countries: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; Guatemala; Jamaica; Mexico; the United States; and Venezuela. An introductory chapter describes the goals of the Council on Inter-American Conferences on Physics Education, historical background,…

Investigates the relationship between educational attainment and curriculum reform in Scotland's secondary schools. In the mid-1980s Scotland attempted to reduce social and educational stratification by simultaneously changing their curriculum and opening it to all students. Details the changes and presents statistical information showing the…