Describes the background, goals, and classroom experience of the cooperative learning program initiated in Fall 1986 by the Bay Shore Union Free School District, Bay Shore, NY. Results indicate cooperative learning is effective in narrowing the margin between the achievement of minority and majority students. (PS)

In this paper, one of the pioneers of Chinese language instruction in the United States reviews the development of bilingual education under public funds, summarizes criticism against it, and proposes approaches and methodologies to improve it. Emphasis is placed on the need to insure the future of bilingual education by paying attention to and…

Incidents in two Australian secondary schools illustrate the real problems of discrimination that aboriginal students face in the Australian education system in spite of policies intended to combat discrimination and promote the needs and rights of minority students. A program to combat racism in six schools is described. (SLD)

A group of three conference papers, all dealing with ways to improve teacher effectiveness, is presented in this document. The first paper, "Improving Teacher Effectiveness" (Twyla Stewart), describes the efforts of the Center for Academic Interinstitutional Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles. The program focuses on…

A proper proportion of low-income participants and children of color should be identified for gifted/talented education programs. A modified quota system can be implemented by combining the use of intelligence tests and behavioral scales with individualized selection procedures that provide special consideration for poor, minority, and handicapped…

Two conference papers describing various collaborative arrangements within the educational community among teachers, students and others are presented in this document. The first paper, "Successful Collaborations" (Eugene Cota-Robles), describes the following projects in California that seek to forge collaborations to improve the…

This report provides a policy framework for specific programs that will improve the achievement of minority students in the Illinois educational system. All levels of education from pre-kindergarten through graduate education must be involved in designing and making such programs work. Education is the key element that can enable minorities to…

A group of three conference papers, all addressing the subject of effective programs to decrease the number of school dropouts, is presented in this document. The first paper, "Systemic Approaches to Reducing Dropouts" (Michael Timpane), asserts that dropping out is a symptom of failures in the social, economic, and educational systems.…

A group of three conference papers, all addressing effective instructional programs, is presented in this document. The first paper, entitled "The Organization--A Viable Instrument for Progress" (Barbara Sizemore), addresses the subject of high-achieving, predominantly black elementary schools. Routines in these schools not present in…

A group of three brief conference papers, all concerned with methods to help Limited English Proficient (LEP) students succeed, is presented in this document. The first paper, "Integrated Content Language Approach" (Jose Galvan), suggests that LEP students who are at the intermediate level or beyond will benefit from programs integrating…

The three conference papers presented in this document are grouped under the general heading, "Our National Dilemma," and deal with issues involved in providing disadvantaged students with a quality education. The first paper, "Building Quality Relationships" (James Comer), discusses the need to improve the quality of…

The conference reported in this document sought to do the following: (1) focus attention on the problem of underachieving minority students, and issue a call for action to improve their educational achievement; (2) promote dialogue on promising practices aimed at solving the problem; (3) foster collaboration on solutions among practitioners,…