This description of federal compensatory education programs for the economically disadvantaged was prepared for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's review of national education policies. As background, the report first describes the U.S. educational system, the social and educational changes since 1954 that gave rise to…

THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH CORPS (NYC) ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS JOURNAL ISSUE DEVOTED TO THE PROGRAM. IT IS NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH A LACK OF DATA MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REALISTICALLY EVALUATE NYC, ITS ADMINISTRATORS STRONGLY DEFEND THE PROGRAM'S RECORD IN DECREASING DROPOUTS AND JUVENILE CRIME, AND IN IMPROVING SCHOOL…

Nontraditional students are the fastest-growing segment of the postsecondary population. About 41% of students are over 25, and nearly 12% are over 40. Previously, the bulk of financial aid went to traditional-age, usually full-time, students in degree programs. Today, however, the sheer numbers of nontraditional students, including distance…