Schools utilize an array of strategies to match curricula and instruction to students' heterogeneous skills. While generations of scholars have debated "tracking" and its consequences, the literature fails to account for diversity of school-level sorting practices. In this paper we draw upon the work of Sørenson (1970) to articulate and…

Schools use an array of strategies to match curricula and instruction to students' heterogeneous skills. Although generations of scholars have debated ''tracking'' and its consequences, the literature fails to account for diversity of school-level sorting practices. In this article, we draw on the work of Sørensen and others to articulate and…

We examine the manner in which voluntary associations expose individuals to differing perspectives, or "cross-talk." Specifically we develop hypotheses based on the interactive roles of elite bias and homophily in structuring networks of democratic participation and test them on social network data of Los Angeles neighborhood councils.…

The California class size reduction program provided schools with cash rewards for K-3 classes of 20 or fewer students. I show how program rules made it possible for schools to save money by using mixed-grade classes to meet class size reduction obligations while maintaining larger average class sizes. I also show that this smoothing of students…

The purpose of the study was to examine if there was a significant difference between first-grade English Learners (EL) who constitute a majority (greater than 50%) of the English language mainstream classroom (homogeneous grouping) and first-grade EL who constitute a minority (less than 50%) of the English language mainstream classrooms…

An effort has been made in this study to elucidate what social implications are inherent in the environmental teaching situations, and their correlation to the basic purposes and aims of each language instructional program. FLES, English as a Second Language, and Spanish for Spanish-speaking children programs are discussed. It is pointed out that…

FOR MANY YEARS THE ENGLISH PROGRAM AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL WAS INADEQUATE, AND 70 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS FAILED THE STANDARDIZED TEST ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM FAILED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS OF VARYING RACIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS. THREE FACTORS WERE--(1) A LOW SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL, (2) AN…