Interviews with low-income parents revealed that they were aware of the class character of local schools and believed that high-income schools were superior. Ninety-four percent favored social class school desegregation, believing that their children would thereby obtain a better education and better preparation for social interaction in adult…

The present study (1) explores the extent to which the standard format of the conservation assessment task may mask conserving abilities of preschoolers and (2) investigates how the wording of a typical conservation task may affect the type of justifications offered by children of two different socioeconomic backgrounds. Subjects included 48 4- to…

Low-income students have been disproportionately affected by reductions in student financial assistance. More aid is being targeted for middle-income students. Without changes in student financial policy, projected demographic changes, i.e., fewer middle-class students in the 1990s and an increase in low-income students, will exacerbate the…

This study compared literacy knowledge in preschoolers from low- and middle-class homes. Students and parents completed assessments and questionnaires about literacy activities. Results indicated that children from low-income homes were at a disadvantage in understanding written language. Literacy development also related to amount of early…

Students from middle-income families are losing their Guaranteed Student Loans this fall as the changes in the Higher Education Act are implemented. The changes are aimed at making sure loans would be provided only to the lowest-income students. (MLW)

The history of federal student financial aid legislation, 1965-1985, is traced, and problems faced in the mid-1980s, and possible future directions are considered. The Higher Education Act of 1965 was the first explicit federal commitment to equalizing college opportunities for needy students through grants and programs such as Talent Search. Some…

Examined the performance of kindergartners from middle- and low-income families on arithmetic calculations presented in a nonverbal format and in three verbal formats. Children from middle-income families performed better than those from low-income families on verbal calculation tasks but not on the nonverbal task. (BC)

This newsletter issue focuses on the roles played by higher education finance and student financial aid in ensuring broad access to higher education. Specifically, the report discusses trends in family income and college costs that affect the need for student aid. The report finds that income remains a primary determinant of students' educational…

Information on federal student aid recipients by income, undergraduate and graduate level, and financial dependency status is presented for Pell Grants, campus-based programs, and Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL). Income data are reported for all aid recipients and for financially dependent and independent students for 1983-1984 and for 1976-1977,…

Proposed changes in student financial aid for fiscal year (FY) 1986 and their likely effects on higher education are discussed. The Reagan Administration's FY 1986 budget recommends a 25% cut for higher education, or $2.3 billion below the adjusted FY 1985 level of $8.8 billion. All but $100 million of the cuts would come from student aid, and…

The storytelling narratives produced by four children, namely, two low-income African-American first-graders and two White middle-class first-graders, were examined using a text analysis technique that organizes lines into the groupings referred to as stanzas. The narratives were based on the viewing of a film. Subtle differences were found in the…

This study found no differences in the performance of middle class black and white children on three ability measures. The sample consisted of 15 pairs of black and white middle class children, aged 2.5 to 6.5 years, who attended the same mid-south child development center during 1987-88. Variables on which the children were match-paired were the…

The initial impact of the Middle Income Student Assistance Act (MISAA) was analyzed by comparing student aid recipients and student aid packaging before and after the passage of the Act. Student aid records from a national sample of aid recipients attending independent colleges and universities from 1978-79 through 1979-80 were assessed. In…

This paper describes three studies that evaluated the Marvelous Me-Preschool Edition curriculum, a 12-session program designed to enhance the self-concept of preschool children. The program is organized around 6 central themes: feelings, self-image, getting to know oneself, family friends, and community. Children participate in activities such as…

Hearings concerning research done for the National Commission on Student Financial Assistance are presented, along with the Commission's recommendations. The recommendations concern modifications of the current law to facilitate greater access for low- and middle-income students and to improve the quality of postsecondary education in the country.…