Concerns regarding the overrepresentation of minority groups, particularly African Americans, in special education date back many years. While practices such as culturally responsive teaching and response to intervention have been implemented to combat the erroneous placement of students in special education programs, an important focus that…

This article presents an interview with Dr. Paul Nolting, a national expert in assessing individual math learning problems, developing effective student learning strategies, and assessing institutional variables that affect math success. Since his dissertation in 1986 on improving math success with study skills Dr. Nolting has consulted with over…

This report presents results from a multisite, quantitative evaluation of the international Success for Kids (SFK) after-school program. The program seeks to build resilience in children by teaching them to access inner resources and build positive connections with others. The SFK program is unlike most after-school programs both in its focus on…

A sixth grade class is asked: "When should you start thinking about and planning for college?" Most students answer with "tenth or eleventh grade," but invariably some brave soul raises a hand and tentatively responds with more of a question than an answer: "Now?" Yes, now. In 1992, Sallie Mae, the nation's largest…

This report presents results from a multisite, quantitative evaluation of the international Spirituality for Kids (SFK) after-school program. Despite its name, SFK is a nonreligious program that seeks to build resilience in children by teaching them to access inner resources and build positive connections with others. The SFK program is unlike…

A practicum developed a program of study skills to improve grades of ninth and tenth grade students in English and mathematics courses. The project contained three basic components: teacher inservices on study skills techniques in time management, reading textbooks, taking class notes, and preparing for and taking tests; student lessons for…

This article focusses on defining the Parent Academy. The Parent Academy is a deeply ambitious, privately funded project aimed at improving students' education by improving their parents'. Since Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendent Rudy Crew launched it last year, TPA has reached tens of thousands of parents through hundreds of free…

"Talent Search" aims to help low-income and first-generation college students (those whose parents do not have four-year college degrees) complete high school and gain access to college through a combination of services designed to improve academic achievement and increase access to financial aid. Services include test taking and study…

Developed to form the basis for a state-wide public school student assessment program, this manual outlines course performance standards based upon intended outcomes in language arts courses which are part of the state-adopted curriculum frameworks, grades 9 through 12. The standards are for courses in English skills, English, and English honors…

This abbreviated form of the report of Florida's Statewide Assessment Program summarizes the key results and recommendations of the State's performance on the 1971-72 assessment of selected reading-related skills in grades 2 and 4. Topics discussed are: (1) why test? (2) what is statewide assessment? (3) what do 1971-72 assessment results show?…

A practicum project emphasizing critical thinking skills was undertaken in an eighth grade history class to make students aware of the nature and seriousness of plagiarism. The 10-week unit was preceded by a reading comprehension test and an essay assignment on a major Civil War battle. Plagiarized portions of the essays were highlighted and the…

The third section of a four-art technical report on Florida's Statewide Assessment Program provides statewide results of tests of reading-related skills in grades 2 and 4 and recommendations based on the results. A description of the reading-related skills is provided in Chapter 1, which covers assessment of reading skills, organization of…