The following 14 essays consider relationships among schooling, education, and the state; alternatives to existing systems; and educating minorities and the disadvantaged: (1) "Growing Up Blighted: Reflections on the 'Secret Power' in the American Experience" (C. Burgess); (2) "The Evolving Political Structure of American…

A study was done to assess the likelihood of substantial improvement in New York City public education by the year 2000 by extrapolating trends in enrollment, demographic changes, and general fiscal patterns. The study also looked at trends among the at-risk population of New York City: those with special language and financial needs and those at…

Noting that children of all socioeconomic levels are at risk for poor nutrition, and that hunger and poor nutrition in America are on the rise, this report reviews what is known about the link between nutrition and learning in children and between nutrition education and eating habits. It describes several federal and non-federal government…

Tilonia, a typical rural village of the State of Rajasthan (India), is home to the Social Work and Research Centre (SWRC). Since 1972, SWRC has brought educational services, safe drinking water, health care, and employment to villages in the area. It has started 150 night schools in 89 villages, where children who work during the day develop…

Noting that the mid-1990s are an era of experimentation in welfare initiatives, this publication summarizes 34 research studies on children and welfare reform. Articles include studies of children and parents in poverty, studies of program models likely to have direct implications for children, and outcome evaluations of welfare-to-work programs…

"Westhills" is a multiethnic coastal community in San Diego County, California, in which Mexican Americans comprise approximately 22 percent of the population. This book reports ethnographic research on a group of working-class Chicana adolescents in one Westhills barrio and their problems, school experiences, immersion in two…

A participatory research model collected stories of the experiences and most pressing problems of mothers on welfare. Over 35 African American, biracial, and Anglo women from an urban community who received cash assistance in a midwestern, largely rural state participated in small group discussions at a job readiness program. An interactive…

This report presents results from an evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of South Carolina vocational education program delivery systems under the Carl D. Perkins Act and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). Data from nine Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) for Program Years 1988 and 1989 show allocations, expenditures, program performance,…

This practicum aimed to increase parental involvement in an elementary school through the fourth grade. Objectives were that: (1) parental attendance at PTA meetings would increase by 25 percent; (2) the number of parent chaperons per field trip would increase from zero to two; and (3) one parent would help out with classroom activities each week.…

An overview is provided of the development and activities of the National Center for Urban Partnerships, located on the Bronx Community College (BCC) campus in New York. Introductory comments describe the Center as a consortium of cities committed to improving student transfer through community-wide efforts, and outline the four conditions for…

A preliminary evaluation and report were conducted of the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Public Schools' (MPS) Parental Choice Program (PCP) following its first year of operation. The state legislated program provides an opportunity for students meeting specific criteria to attend private, non-sectarian schools in Milwaukee. A payment from public funds…

This report describes local procedures for implementing Chapter 1 requirements for selecting limited English-proficient (LEP) students for Chapter 1 programs, and describes services for LEP students through Chapter 1 and language programs. Case studies of 14 school districts in 6 states were conducted to help the Department of Education formulate…

The Southwest Regional Laboratory (SWRL) is adapting Success for All, a prominent early-elementary school program for at-risk minority youths, for use with disadvantaged limited English proficient students whose primary language is Spanish. The Johns Hopkins University Center for Research on Effective Schooling for Disadvantaged Students is…

The Puerto Rican language-culture nexus is seen as the natural field where young Puerto Ricans forge their ethnic identities. Ethnographic theory and methods were used to study this nexus from a naturalistic perspective. A focus group of 12 Puerto Rican 8th grade students (9 males and 3 females) attending a school within 1 Puerto Rican barrio in…

This paper discusses major issues having to do with definition of terms and implementation strategies implicit in the first national education goal, which states: "By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn." The principles articulated in the paper by a collaboration of agencies and the private sector are…