The over-representation of minority group children, particularly Mexican Americans, in special education has been well documented. The use of standardized, norm-referenced, psychological assessment measures has created obstacles to the advancement of minority group individuals in American society. This is especially true since results from such…

The effectiveness of the Block Plan, developed and implemented by the seventh grade students at Edith Rogers Junior High School in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) was investigated. The Block Plan uses the concept of a pair of teachers assigned to two classes of students for the homeroom period plus a pair of teachers assigned for each of four academic…

This volume presents a review of the qualitative literature pertaining to desegregation strategies and outcomes, and school characteristics. The review was based on the following objectives of desegregation policy: elimination of racial isolation; improvement of racial relations and academic achievement; promotion of positive community attitudes;…

The TRIO program at the General College, University of Minnesota, is addressed in this newsletter issue, based on presentations made at the 1981 annual meeting of the Mid-American Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel. The name TRIO stands for three federal programs: (1) Upward Bound, which assists high school students from…

Characteristics of the fall 1980 full-time, first-time freshmen enrolled in New Jersey colleges and universities are tabulated and trends in the past five years are summarized. Highlights include the following: There was a modest decline in entering freshmen over the previous year, consistent with projections in the statewide plan. The decline was…

This report describes and assesses seven school-based planning projects to raise student achievement levels in the New York City Public Schools. Based on the principles of organizational development, the projects are: 1) the Renewal Program, a planning partnership between several high schools and the Economic Development Council, a nonprofit…

This book synthesizes research evidence to demonstrate that 1) class size is strongly related to pupil achievement; 2) smaller classes are more conducive to improved pupil performance than larger classes; 3) smaller classes provide more opportunities to adapt learning programs to individual needs; 4) pupils in smaller classes have more interest in…

Principles of test selection in English as a second language (ESL) are introduced to teachers of Indochinese refugees. No previous knowledge of ESL testing on the part of the teacher is assumed. A discussion of the characteristics of a good ESL test emphasizes the appropriateness of the test for non-native speakers, validity, reliability, and…

A review of research literature on whether Spanish bilingual, bicultural programs enhance self-concept and whether any relationship exists between enhanced self-concept and improved academic achievement also describes research problems and potential solutions. Theories of importance of self-concept as a determinant of achievement, particularly…

A study involving 513 developmental math students at eight Illinois community colleges was conducted to determine the correlation between student success or failure in developmental math courses and nine independent variables: (1) instructional method, i.e. "traditional," in which the instructor sets the pace for learning, and "nontraditional," in…

This third of 14 curriculum modules in the Family and Community Services Occupational Education Modules series deals with roles and responsibilities in a family and community services work situation. It focuses on employer-employee roles as well as relationships with co-workers. Information about laws, regulations, policies, and procedures is also…

Michael's Informal Test of Student Ability (MITOSA) is a diagnostic evaluative tool for adult students designed to test nine skills abilities in adult students functioning below a tenth grade level. The nine test sections are approximate reading level, understanding of basic math concepts and symbols, general thinking/reasoning ability, eye-hand…

A program for nontraditional students is described that was implemented at Livingston College/Rutgers University during the fall 1980 semester. The Freshman Studies Program (FSP) had two purposes: (1) to provide a more supportive structure and environment for developmental studies students and (2) to facilitate efforts to both deliver services and…

The volume contains six working papers presented at a 1981 National Institute of Education conference on Indian participation in educational research. The articles are: "A Cross-Cultural Content Analysis of Nez Perce Tribal Legends and Selected Anglo-American Children's Stories for Value-Attitude Factors of Achievement Motivation" by…

This paper distills from a research conference, arranged by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), six questions that constitute an agenda for research on private education. Discussed after each of the following proposed questions are some of the past research studies relevant to the question, and the status of research in progress.…