This article asks if testing can serve minority needs. The review suggests that testing can serve a useful purpose if it will help ensure quality to all students. (MFD)

Validity of a domain-specific model of self-perceived peer and school competence was examined in a sample of 89 seventh-grade black adolescents of lower socioeconomic status. Peer and school competences were gauged via self-ratings, nomination-based peer ratings, and more objective criteria. Findings support a domain-specific model over a more…

Formulates three reference group hypotheses to explain why some disadvantaged students achieve more highly than others. Focusing on low SES Hispanic language minority students, analysis shows that both middle class and Hispanic reference group orientations have a positive impact on educational achievement. (PS)

A study of 753 utilities company workers examined the relationship between a measure of worker self-directed learning readiness and their job level, sex, age, education, race, job performance rating, creativity and problem-solving ability needed in their jobs, and the degree of change inherent in their work. (Author/MSE)

The complete report of Committee Z of the American Association of University Professors on the economic status of college faculty is presented. The average salary level of college and university professors rose by 6.6 percent. (MLW)

Examines the effects of such variables as socioeconomic status (SES), school size, grade span, type of computer, and student to computer ratio on the implementation of microcomputers. Analysis of a random sample of 128 elementary schools indicates that SES and student to computer ratio have the strongest impact on implementation. (Author/LRW)

Testing of university students for sexism toward women at the beginning and end of an introductory gender studies course revealed that sexism levels among all students were significantly lower at the end of the course; controls showed no pre/post differences. Group cohort, and other variables that contributed to sexism levels, are discussed.…

Examines relationships between parental perceptions of family environment and preschool children's and teachers' perceptions of social and general competence. Thirty-six preschool boys and 34 preschool girls and their parents were subjects of the study. Data suggest important links between parental perceptions of family environment and children's…

A survey of students from five elementary schools in four socioeconomic regions found that a recent move from single-sex to coeducational schools was seen as positive, particularly for social relationships, but had changed perceptions of competition and teacher time allocation. Changes in academic achievement are also discussed. (MSE)

Using High School and Beyond first follow up data, this study investigated the social distribution of mathematics achievement of the sophomore cohort for 83 Catholic and a random subsample of 94 public high schools. Results showed that track placement and course of study are the major mediating factors that link students' background with academic…

Rural southern Georgia's economic growth in 1976-81 improved employment and income for Whites but had little effect on Blacks. The percentage of employed Blacks declined, their weeks of work per year dropped, and most remained in low-skill, low-wage occupations. Blacks had lower levels of experience, training, and schooling than Whites. (JHZ)

Assuming that the intellectual level of the classroom affects learning environment quality and student achievement, separating students into homogeneous groupings enriches the environment for high-resource students and impoverishes it for low-resource students. The converse occurs under heterogenous mixing. This argument is supported by data from…

Recent changes in the quality of faculty life were traced, and the consequences of these changes for the future of higher education are assessed. Shifts in the faculty's demographic characteristics, compensation, work environment, status, and morale, and in the quality of new faculty are discussed. (MLW)

Presents results of a study of low-socioeconomic status grade 7 students which examined why some achieve and others do not. Focuses on which differences in self-attitudes (locus of control) and cognitive processing (field dependence) existed between the achiever and non-achiever, and whether these differences are related to achievement. (KH)

Using data from several western nations, this article maintains that policy analysis has over-emphasized policy substance and neglected the influence of the political process. Focuses specifically on how political and institutional constraints influence policymaking in the Federal Republic of Germany. (JDH)