This monograph brings together what has been learned over the past few decades about children at risk, as it analyzes current strategies designed to improve student and school performance and proposes ways of achieving academic excellence with high reliability. Section 1, "Becoming at Risk of Failure in America's Schools," integrates…

This document consists of ten consecutive issues of the serial "Rural Trends and Conditions," extending from Spring 1995 through February 1999. Issues contain information and statistical data on rural economic and social conditions. Beginning with the Fall 1995 issue, issues exhibit repeating themes such as "Financial…

The University of Chicago's Chapin Hall Center for Children evaluated the progress of the Making the Most of Out-of-School Time (MOST) Initiative in Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. MOST's goals are to improve the supply, accessibility, affordability and quality of school-age care, especially for low-income children; and to strengthen the overall…

This report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the National Commission on Children. The report is prefaced by a statement by the commission chairman, Senator John D. Rockefeller, and an executive summary. The first part of the report discusses issues relating to the development of a national policy on children and families.…

A major study of mathematics and literacy instruction in schools that serve children of poverty is currently being conducted to determine more effective educational practices. The following principal questions are addressed: (1) what new approaches are being attempted in schools serving children of poverty; (2) which of these approaches hold…

This volume is based on papers presented at a conference of social policy experts that looked at the growth in lone-parent families, the problems that have emerged, and their policy implications. Chapter 1 is an "Overview" (Duskin). Three chapters look at demographic trends over time and over the life-cycle; they are: "Demographic…

During the last century, groups of Hmong people moved from southern China into Indochina, and, as war refugees, about 90,000 have come to the United States in recent years. This book examines the alienation and cultural conflicts faced at school by the children of a small group of Hmong (roughly 426 individuals in 90 households) who have settled…

Today, school personnel are facing many challenges in their efforts to serve diverse families and children with disabilities. Inadequate human and fiscal capacity, attitudinal and cultural barriers are among the many hurdles that must be surmounted for successful provision of related services. Decisions about who is educated versus who is…

This report is a publication of the Hispanic Community Mobilization for Dropout Prevention (HCMDP) project, a two-year demonstration program of the ASPIRA Association, Inc. Institute for Policy Research. The project's goals are to create Hispanic community awareness of the Hispanic students' educational problems, and to provide Hispanic parents…

This document contains the results of a study of the responsiveness of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to the training and employment needs of homeless people. The first part contains recommendations to the president, the Congress, and the employment and training community on policies and practices concerning the homeless and employment…

Women of all ages continue to enter the work force in greater numbers while the work force participation rate for males is declining. Women are disproportionately concentrated in low-paying, dead-end jobs. Employment discrimination continues to be a significant problem. Job interruptions necessitated by family responsibilities are a major factor…

Trends during the 1980s are described including high infant mortality, no decline in low birthweight percentages, an increase in the black-white infant mortality gap, more high-risk pregnancies, and inadequate prenatal care. Inadequate progress in reducing infant mortality is attributed in part to the limited technological ability to save…

The hearing reported in this document was called to address the human havoc wreaked by substance abuse among pregnant women in America. Witnesses included leading scientists and innovative service providers qualified to supply the best information on chemically dependent women across the country and to point the way to a better understanding of…

This document provides an analysis of the federal government's funding of programs which aid children and families. The foreword begins by describing the crisis which children and families face in the U.S. and proceeds to outline a course of action to help correct the problems. Chapter 1 discusses the federal budget process and the changes in the…

The ad hoc network of shelters and related services that has been developed in an effort to meet the most critical needs of the homeless population is staffed by a wide spectrum of professionals and volunteers. Many of these individuals lack easy access to information, training, or resource materials to help them with their social services work.…