Educational leaders must reexamine the ethical dimensions of their profession to confront complex moral challenges associated with changing school demographics (increasing poverty and ethnic diversity), inequitable conditions, administrative decision-making clout, and crumbling social institutions. Superintendents must be moral leaders who embody…

Outlines the deep and complex challenge faced by Mexico in its quest for closer economic integration with so-called advanced economies. Discusses extensive poverty and illiteracy, and the systematic exclusion of many people from access to the very kinds of learning required by Mexico's economic project. Argues that extraordinary efforts and…

Considers historical treatments of the poor and higher education by discussing one book from each of the following categories: (1) traditional/omission; (2) increased inclusion; (3) center of analysis; (4) issue specific; and (5) broader social analysis. Comments on the contributions and limitations of each work. (CMK)

Presents policy makers with economic and demographic data related to students' opportunity to participate in higher education, examining how the U.S. is failing in its democratic mission to extend educational opportunity to all citizens. Highlights: education and income; cutbacks in state investment in higher education; cost barriers to higher…

Argues that neighborhood effects are part of a wider discourse of marginality that stereotypes inner city neighborhoods. Examines arguments within existing literature, revealing ideological underpinnings of the idea of neighborhood effects. Essentialist conceptions of neighborhood culture among employers, educators, and institutional staff…

Describes the leadership conditions that encouraged authentic participation of community members in a Venezuelan community center to advance social justice. Argues that urban educational transformation might succeed in terms of practicing social justice, if leadership facilitates and creates urban sanctuaries and creates a trusting environment…

Describes the experiences of Texas and California public schools now that new federal testing mandates are in place. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are accountable for the performance of defined student subgroups and judged by test scores. The goal is to close the achievement gap between poor and minority students and their affluent…

Examines data on 1,759 adolescents to assess the effect of low socioeconomic status on their health. Results confirm the relationship between income and health. Explains how the pathway to poor health care operates through the social environment, lifestyle differences, access to care, and self-esteem problems. Findings do suggest that physical…

The working class is nearly invisible in multicultural education literature. Examines the possibilities of a more careful foregrounding of the complexities of social class in shaping life chances, focusing on the educational experiences of working class students and discussing the poor in order to promote understanding of the potential of teacher…

Nearly every state shortchanges poor and geographically isolated children. It is unpopular to spend on the neediest. Instead of fully funding Title 1 and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Congress and President Clinton construct new competitive, general grant programs available to middle-class communities. (MLH)

Investigated the link between social networks and the ability to find a job through a personal contact among adult inner-city residents using data for 2,490 inner-city adults. Ethnic differences were found in the rate of finding jobs by word of mouth and in the way social networks connect job seekers. (SLD)

Describes how the Montreal Island School Commission, through its five school boards, with a budget of $124 million over 27 years, has greatly improved school success rates in disadvantaged communities. The Commission acted under the authority of Article 430 of the Public Education Act to ensure that disadvantaged areas receive special attention.…

Examined the relationship between housing status and depression, anxiety, and problem behaviors among elementary school-aged children from low-income, single-parent, female-headed families. Found that mother-reported problem behaviors were above normal levels for both homeless and poor, housed youths, but self-reported depression and anxiety were…

Evaluates 64 children and their primary caregivers who are living in poverty. Social support was not found to moderate the relationship between stress and child outcome. However, social support was found to be one possible mediator of the child's reported stress on their self-esteem. According to the mediating model, enhancing children's social…

Suggests that arts education is crucial for marginalized students, especially those living in rural poverty, and discusses issues facing rural students and their similarities to urban problems. Examines the potential of arts education to address these concerns, especially the power of arts organizations to build community, citizenship, and…