Statewide finance reform offers a one-time opportunity for overhauling services. Any funding remedy should address improved base funding for low-income schools and investment in programs and practices designed to help schools increase student performance. This article describes a mechanism for using new monies to disseminate effective programs,…

Data from the 1980 and 1990 Current Population Survey files show an increasing proportion of female householder families and increasing poverty rates among Hispanic females in Texas, despite increases in labor force participation rates, hours spent in paid labor, and levels of education. Results refute human-capital and cultural-context…

Since the Archdiocese of New York has been forced to reduce Catholic school subsidies, parochial schools will have to become more self-sufficient, merge with nearby schools, or close forever. Because these schools tackle some of the poorest (non-Catholic) students, provide them with an affordable drug and crime-free environment, and are not…

Long-term poverty rates among nonmetro Blacks have fallen dramatically since the early 1970s. Associated with that improvement are higher levels of education among young adults and smaller family size. Despite improvements, poverty levels are still much higher for Blacks than for Whites in both metro and nonmetro areas. (Author/KS)

Discusses stated federal goals for education and poverty reduction from the 1960s to President Bush's 1990 State of the Union message and the continued failure to meet these goals. Observes that educational innovations of the past quarter century have done little to stimulate achievement. (DM)

The Single European Market will have serious effects on employment, production, and consumption in the United Kingdom. Of particular concern to voluntary and community organizations are the skills, gender, and racial gaps in the labor force. Organizations must develop the capacity to think and work within a European framework. (SK)

Analysis of census data indicates that the proportions of children in both the wealthiest and poorest families increased during the 1980s, associated with increasing female-headed families and changing patterns of maternal employment. Moreover, increasing racial differences in family structure exacerbated income inequality between African-American…

Introduces the articles in this issue on AIDs in various minority groups, with implications for social workers to improve prevention and education stategies. There is significant knowledge about AIDS, and attitudes related to the illness are more positive in the 1990s than in the 1980s. Suggests that having this information does not necessarily…

The Aspen Domestic Strategy Group exists to encourage a search for common ground on the nation's social challenges by bringing together leaders of diverse views and backgrounds. It is not expected to produce legislative proposals but rather a continuing conversation to shape a more coherent approach to domestic needs. (SLD)

Critiques Nicholas Lemann's recent book on the 1940-70 Black migration from the South to the urban North, particularly the thesis that the modern-day Black urban underclass is composed mainly of ex-sharecroppers and their descendants. Traces the theory's political history and discusses evidence that many Black migrants achieved relative success.…

Focuses on strategies that aid cognitive competence in children of poverty. Explains how development may be hindered, delineating instructional strategies that may be useful to the development of cognitive processes. States multiple strategies exist to promote cognitive competence and that intervention strategies assist the child's effectiveness…

Examines elements of programs that have been successful at changing long-term outcomes among disadvantaged children and their families: delivering a wide array of services, building relationship of trust and respect, dealing with children as part of a family, and responding to those most at risk. Suggests ways to overcome barriers to multiplying…

With physical facilities in every neighborhood offering unique citizen access, public schools must be major players in collaborative initiatives to provide more flexible, comprehensive, and coordinated services to needy children and families. School board leadership will be vital to any efforts to develop alternative governance structures and/or…

Reports on a study of 38 social problems textbooks and their treatment of issues related to poverty. Points out that most of the books ignore poverty's historical background and the impact of the 1980s on poverty. Includes questions used for analyses and a list of the reviewed textbooks. (CFR)

Provides national and state information on the number, type, size, and location of schools and districts. Also includes student race-ethnicity, participation in the Free Lunch program, and participation in special education services. Contains dropout data for selected states. (Author)