Participants were drawn from the 1996 General Social Survey, which constructed a nationally representative sample of households to study social indicators in the United States. Findings summarized in this report reflect information collected from about two-thirds of parents identified in the earlier survey. During a 10-minute telephone interview,…

The Cushing (Oklahoma) Public Schools have had an annual dropout rate of 3.3% in recent years (40 students in 1995-96), but their goal is to decrease the number of dropouts by at least 50%. The school district has had several alternative programs for dropout reduction in place. Needs assessment has shown that all of Cushing's dropouts were in high…

This article discusses the Equal Access Act (EAA) as it pertains to high-school student clubs. It raises basics questions about EAA: What does "equal" mean? What level of access is required? Does the First Amendment's free-speech clause offer broader protection to student clubs than the EAA? (WFA)

This paper reports a survey of 59 able children (grades 4-8) that found a correlation between student life-skills scores and mothers' involvement in community service, leadership, or other creatively productive activities. The paper then describes development of an extended-day program at a private school, that provided stimulating after-school…

Describes a group of participants in a highly productive, nonformal learning environment that exemplifies the practices of a collaborative community. Diverse elementary students and university undergraduates participate in entertaining educational activities within an after-school computer club. The club focuses on hybrid literacy practices and…

All over America, young adolescents' experiences of growing up have changed dramatically in the past two decades. Family life for adolescents has changed, adolescents face greater risks to their health, and greater risks of being poorly educated for the next century. Families, schools, and community organizations, the three pivotal institutions…

In 1994, the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund made a commitment to school-age care by launching the MOST Initiative--a $6.5 million, multi-year project aimed at systemic community-based change to improve the quality and availability of out-of-school time for children in three cities: Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. The MOST Initiative was…

This report describes the first operating year of Project Support, a 3-year gang/drug prevention program aimed at elementary students in six inner city schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The project involves the implementation of nine strategies described in the research literature as being effective in drug/gang prevention. These…

Based on interviews with those involved in the adoption and implementation of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and its Youth Service Centers, as well as on analysis of program data gathered by state and local agencies, this first year assessment is intended to highlight successes in the early stages of implementation, raise appropriate…

This report evaluates nine supplemental education programs of the Newark (New Jersey) school system receiving funds from the Education of the Handicapped Act--Part B. The projects variously deal with academic, cultural, psychological, social, and service related concerns. Evaluation was conducted through interviews, on-site observation, and…

This report describes after-school programs available in the Houston (Texas) Independent School District (HISD). Fifty-nine sites offer either after-school child care or instruction to elementary school students in the HISD. Magnet's Extended Instructional Day program is the largest and the Houston Committee for Private Sector Initiatives'…

This report summarizes research on the problems of young adolescent latchkey children and describes 18 programs designed to address their needs. There is growing consensus that young adolescents (10 to 15 years of age), as well as elementary school children, may be at risk when left on a regular basis in unsupervised settings. Children in sibling-…

Recognizing the need for a strong family housing program to support a student body composed of many nontraditional students, Texas Woman's University converted a traditional residence hall into a family housing unit with an after-school and summer recreation program. The majority of residents in family housing are single mothers with children who…

The purpose of this report is to describe the programs that make up Oregon's Disadvantaged Child Project (DCP) and document the ways in which students benefited from participation. The DCP was established in 1967 to provide supplemental services to children in low-income and culturally deprived areas. The project contains three major components:…

The Family Day Care Check-In Program is designed to offer working parents convenient, affordable after school care for their children aged 10 to 14. It provides children with flexible supervision by caring, trained adults and gives them opportunities to grow into responsible, independent teens by planning and participating in activities on their…