Presents the "Strengths of Black Families" of R. B. Hill (1972) as a paradigm for understanding family behavior. Introduces the practice approach to these strengths in the work of E. Hall and G. King (1982) that is effective for developing family intervention strategies related to social and economic problems. (SLD)

Study examined why one school district required some children to take two years to reach first grade. Staff interviews, classroom observations, and demographic analysis indicated extra-yearing was implemented by a small, powerful few. More poor and fall-born children were placed in the program, which did not affect student achievement. (SM)

Project Promise, designed to provide leadership opportunities to middle school students from low socioeconomic environments, supplemented in-school curricular options with a home visitor. The home visitor served as a liaison between students' families and the school and assisted families in obtaining social services and information about career…

Forty-eight low socioeconomic status Israeli women were trained to optimize their infants' development through mediational strategies including increase in frequency of focusing, affecting, expanding, encouraging, and regulating behaviors. At three-year follow-up, maternal mediation behaviors were found to be related to specific children's…

The third part of William Clune's proposed strategy for reforming the states' role in supporting elementary and secondary education is the development of performance-oriented policies that focus resources on improving student achievement. This article discusses questions central to designing such policies, highlighting three areas: curricular…

Analysis of national survey data found that, compared to other family types, children living with both biological or both (original) adoptive parents had the best academic and behavioral outcomes. Economic disadvantage accounted for much of children's poor outcomes in single-mother families. Parental behaviors, particularly parental support, had…

A study of fatal and nonfatal interpersonal violence-related injuries over one year in a poor African-American community in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) reveals that violence-related injury is the most common injury type for persons aged 15-49 years. Results yield dramatic evidence of the extent of urban violence for adults and children. (SLD)

Discusses the Golden Rule Insurance Company's educational choice program which assists lower-income families in sending children to private/church schools. Identifies benefits (e.g., introduction of public school choice plan, and families' sense of control over future). Answers criticisms (e.g., destroying public school system, racial motivation,…

Describes value and discusses models of toy libraries, which enable children and their parents to borrow and play with a range of toys and specialized equipment that might not otherwise be accessible to them. Addresses staffing issues and library goals related to toy libraries, connections between toy libraries and curricula, and benefits of and…

Defines literacy needs of immigrants in Canada, using personal stories to illustrate the destructive effect literacy problems have on people perceived to lack literacy skills. Questions are raised about implications for Canadian society as a whole and about the effectiveness of its English-as-a-Second-Language programs. (LB)

Examined parental correlates of child attachment in preschool-aged, economically disadvantaged, urban, African-American sample. Found that 61% were securely attached, with girls more likely to be securely attached than boys. Parents of securely attached children were rated as more warm and accepting, less controlling, and less likely to use…

Argues that special needs education in Britain has lost sight of the relationship between children's difficulties in school and wider patterns of socioeconomic disadvantage and inequality, and suggests that special needs education is incapable of addressing basic inequities in our education system and within society as a whole. (Author/CR)

Martin Haberman, a distinguished teacher educator who helped shape American educational reforms for 35 years, explains his current research interests and concerns. He favors development of "star teachers," alternative teacher certification programs, restructured schooling for six million urban children in poverty, and gentle teaching strategies.…

Data from national sources were used to test whether state school finance reform alters neighborhood income homogeneity. Results show that school finance has a significant effect on school district income sorting, especially among low-income communities. (Author)

Addresses issues of early intervention with young children with disabilities in the context of poverty as a risk factor for disability and recent welfare-to-work legislation. Concepts developed by Uri Bronfenbrenner and Peter Neville are reviewed to show the need to integrate concepts of risk and ecological support into the contexts of caregiving…