Investigates boundaries between normal and abnormal psychological profiles among adolescents, particularly on instruments widely used in psychology research and clinical/educational practice. Participants were 117 students from a large, urban city in an outgoing intervention program, with adolescents who were at risk of dropping out of school…

Determines the level of drug and alcohol involvement of 369 middle and high school students and examines the effectiveness of early intervention. Results of the study underscore the frequency and seriousness of drug use, the need for more prevention efforts in elementary and middle schools, and additional treatment programs for high school…

Evaluates a 10-week drug education and prevention program (DEPP) as a means to increase information about the efficacy of such efforts in deterring college athlete drug abuse. Data obtained from 635 student athletes shows improvements in knowledge, attitudes toward performance-enhancing and recreational drugs, and perceptions of drug education…

This 4-year longitudinal study compared characteristics of different day care contexts and the home environment of young children in Turkey and their effects on child outcomes. Findings indicated that custodial and educational day care differed in quality. Short- and long-term child outcomes suggested that educational settings supported child…

Examined the effectiveness of the Aided Articulation Index (AAI) in the evaluation of the fitting of hearing aids, using a sample of hearing-impaired children in a kindergarten and primary school for the deaf in Japan. Found that AAI decreased with hearing threshold level and an AAI of 0.3 is necessary for children to function effectively with…

Two scenarios are presented involving a family's experience in accessing a quality inclusive education for their young child to illustrate what it might look like if all stakeholders assumed responsibility for implementing available research-based information to facilitate inclusive early childhood education. Roles of families, administrators,…

Reviews controversial Milwaukee Project which utilized early intervention efforts with 17 children at risk for mental retardation. Discusses methodological problems that cast doubt on validity of results. Contends that project does not support hypothesis that early intervention for children at risk for mental retardation will result in meaningful…

Discusses the increasing educational opportunities for culturally and linguistically different preschool children and suggests that there is a growing need to ensure accurate identification of minority-language preschoolers with special needs. Offers strategies to improve the value of diagnostic information and presents issues to consider at each…

With America's eroding social support, transitioning from childhood to adulthood is difficult. Adolescents need help in forming healthy lifestyles to positively affect their futures. The article recommends a developmental approach to providing life skills training, explaining the necessary conjunction of life sciences curricula, life skills…

Assesses the state of U.S. education after a decade of debate about school improvement, and explores what research is teaching us about child development. Children develop a significant portion of their cognitive skills before they are old enough for Head Start, making early interventions crucial. (SLD)

Studied the relation of child-rearing beliefs and values of parents of children entering kindergarten to children's academic achievements. Examined effects of a child-centered educational preschool program for socioeconomically disadvantaged children on parents' beliefs and values. Parents of children at risk differed from other parents in beliefs…

Rural graduate students in early intervention used case-study and ethnographic methods to record family-focused field experiences, thereby developing an understanding of family perspectives and personal theories about early intervention in rural settings. These personnel preparation processes help students engage in a lifelong process of…

A study of 52 African-American children with speech/language disorders investigated how a large urban school district implemented recommendations of an early intervention program that fed into its schools. Results showed that the early intervention team's assessment and identification information was highly accurate and that early intervention…

Discusses the practical implications from Lonigan and Whitehurst's study regarding strengthening the skills of teachers and parents that will subsequently improve language and emerging literacy skills in preschoolers. Maintains that one of the most important outcomes of the dialogic reading intervention is the notion that adults can learn to…

Raises questions concerning the research methodology and related issues arising from Lonigan and Whitehurst's study: (1) degree of parent compliance in implementing the intervention; (2) effect of the parents' education level; (3) potential effects of other manipulations of the home environment to increase access to literacy materials; and (4)…