Describes a public school model that gives historically underserved urban and rural middle schoolers an improved chance at college and life. KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) uses a five-pillar plan that focuses on: more time in school; choice and commitment by teachers, parents, and students; power to lead for the school leader; high expectations…

Six gifted African American students (grades 4-5) were bused to a predominately white school and then returned to their predominately African American school. Students identified 6 of 16 teachers as effective. Ineffective teachers were described as having a lack of understanding of African American culture resulting in low academic expectations.…

Analyzes three case studies, each representing one of the social studies teaching styles identified by D. S. G. Carter and R. G. Hacker: the knowledge transmitter, emphasizing content; the social scientist concerned with student development; and the reflective thinker, favoring process. Purpose of study was to ascribe meaning to the typology. Used…

Documentation is provided regarding the relationship between students' socioeconomic condition and their school performance. Ten teacher- and nonteacher-related reasons for low achievement among lower class and underclass students are presented. Several teacher-related reforms are proposed. (IAH)

Contends that Muslim women in West Yorkshire (England) place an inordinate trust in the educational system's ability to deliver their children from poverty. Results of a three-generational study indicate that daughters of Muslim immigrant families, though aware of intense racism and poor prospects, try to comply with parental wishes. (AF)

Explores the criteria used by a group of 12 teachers when making routine daily judgments about their students. Utilizing triadic elicitation, a set of 10 bipolar constructs was created reflecting positive characteristics. Elementary linkage analysis placed these in four clusters. (MJP)

This study evaluated locus of control orientations, perceptions of efficacy, and outcome expectancies of 282 adolescents with mental retardation and compared them to students with learning disabilities and at-risk students. Subjects were found to hold unrealistic understandings and perceptions of causality and excessively external global…

The effects of personal and teaching efficacy on teachers' use of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) and on student achievement were studied. Nineteen special education teachers each monitored 2 elementary school students with mild disabilities over 16 weeks in math computation using CBM. Teachers with high personal and teaching efficacy more…

Field observations of and interviews with 13 low-skilled 6th graders in physical education indicated that they all exhibited symptoms of learned helplessness. Students had knowledge of being low-skilled, and they experienced teachers communicating low expectations to them. Students were unwilling to expend effort to learn skills, so they were…

Eight kindergarten teachers identified 53 students who were likely to experience difficulty in school and profiled the students in terms of pupil characteristics that are, according to research, implicated in early school performance. Low scores in student behavior, family structure, language, personality, and age were most representative of the…

Examined relationships of measures of occupational and academic self-efficacy; vocational interests; outcome expectations; academic ability; and perceived stress, support, and coping to academic achievement of engineering/science majors (n=197). Self-efficacy for academic milestones, in combination with other academic and support variables, was…

New Standards Project is consortium of 17 states and 6 leading school districts working with cluster of specialists to design and implement system of performance standards, authentic assessments, and professional development aimed at improving educational equity and excellence. New matrix examinations and portfolios will yield results that can be…

Two studies analyzed structure and content of teachers' theories of intelligence, noting relationships between theories and educational goals. Teachers provided lists of behaviors characterizing intelligent persons. Other teachers rated characteristics and educational goals using those behaviors. Teachers based intelligence on conceptual thinking…

Discusses how stressful ninth grade is for adolescents, noting that adults' expectations of ninth graders' cognitive abilities may result in stressful experiences that are life-threatening for some (with suicide and drugs being common reactions). Suggestions are made for appropriate teacher education courses, curriculum materials, and…

Illegal parking in spaces reserved for people with physical disabilities was examined across three conditions: a vertical sign alone or in combination with a message sign announcing public surveillance or a message device dispensing reminder notes and announcing community involvement. Messages increasing expectation of negative social consequences…