This publication presents data on the University of Wisconsin (UW) System new freshman enrollment for fall 1999. Data tables include new freshman headcount information: by institution, fall 1999; by institution, fall 1989, fall 1994, and fall 1999; by resident status and institution, fall 1999; by resident status, fall 1989 to fall 1999; by gender…

The accountability subset of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) was studied over 4 years to identify trends that might explain why the 1999 TAAS passing rate did not decrease as was predicted. Expanding the accountability index in those years to include special education students was expected to cause a decline in the TAAS…

In November 1998 a group of researchers and scholars gathered to explore methodological issues related to the measurement of student achievement, with a more specific focus on the sharing of perspectives on the black-white test score gap. Papers from this conference are: (1) "Introduction: Toward Heuristic Models of Student Outcomes and More…

A study used data from a long-standing examination system, the General Educational Development (GED) certificate, to illustrate that the details of examination systems have marked impacts on the number of test takers who obtain the desired credential and on the racial/ethnic composition of passers. Data provided by the Florida Department of…

This study examined relative spending patterns in higher education and corrections in California during the administration of Governor Pete Wilson. Data were obtained from the California Postsecondary Education Commission and the Department of Corrections. It was found that over the last 10 years, spending for higher education decreased as a…

This digest identifies several common types of nontraditional families and presents a few of their characteristics relevant to their children's education. It also offers some recommendations to help schools provide support for the families to ensure their inclusion in all aspects of schooling. Multiracial families comprise both children whose…

This study explored relationships between black-white differences in educational achievement and black-white differences in various educational and economic outcomes. Three data sets examined the extent to which black-white differences in labor market outcomes, in educational attainment, and in mathematics and reading achievement were present for…

This paper introduces a collection of papers that examines the impact of affirmative action on college admission and the importance of school desegregation. The book addresses whether or not the educational value of diversity is sufficiently compelling to justify the consideration of race when making college admission decisions. This introduction…

Identifying risk and protective factors that serve as predictors of substance use is essential for developing effective prevention programs. Inconsistency in the data about the role of religion and spirituality as a protective factor for African Americans continues to exist. In this study, data were collected from 511 African American youth, ages…

Identification with academics, or the extent to which academic is central to self-concept, has been linked to academic outcomes conceptually and empirically, at least in samples of white college students. However, Claude Steele's Stereotype Threat Hypothesis (1997) proposes something of a racial paradox, by which the most identified students of…

This document describes a dialogue process that took place in Charleston, West Virginia, between and among district and school-level administrators, who are predominantly European American and African American community leaders. AEL, a federally funded regional educational laboratory, and the Kanawha County School District (where Charleston is…

The SAT Program undertook two studies aimed at evaluating the impact of allowing students to indicate more than one ethnic/racial category. Results of this study indicated that there is little impact on DIF [differential item functioning] analyses when different definitions of ethnic/racial classifications are used compared to traditionally…

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) earned a performance grade of "B" for the second year in a row and was just seven points short of the points required to earn an "A." This Research Capsule summarizes several key elements that contributed to the district's achievement. Results indicate that, in most cases, students'…

Results of the study showed a higher failure rate for boys than for girls. In a comparison of the races, the results that more whites than Negroes are retained in the first grade contradict those of other studies. (BY)