This practicum was designed and implemented to reduce the underrepresentation of minority students in gifted programs, and to help minority students improve their academic achievement in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The practicum involved examining the gifted student nomination/identification process to see if instruments or procedures were…

This study reports on nine family literacy projects that focus on families whose primary language is not English. The first six projects fall under the Kenan service model, which sees that children receive more or as many services as adults and is organized around children's needs. These include the Canoncito Family Support/Early Childhood…

Two themes which run through a majority of education reform reports are the need better to prepare teachers for cultural diversity and to forge partnerships between universities and public schools. In an effort to fill these needs a collaborative project was undertaken between the University of Central Florida and a local elementary school (in…

The Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) study followed a group of students who began their postsecondary education in the 1989-90 academic year. The follow-up in the spring of 1992 explored the persistence and degree attainment of these beginners (approximately 10,600 students). As expected, many initially enrolled for programs of less than 4…

Three types of research summaries comprise this loose-leaf compendium: "topical synthesis,""closeups," and "snapshots." The single topical synthesis is entitled "Fostering Intercultural Harmony in Schools" (Kathleen Cotton). Closeups consist of brief definitions and essential research findings on the following topics: "Developing Employability…

This study examined special education services for migrant and Native American students in Washington's Northwest Educational Service District 189, an area of 35 school districts with 33% of the enrollment comprising these two minority groups. The study used a backward mapping approach as it sought to identify best practices/procedures and…

Although there was expectation that the current recession would bring a new wave of Appalachian Kentuckians back to their homeland hills, as had previous recessions, no great "return to the hills" (or even to other areas of the state) has materialized. Unemployment insurance claims by people formerly employed in other states have not…

The report of the 25-member National Advisory Council on Rural Development, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, defines rural needs and sets forth strategies for rural development in the 1980's. A review of the decade between 1970 and 1980 discusses rapid economic growth of rural areas, social progress, and changes in public service, and…

The paper presents 45 questions teachers have about education of Alaska Native students, and answers to those questions. Teachers are cautioned to avoid assuming that White, middle-class society and Standard English are the only acceptable standards, to be aware of differences in culture and values between Native groups and between Natives and…

A weekly professional development seminar, designed to help University of Alaska education professors (four White, one Alaska Native) become more culturally sensitive in multicultural classrooms and discover ways teaching may construct barriers to participation by Alaska Native students, was supplemented by videotapes of participants' teaching…

A study to determine whether educational discrepancies exist between urban and rural sections of Liberia used descriptive analysis to examine curriculum, instructional personnel and facilities, finances, and administrative organization. Sources of data included official documents from the Liberian Ministry of Education; the education section of…

A review of literature on the learning processes and potential of adult students of English as a Second Language, not literate in their native language, looks at research in the following areas: (1) the differences between children and adults in language learning; (2) the effects of previous formal education on second language learning; (3) the…

The Honors Workshop for Middle School Science Teachers was designed to address teachers' conceptual understanding of basic scientific principles, student misconceptions and how to deal with them, and observation and measurement techniques. For 4 weeks in summer and on 6 Saturdays during 2 academic years, 30 leaders among science teachers from the…

Data in this population bulletin indicate that in comparison with children of previous generations, today's youngsters are apt to have fewer siblings, and more likely to come from a broken home, have a working mother, and pass time as a latchkey kid. More children are in child care than in the past, and there has been a significant move toward…

This learning module, which is part of a three-block series intended to help human service workers develop the skills necessary to solve the problems encountered in their daily contact with elderly clients of different cultural backgrounds, deals with communication and adjustment from the standpoint of the cultural heritage of elderly Native…