The article traces the development of the concept of learning disabilities (LD) in American education from a sociohistorical perspective, prompting a variety of observations and conclusions. The scientific basis for the conceptualization of the LD clinical syndrome is weak. A clinically identified dysfunctional learning style has been transformed…

A study examined whether ACT subtest scores can be used to predict reading skills, as measured by the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, with a degree of accuracy that would support their use as a screening device for college placement. ACT test scores of 2,431 students were used to predict Form C Nelson-Denny raw scores. ACT test scores from 3,016…

A recent study showed that high school students who are not planning to attend college full time should combine vocational and academic course work to maximize their success in the labor market. In a study of non-college bound youth (based on the High School and Beyond Survey data) that examined the impact of high school curriculum, grades, and…

Reviewing enrollment trends in federal, public, and tribally controlled schools, this report examines progress in the education of American Indian handicapped children since the passage in 1975 of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The first section provides numbers of Indian handicapped and gifted and talented children receiving…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 11 titles deal with the following topics: (1) teacher self-assessment and analysis of feedback to student miscues during oral reading; (2) the humor found in basal readers appropriate to second and fourth grade students; (3) an…

The "Cooperative Jobline" is an employment-lead sharing network established and initiated by the Resource Council of Genesee County, a team of service providers from non-profit agencies whose prime function is in placement, job training, and development. This centralized, cooperative exchange system of current, up-to-date, job-related…

The demonstration project described in this report was designed to explore the value of job clubs in preparing two-year college students with disabilities for the transition from school to work. The demonstration sites were Chicago City-Wide College (CCC), Columbus Technical Institute (CTI) (Ohio), and the Community Colleges of Rhode Island (CCRI)…

Revised guidelines for the administration of Texas bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL) programs for limited-English-proficient (LEP) public school students deal with two issues: (1) the amount of instructional time to be provided in the student's primary language and in English, and (2) the relationship between instruction…

The study examined whether there were differences in the reasons first-year teachers in rural, urban, or suburban schools (1) accepted their present teaching positions and (2) might consider a teaching position in another school district. Subjects were 99 teacher graduates of the Universities of Iowa and Vermont who were teaching in suburban…

In response to low college-going rates and low persistence rates of college students, Clark Technical College (CTC) initiated the High School Liaison Project to improve articulation between the college and local schools. The project served as an umbrella for several related activities, including a program for assessing the potential college skills…

Assessment of the College-Level Academic Skills Test Project (CLAST) at Florida colleges and universities is discussed. Included is an overview of the role of placement testing for entering freshmen and the questions that should be answered regarding the effectiveness of current entry testing and course placement practices. Information is included…

The need for remedial English education among college freshmen has increased, and there exists no standardized approach to proficiency assessment and placement among institutions of higher education. After completing freshmen English courses, 922 students attending a four-year university were assessed to determine accurate variables for use in…

Two questionnaires were constructed in 1985 as part of the overall Study of Stanford and the Schools. The survey instruments focused respectively on high school student and teacher opinions of their various Advanced Placement (AP) classroom experiences and their academic expectations for AP students based on these classroom experiences. The…

Whether the time limits of the Academic Assessment Placement Program (AAPP) Reading Comprehension Test of the State Board of Regents (SBR) of Tennessee provide fair treatment for all underprepared students was assessed. Focus was on studying various response patterns and completion rates that indicate whether or not speededness (SP) is critical.…

The study compared available placements, related services, and teacher qualifications for severely handicapped students in rural and urban areas of 190 school districts in 46 states. The effects of two predictor variables, percentage of urban population and median family income, on the following dependent variables were examined: student…