Examined influence of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, father absence, and family size on special education eligibility for 300 students. Results indicated that only socioeconomic status and ethnicity made significant contribution to prediction of special education eligibility, suggesting that legislative mandates to control for sociocultural…

This article attempts to refocus special education upon the child and away from the "least restrictive alternative" continuum, through proposing the adoption of an array of equally acceptable educational options which might include mainstreaming for part of the day, resource room instruction, and outreach teacher consultation and summer programs…

The author describes his journey from poor African-American youth in the rural South to successful businessman. He discusses the Inroads program, an internship for African-American and Hispanic youth and advises giving up victimhood and adapting to the mainstream of capitalism. (SK)

This study, with a national sample of 370 older persons with mental retardation in foster care, small group homes, large private facilities, and large state-operated facilities, found generally low levels of social integration. Individuals in community settings were much more likely to experience some social integration. (DB)

Restricted factor analysis shows that the multiple-choice and free-response sections of the Computer Science and Chemistry Advanced Placement examinations (College Board) measure the same proficiencies for the most part. There is a small degree of multidimensionality because of local dependence among free-response items. (SLD)

Presents research that validates and refines a computerized system for grading placement exams. Compares computerized ratings to holistic scores, grades earned in courses, and other measures. Calls for additional research on larger populations and greater numbers of textual traits. (HB)

This study examined self-esteem at 13 and 18 years of age among 340 gifted students. Results found no differential change in self-esteem according to whether or not students experienced academic acceleration. Analysis of students' self-perceptions of other personality characteristics also yielded no differential correlation to acceleration status.…

This study examined whether numbers of unwarranted assumptions, hypotheses, and requests for additional information concerning a hypothetical case of child abuse and neglect (CAN) predicted agreement with a premature decision to remove a child from home among 141 CAN professionals. Comparison with undergraduates found that more CAN professionals…

Case files (n=284) from a social services agency and juvenile court were reviewed to investigate how cases involving drug-exposed infants were processed. Data showed an overrepresentation of African American and Hispanic cases and underrepresentation of Caucasian and Asian cases. About 80% of children were removed from the mother; about one-third…

This pair of rejoinders to Rainforth (EC 609 966) by the original authors stresses that commitment to an educational philosophy (such as the inclusion philosophy) should not override the educational needs of individual students with mental retardation. The lack of empirical support for many such educational philosophies is also noted. (DB)

The Writing Assessment Test (WAT), the City University of New York's instrument for evaluating college-level writing, has been a subject of controversy since its evolution from an exit exam to a placement exam. Bronx Community College's success in having both faculty and students pay less attention to the WAT in its English-as-a-Second-Language…

Study of the use of a Portuguese speaking test to evaluate placement and gains in oral proficiency during a six-week summer study abroad program indicated that the test results augmented existing information for appropriate placement and had limited ability to measure language gains made during the summer study program. (11 references) (CB)

The nine-year experience of the Northeast Louisiana University School of Pharmacy in developing an undergraduate toxicology program is described. A survey of 128 graduates revealed student characteristics and graduate employment and/or education patterns. Common job duties included industrial hygiene, analytical chemistry, technical writing,…

Suggests that the patron-client relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and intellectuals parallels the relationship between the state and scholars in imperial China. Describes privileges, prestige, and political and social control of university faculty and students; university admittance examinations; and national unified job placement…

Interviews with 137 primary caregivers with developmentally disabled family members (ages 2-62) on waiting lists for out-of-home placement found that caregiver stress was a significant predictor of the urgency of placement need. Behavior problems of the disabled person were almost as important. Lack of support services was correlated with…