Explains the fallacy of assuming racial and ethnic equality in drug problems. Demonstrates that the most serious consequences of illegal drug involvement fall disproportionately on minorities. Discusses drug related theft and imprisonment and eco-social repercussions of being labeled an addict. Discusses inadequate data sources for drug…

A 1977-78 annual report on the first substantial decline in applicants to U.S. medical schools during the past quarter century is described. Comparisons are made with activity in 1974-75--the peak year for medical school applicants--to measure the impact on individual medical schools, geographical regions, and applicant subpopulations. (Author/MLW)

A study that sought to determine by what means and with what frequency Boston College undergraduates with unmet financial aid need actually financed their educational expenses is reported. Parental contributions, student earnings, student borrowing, and other methods by which students may have filled the gap are considered. (JMD)

Finds progress in the area of curriculum (increasing graduation requirements) since publication of "A Nation at Risk," but argues that some educational interest groups, especially teacher unions, have succeeded in blocking certain "Risk" recommendations requiring real changes, such as extending the school year, while supporting…

Includes 22 articles that address the use of Canadian statistics in the classroom. Highlights include the Statistics Canada Web site; other Web resources; original sources; critical thinking; debating with talented and gifted students; teaching marketing; environmental resources; data management; social issues and values; math instruction; reading…

Reviews the results of a meta-analysis that evaluated 208 variables derived from 98 studies incorporating music as a contingency for education and therapeutic objectives. Demonstrates that contingent music was more effective than was continuous music and nonmusic stimuli used in these studies. Includes a list of the studies analyzed. (MJP)

Describes new directions and initiatives instituted at the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) since 1986 to fill data gaps, raise technical standards, and expand staff resources. Discusses implications for educational research and policy. (FMW)

Three historic examples demonstrate the vital role data displays (graphs and tables) have played in important discoveries. Levels of information that form the basis of a theory of display are described, and steps to improve the quality of tabular presentations in educational writing are outlined. (SLD)

A youngster failing to thrive in one environment needs an alternative learning situation. Research shows that small, personalized schools offering authentic, engaging curricula are essential for reaching unsuccessful learners. The test-score craze can be contained by publicizing other numbers regarding consequences: absence rates, dropouts,…

A commentary precedes this previously published study that indicates fifth-grade and eighth-grade students in homogeneous classes perceived that their teachers held higher expectations of them than did students who were heterogeneously grouped. The statistical methods used in the study are explained, along with key findings. (Contains references.)…

New technology and knowledge push organizations to upgrade and improve the skills of their staff. Paying for professional development programming is a common way of providing continuing education. This article describes a collaborative training program introduced to develop baseline competencies in Canadian academic libraries to support data…

EDUCAUSE Core Data Service Fiscal Year 2006 Summary Report summarizes much of the data collected through the 2006 EDUCAUSE core data survey about campus information technology (IT) environments at 933 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. The report presents aggregates of data through more than 100 tables and accompanying descriptive…

The perception of bicultural stress, stress due to discrimination/prejudice, immigration, and acculturation, was investigated in relation to mental well-being in a sample of urban Latino (n = 304), European American (n = 215), and Asian American (n = 131) 8th grade students. Bicultural stress was reported by all ethnic groups and was significantly…

This exploratory data mining project used distance-based clustering algorithms to study three indicators of student behavioral data collectively called AB-Index, and established a typology of six types of learners for a suburban community college. The study is based on the notion that student behavioral data are a good basis for new ways of doing…

This first annual report of Minnesota KIDS COUNT focuses on key indicators of children's well-being and details the condition of children in each of Minnesota's 87 counties. Minnesota KIDS COUNT--as part of a campaign by Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota and Congregations Concerned for Children to end child poverty in Minnesota--collects,…