Meta-analysis was used to review 56 programs designed to promote family wellness and prevent child maltreatment to determine program effectiveness and identify positive factors. Intensive family preservation programs with high levels of participant involvement, an empowerment/strengths-based approach, and a component of social support had higher…

This article examines the role of school climate in guiding programs designed to reduce academic failure and antisocial behavior among students defined as "at risk". Suggestions are offered for improving such educational programs in a manner consistent with research on school climate and effective schools. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

This article offers a way to build accountability by utilizing outcome relevant information along with outcomes to ensure relevance of evaluation results. It describes a process that incorporates use of logic models for comparing child, family, and community context for the program, the service delivery strategies, and expected outcomes. (Contains…

This study examined effects of guided notes on the academic performance of seven adolescent males with learning and behavior problems, who were in a medium-security juvenile detention center. The students' academic performance improved and six of the seven students reported they preferred using guided notes. (Contains references.) (DB)

Explores students' reasons for choosing the General National Vocational Qualifications Advanced Business course in an attempt to understand reasons for non-completion of the course. Focuses on the influence of competition of the post-16 curriculum, the effect of advice on student choice, and the students' perceptions of themselves as learners and…

Studied the correlates of intellectual giftedness and gender differences in giftedness in 6 groups of 10th graders (n=12,630). Discusses implications for U.S. youth achievement levels, manpower planning, and possible educational interventions. (SLD)

A study involving 33 teachers and 732 college students with deafness found a moderate relation between students' perceptions of communication ease and teaching effectiveness and a weak relation of these two variables to the teachers' assessed level of sign skill. Students could clearly differentiate three levels of teacher sign skill. (Contains…

Draws together the results of seven studies that investigated factors influencing the effects of service quality in community-based residential services for people with severe mental retardation. Results found that quality of staff and resident activity is dependent on an interaction between the structure, orientation, and procedures followed…

Reviews recent long-term outcome studies concerning the psycho-educational functioning of children who were born with very low birth weight (2.20 to 3.31 pounds). Findings indicate that these children develop without problems in some, but not all, areas. The areas most consistently affected were neuro-motor and mathematics. (Author/CR)

A survey of the broad policy community rates the governor, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, mayor, Chicago Board of Education, district central office, and the Chicago Teachers union in their work of Chicago school governance before and after the July 1995 restructuring. Preliminary results suggest improvement in school governance following…

The achievement goals of 127 sets of parents and perfectionism in their academically talented children (56% boys) were studied. Children of performance goal, rather than learning goal, parents were more likely to exhibit dysfunctional perfectionism, with a combination of concern about mistakes and doubts about actions, parental expectations, and…

Three studies examined the effects of different interventions used with elementary students with learning disabilities and typical students on spelling and math homework completion and weekly quiz performance. Three intervention strategies resulted in significant increases in homework completion: giving students real-life assignments, using…

Wraparound team members (n=20) identified as teaming experts rated 109 items that support team effectiveness across six categories: team goals, member roles and membership, communication, cohesion, logistics, and outcomes. Items in the team outcomes, goals, and cohesion categories were ranked most critical to team effectiveness. (Contains…

Four conditions of a standard false belief task were administered to 10 children with specific language impairment (SLI), 10 children of the same age, and 9 younger children with comparable language skills. Results found that linguistic competence served as a limiting factor in false belief performance in children with SLI. (Contains references.)…

A study investigated the psychometric validity of current language impairment, communication activity limitation, and quality of life measures for differentiating 18 typical adults from 18 adults with chronic aphasia. Results indicated there existed significant relationships among some demographic variables and performance on the measures,…