The interaction between state educational reform and curricular services for special needs students, mainly the economically disadvantaged, is discussed in the context of state and federal compensatory education services. Data from eight schools in California suggest that such services can succeed and that excellence and equity can be compatible.…

Recent national information is presented on the relationships among school district poverty, local fiscal needs and capacities, and Chapter 1 allocation levels. Focus is on assessing how the relationship between poverty and local fiscal capacity affects a school district's state/local revenue base. Targeting federal compensatory aid correctly is…

Describes the theoretical framework and structure of the Teaching Excellence for Minority Student Achievement in the Sciences (TEMSAS) program and presents the outcomes for 483 preadolescent youths, 86% of whom were at-risk of low academic productivity. The paper discusses the program's efforts at building student confidence and academic…

Addresses the needs of gifted children in rural New South Wales and discusses disadvantages often experienced by rural gifted students. Describes a project coordinated by the Armidale Catholic Schools Office that developed enrichment materials for gifted rural students in grades 3-10. Includes brief descriptions of learning modules and cites…

The 3rd phase of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Urban Systemic Initiative adds 7 new cities to its program to boost science and mathematics education in urban schools, with grants totaling $105 million. The program supports curriculum development to improve college preparation of students in socially and economically underprivileged areas.…

Provides a foundation for school counselors to address the educational needs of homeless children in the schools, first by defining homelessness and the consequences of homelessness for children and second, by describing pragmatic means for intervention. (Author)

Describes a study examining the perceptions of administrators, counselors, faculty, and underprepared students about the integration of underprepared students in an urban community college. Indicates that students unrealistically evaluate their academic integration and that college officials do not view academic and social integration in the same…

Describes Chile's "900 Schools Program," designed to raise achievement levels of poor 1st to 4th graders in reading, writing, and mathematics. Reviews key program efforts related to building improvements, textbooks and other learning resources, and workshops for teachers and students. Provides results from a 1990-91 assessment,…

Discusses issues of equity, access, and retention for African Americans in higher education. African Americans continue to be underrepresented in higher level positions largely because they are underrepresented in higher education for economic and social reasons that an increasingly multiracial society may not be able to tolerate. (SLD)

Examines demographic information on all-white school districts in New York. Surveys perceptions of superintendents in nonminority school districts about the meaning of "minority" and "disadvantaged" and about the impact of a modified social studies curriculum that calls for the inclusion of minority contributions to American…

A number of state supreme courts have decided cases involving challenges to state public school financing. Summarizes the reactions of courts to plaintiffs' proof concerning the negative impact of inadequate funding on the educational opportunities provided to students in poor school districts. (43 references) (MLF)

Discusses High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Comparison study, which was designed to test impact of major methods of curriculum. Three models used differed in degree of initiative expected of child and teacher. Sixty-eight children of 3-15 years were studied. Results showed that child-initiated learning models led to high quality academic results and…

Summarizes seven ERIC documents and three journal articles on student motivation, focusing on students in the intermediate grades and middle level education. A number of factors that influence student motivation, as well as strategies for improving student attitudes toward learning, are covered. (TJQ)

Montgomery County High School in Mount Vernon (Georgia) revised the U.S. history course as an initial step in making provisions for gifted and talented students. The curriculum and evaluation process are described. The course helps address concerns about underprivileged students and middle-class youth who may require more challenge. (SLD)

Data from 95 educationally disadvantaged Hong Kong students placed in mastery-learning classes were compared with 64 control students in expository-learning classes. Results indicate that under mastery learning, deep- and surface-biased learners increasingly diverge in performance and attitude, with surface learners doing better unit to unit, and…