Despite a fifth year of economic recovery in 1987, the poverty rate for Hispanic Americans remained at nearly the same level in 1987 as during the severe recession of the early 1980s. Among non-Hispanics, by contrast, poverty rates have declined during the recovery, making Hispanics the only racial or ethnic group whose poverty rates remain at or…

Analysis of the provisions for Hispanics, Asians, and other minority groups (excluding Blacks) in the desegregation plans of 13 cities (Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle) suggests a number of trends: (1) These groups have not been classified…

Social and demographic changes in American society have given rise to an abundance of educational literature about the role of schools. Schools must provide both basic and advanced academic preparation, but should they also compensate for and assume some of the roles of the family? This document identifies current trends and issues in education by…

This report describes and presents 1980-81 evaluation results for Project Rescate at John Jay High School in New York City. The project, which was funded under Title VII of the Elementary Secondary Education Act, provided instruction in English as a Second Language and in native language skills for limited proficient students. Bilingual…

Detailed demographic information on the characteristics of households and families in the United States is presented in this report. The new data in this year's report are based on the current population survey conducted in March of l981. Some highlights of the topics discussed include the following: (1) Nonfamily households accounted for 10.1…

Systematic but unanticipated differences in patterns of responses to a test between two or more groups is generally taken as evidence of test bias. This study assessed whether a carefully-targeted instructional sequence could influence the effects of bias. A reading comprehension test with items previously identified as biased for certain groups…

This paper documents trends in school segregation in different geographical regions throughout the United States between 1968 and 1976. The avarage level of school segregation between whites and minorities (Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans) declined from a level of 42 to 21 points (on a scale of 0 to 100). Most of this reduction was due to…

This article reviews six programs that have applied anthropological concepts, methods, and research to implementing change in American schools, school districts, and communities. The programs are: (1) the West Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Free School, an experimental alternative education program that emphasizes freedom, individualized instruction,…

Successful delivery of mental health services to Hispanic Americans depends on understanding the sociocultural variables that produce conflict for this group. For Puerto Ricans on the United States mainland, identity problems arising from Puerto Rico's historical and social circumstances are aggravated by the need to deal with cultural and…

A 3-year longitudinal study of Puerto Rican youth (who were tenth graders during the first year of the study) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sought to identify determinants of decisions to remain in school or drop out, and to investigate delinquency among this population. Among girls, the study found no correlation between delinquency and dropping…

To determine if there are common factors which all teachers of Hispanic children should be acquainted with in order to facilitate the education of Hispanics, a study was conducted of 4 Hispanic groups (25 Mexican Americans, 23 Puerto Ricans, 20 Cubans, and 17 Venezuelans). Eighty-five families, together with their children ranging in age from 4-60…

Data collected nationwide from 1968 to the 1980-81 school year form the basis of this report on changes in school racial composition in States, Metropolitan areas, and large cities. Trends in the percentages of Black, Hispanic, and White students are discussed by region. It is indicated that the greatest gains in desegregation of blacks have taken…

The Bilingual Pupil Services Project is a compensatory education program that aims to improve achievement in English reading, Spanish reading, and mathematics among Spanish speaking students of limited English proficiency. In 1981-82, the program served 1,369 elementary school students in New York City. To accomplish its goals, the program trained…

An overview is provided of the activities and accomplishments of Compton Community College's Project ACCT (Access for Community College Transfer), a program designed to increase the transfer rate and academic preparation of Black and Latino students within the district. Introductory material examines trends with respect to the educational…

Contemporary Mexican Americans have a multi-faceted character. Twentieth century Mexican Americans are no longer Mexicans but neither are they Anglo American. The strength of their Mexican traditions and cultural values and the forces of dilution to which these are exposed depend on various combined factors. Contributing to their multi-faceted…