College performance of minority groups is addressed, including oppressed ethnic groups (Native Americans, Asian Americans, Puerto Ricans, Chicanos or Latinos, and Afro-Americans), as well as handicapped students and female students. This definition includes those who face discrimination because of race and/or oppressed ethnic status, physical…

The relationship of differential item functioning (DIF) to item difficulty on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was examined, based on data from nine recent administrations of the test from June 1986 through December 1987. This pool of information includes item statistics on 765 verbal and 540 mathematical items computed for subgroups of White,…

The need for higher education to shift from a policy of nondiscrimination to one of affirmative action is examined, with note taken of the clear opportunity for higher education to take advantage of faculty positions being vacated due to retirement during the mid-to-late 1990s. Preparations can be made now to provide opportunities for minority…

This study involving 29 students enrolled in an 8-week summer Algebra II class for minority students was undertaken to determine the relationship between the kinds of symbolic forms used in problem-solving instruction and students' problem-solving processes and performance. All subjects were Black or Hispanic and were about to enter grade 11. For…

The Demonstration Bilingual Enrichment College Preparatory Program at Louis D. Brandeis High School in New York City is designed to address the needs of the "academically more able" student with limited English proficiency. The program supplements the school's existing services for 120 Spanish-dominant students, and offers instructional…

A study explored the effectiveness of "rap music" as a method of instruction for urban preschool children. It was hypothesized that urban preschool children would learn more new content (10 unfamiliar names of body parts) in a classroom environment through the use of rap music for instruction, than would children who received instruction…

A study of fall 1984 College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) examinees was undertaken at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to examine the interrelationships among CLAST scores, the number of English courses taken, grades received, and basic skills in reading and writing prior to completion of the required English sequence. The study revealed…

The proceedings contain 36 research papers and summaries/recommendations of 12 panels participating in the 1981 symposium, providing varied and extensive discussions about Hispanics in business, as consumers, and as managers. The materials are divided into five sections, each prefaced by a 1-4 page discussion highlighting the relevance of the…

To gather information to assist policy makers, curriculum designers, and classroom teachers in planning and delivering language and reading instruction that will promote success in school of children from complex language backgrounds, a 6-year longitudinal investigation begun in 1978 tracked approximately 250 Spanish-speaking children from low…

Case studies were used to explore parents' role in first-grade reading success of nine at-risk, low-income, Hispanic students in a small, predominantly Hispanic school district in Southern California. Refuting the theory that low achievement results from differences between home and school norms and values, the study found that all 15 parents…

Results are summarized for the Austin, Texas, Independent School District (AISD) achievement testing program during the 1984-85 year. The data are presented to compare AISD results to national and urban averages. The performance of AISD students on other tests is presented, as well as two-year and six-year trends. Both percentile and grade…

A course in comparative Hispanic/American culture was developed for a criminal justice training center to provide exposure to Hispanic cultural norms to local criminal justice workers. The participants included employees in the fields of adult probation, health care, and alcohol and drug programs. Hispanic participants provided a valuable…

The State Bilingual Education program, the Local Bilingual program, and the Migrant Education program are designed to meet the needs of bilingual and migrant students in the School District of the City of Saginaw, Michigan. Instruction consisted primarily of one hour of supplemental reading and mathematics. Students in grades 7-12 also received…

A federally funded program in English as a Second Language involving 516 North and Central American immigrants in two Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., is described. The instruction began in 1981 in three public schools, and had good attendance and high student motivation. The following aspects of the program are outlined and discussed: (1)…

The six articles in this issue demonstrate how collaborative education efforts can be useful in meeting the needs of bilingual communities. The first article describes a Community Based Education model derived from experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating it. The article details the collaborative efforts between a bilingual school…