Cognitive and academic behaviors promoted by an ongoing, long-term Direct Instruction preschool project for poverty level children (N=109) are described. Children who received two years of training achieved at substantially higher normative levels than children trained for only one year and this advantage continued in first and second grades.…

A sample of 500 Black American males was studied to determine if there was a causal relationship between underemployment and/or underpayment and psychosocial stress. No significant relationships were found. (JS)

Two years ago, a study led by Peter H. Rossi found that 7,000 people were without homes in Chicago at some time in the course of a year. An expanded version of that study recommends changes in state and national policies affecting the homeless. (MLW)

This paper suggests methodologies and guidelines appropriate for evaluating projects in the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Program. The paper aims to help projects carry out their evaluations, assist the Javits staff in determining the success of the evaluations, and aid in long-range program planning. (JDD)

A survey of 39 school districts serving large numbers of culturally diverse students found that many districts listed gifted students from ethnic/linguistic minorities or economically disadvantaged as important underserved populations. Alternative identification procedures were primarily intended to expand the assessment basis, and factors…

Examined extent of intergenerational welfare use, strength of the association across generations, and reasons underlying such a dynamic, utilizing nationally representative data set of American households (n=13,017). Three-quarters of welfare recipients do not grow up in households that received welfare. Parent economic background, not welfare use…

Describes a project at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore that enables at-risk children to develop Internet skills. Discusses the recruitment and training of volunteer tutors, promotion of the project, and peer recruitment. A sidebar provides a list of Internet sites used in the lessons. (AEF)

Some colleges and universities are establishing scholarships for "first-generation students," whose parents did not attend college. Proponents see the aid as avoiding legal problems associated with affirmative action and reaching some disadvantaged whites. Others are concerned that, if they replace race-based scholarships, minority enrollments…

Examines the charter school movement in California and elsewhere, defines a charter school, gives its historical roots, and summarizes the availability of charter schools in states where they are authorized. The author indicates that charter schools are sought mainly in disadvantaged urban communities and that these schools are not facing strong…

Evaluates the goals and objectives of the childcare component as outlined by the Family Support Act. Following a brief discussion of the legislation's childcare provisions, the authors outline Project Independence, Louisiana's response to the federal mandate, and explore the Toyota Families in Learning Program developed through this project.…

An action research approach was used to evaluate a nontraditional gifted identification technique for disadvantaged students. Fourth-grade students selected by a whole classroom "tryout" technique participated in the Future Problem Solving component of the talented and gifted curriculum with students selected by traditional means. Analysis showed…

Considers the role of social welfare and public assistance policies in the promotion of African American family life. Examines race, sex, and age demographics as predictors of poverty in the United States. Reviews the history of social programming and public family assistance, including intervention assumptions and demographic characteristics that…

Both elementary/secondary education and postsecondary education are responsible to some degree for existing conditions that foster underachievement in students, many of them poor students or students of color. Barriers at the K-12 level include unequal learning opportunities and inadequately trained teachers. Barriers in postsecondary education…

Provides teachers, librarians, and general readers with resources to educate themselves and others about the complex reality of today's Haiti. It offers an introduction to Haiti's history, politics, society, and culture and cites works available within the following categories: children's/young adults' books, literature, film and video, and music.…

Evaluates biographies of Cesar Chavez for children and teenagers and provides descriptions of recent books on the children of migrant farm workers. The books, mostly published in the 1990s, cover Chavez's rise as a farm worker activist and include several new works that address the social history of Chavez and the farm workers' struggle. (GR)