This handbook offers the latest information on gangs and practical advice on preventing or reducing gang encroachment in schools. Gang experts believe that establishing codes of conduct, diligent awareness of gang rivalries, prevention courses, and community and parental involvement can make an impact in keeping gangs away from campus. Chapter 1,…

This digest describes the Invitational Learning model developed by William W. Purkey, an approach that emphasizes mutual respect and human potential in every aspect of schooling. It presents a brief overview of the invitational learning concept and discusses the theoretical foundations of the model. It describes characteristics of an inviting…

Three recent federal court decisions dealt with the use of public university and public school facilities by student groups for religious activities. In "Widmar v. Vincent," the United States Supreme Court decided that the University of Missouri at Kansas City was not justified in its denial of permission to a registered student…

This paper offers four recommendations for alternative school educators and others who work with at-risk students: (1) The real "experts" are those who work directly with at-risk youth in classrooms. (2) Schools should not provide students with choices while forsaking their obligation to teach them how to actively participate in the culture. If…

This pamphlet considers students' right to privacy and the application of this right to the confidentiality of information disclosed to administrators and counselors. Privacy is also considered in regard to special problems associated with counseling students about drugs, contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, and possible threat…

In response to the increased movement toward competency-based education, a large urban southeastern school system implemented a Pupil Progression Policy in the 1980-81 school year. This paper reports on the results of a 5-year longitudinal study of the policy's effect on the academic achievement of retained and promoted students who entered first…

This study compares student populations between two high schools in an urban school district in Indiana and populations within the schools to determine the effects of a punitive attendance policy and the attendance patterns of various groups. The schools were differentiated by the factor of one school enforcing an attendance policy. Random samples…

The School Crime and Misbehavior Project, conducted under the auspices of the National Alliance for Safe schools and the National Institute of Justice, was aimed at providing school districts with a system to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the schools. The Duval County (Florida) Public Schools implemented the 2-year program as a pilot…

This document is an annotated bibliography of research and development publications on topics concerning services to at-risk youth. The 30 publications, which have been produced by a variety of organizations, are grouped into these categories: (1) increasing academic success; (2) meeting diversity in today's students; (3) community partnerships;…

This booklet provides a history of the role played by extracurricular activities in American secondary education, summarizing their objectives, principles, and problems, and classifying their types. The student-activity concept is traced through four stages of historical development in the United States. Noting that the objectives of cocurricular…

In 1988, the Tennessee Legislature passed permissive legislation (TCA 49-940) that allows school officials to test suspected students for using drugs. The law provides that testing is optional, with each local education agency deciding whether or not to adopt the policy. Twelve school systems chose to adopt the legislation as board policy. This…

To investigate whether students taking the same courses in different high schools receive comparable instruction, research was conducted in sophomore, college-preparatory classrooms in two schools (one upper middle class and suburban, the other working class and inner-city) in one California school district. At the upper middle class school, it…

Structures that schools can change to produce more positive effects on student learning and development are referred to in this report as TARGET (Tasks, Rewards, Grouping, Evaluation, and Time) structures. The first of two chapters, "Effective Schools or Effective Students: Dealing with Diversity", stresses the need for including in the current…

The 12 publications in this annotated bibliography highlight different aspects of the assistant principal's role. One Ohio school district has created the title of "Associate Principal," a position that involves participating with the principal in planning, organizing, and evaluating the whole school program. Three articles deal with enriching and…

In the 1981-82 school year, the Austin Independent School District used trained dogs and handlers to detect illegal drugs and alcohol on the campuses of two high schools. The appendixes of the evaluation designed to gather useful data concerning program effectiveness are presented here. Data from a survey of staff and students, interviews with…