This study of 41 children (ages 7 and 8) studied the effects of low socioeconomic status (SES) and chronic otitis media (OM) on speech perception and phonemic awareness. Findings indicated the children with low SES did poorly on both kinds of tasks whether or not they had chronic OM. (CR)

Describes two single-track year-round elementary schools in Durham, North Carolina, established in discrete attendance zones. Remediation and enrichment activities were provided during intersession. Low-SES students were overrepresented in remediation sessions. Student outcomes data (end-of-grade reading and math test scores) suggest that…

A study compared 422 Head Start children with a putative diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with typical Head Start children from kindergarten through third grade. Children with putative ADHD who had received medications were significantly more likely to be found eligible for special education than non-medicated children.…

Describes a study that used Unemployment Insurance/Social Security Insurance wage data to examine the effects of participation in educational programs at a multicultural, inner city community college. Reports impressive gains in earnings for economically disadvantaged students who completed associate degrees (257%) and for associate degree…

Describes the first-year implementation of an inclusive education model for students with learning disabilities in an urban elementary school in which the student population is primarily African American and poor. Presents the program's activities and constraints along with case studies discussing the outcomes of two children. (Author/CR)

Assesses whether Mexican immigrants are closing the earnings gap with greater time in the United States compared with U.S.-born Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites. It also examines the factors that determine their earnings, how these determinants differ for women versus men, and the differences between those immigrating as children versus…

Explored homeless youths' perceptions of their parents' child-rearing practices. Results from 409 youth aged 12 to 23 years reveal the following four parenting styles: supportive/emotionally available; intrusive/unavailable; detached; and problems with drugs/law. Implications of these findings and future research and service provision needs are…

Examines why Americans have been attitudinally misguided in their understanding of the important learnings for life and structurally misdirected in where and how such learnings take place. Suggests that America must realign these attitudes, particularly involving inner-city children, in order to provide them with the means and intents to thrive in…

Examines the use of Puerto Rican natural support systems in collaborative ventures with schools and other systems. Presents results from 24 Puerto Rican families with children in a local elementary school. Discusses the implications for a developmental approach for school involvement with natural support systems in an urban environment. (GR)

In this analysis, socioeconomic barriers to talent development are explored from the vantage points of major thinkers and recent research findings in context-sensitive disciplines such as economics, sociology, and ethical philosophy. Insights drawn from these perspectives provide the basis for recommendations for educators of the gifted. (Contains…

Evaluated applicability of family stress model of economic hardship for understanding economic influences on child development among African American families with a 10- or 11-year-old child. Found that economic hardship positively related to economic pressure in families, and to emotional distress of caregivers, which in turn damaged the…

A school-district audit in Florida highlights the stellar program and results at Polk County's Inwood Elementary School. Principal Sue Buckner demands that parents, stepparents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and neighbors participate in Inwood's success. A sidebar summarizes the audit procedures and findings. (MLF)

Disadvantaged preschool children (N=57) attending a language-enriched day care program with a parent education component were found to use a greater proportion of high-quality topic manipulation skills than did children without language-enriched day care. No significant differences were found for structural complexity, semantic diversity, and…

The following two opposing models of the underclass are critically evaluated: (1) the culturally deficient model, which focuses on culture, family, or welfare; and (2) the opportunity structures in decline model, which focuses on employment, marriage, and community pattern changes. (JS)

This article discusses the reasons for poverty among children in both two-parent working poor families and single-parent families. (Author/YP)