Reviews current arguments posed by supporters of educational tracking and those who oppose it. Research results support the view that tracking as practiced today is detrimental to the U.S. educational system, although the downfall of tracking is likely to result from legal reasons beyond its worst features. (SLD)

Examines the influences of neighborhood and family contexts on the transition to first sex, using a community-based sample of adolescents (N=870) in Los Angeles. Results suggests that the risk of sex is not solely due to neighborhood socioeconomic status and race, but that the risk increases is with the social conditions (i.e., single-parent…

Discusses the underrepresentation of culturally different students in gifted programs in South Florida and a pilot project that identifies and teaches primary-age children who appear to have above-average ability, but who are often hindered from achieving their true potential by economic circumstances or cultural differences. (CR)

Reviews two youth-produced videos: one about life in a Croatian refugee, the other about racism. The techniques, processes, and problems of young people's video production are discussed. The roles of youth-produced videos as agents of social change and as an alternative to mainstream media are explored. (GR)

Reviews measures of dental health in children and the evidence on child dental health. Although children's dental health has improved over the past two decades, many poor children do not receive necessary dental health services, and reasons for this failure are summarized. (SLD)

Discusses seven of the most common myths and misconceptions about students at risk, and argues that the Goals 2000 educational reform movement could result in negative consequences for this group unless policymakers and practitioners develop a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of this population. (SLD)

Explores the concept of full-service schools for students at risk, identifying five specific obstacles or cautions that are especially important to consider when full-service schools are being developed. Such schools require understanding of the collaboration process and willingness to make major commitments in time and resources. (SLD)

Discusses whether it is fair to students when major educational decisions are made based on the results of a single high-stakes test, focusing on: multiple assessment measures, teaching to the test, testing disadvantaged children, and state standards and testing. Two sidebars present the PTA's position on the issue and how to learn more about…

Reviews research evidence on the benefits and costs of increasing investment in children, and a redirection of some economic policies that have an indirect impact on children. Concludes that much more could be done to enhance the well-being of children, but it would require a willingness to increase both public spending and taxation. (MOK)

Examined the relationship between housing status and depression, anxiety, and problem behaviors among elementary school-aged children from low-income, single-parent, female-headed families. Found that mother-reported problem behaviors were above normal levels for both homeless and poor, housed youths, but self-reported depression and anxiety were…

Assessed the impact of the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at Truman State University in Missouri on first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students in comparison to a control group. Found that FGLI program participants are far more successful than non-McNair FGLI students, even when controlling for academic ability and…

Examines Chesapeake (Virginia) Public Schools' successful Reading Recovery Program, asking whether it provides early intervention services to enough children and to those needing it most. Unfortunately, many first-graders who might benefit from Reading Recovery were not served. Only 43 percent of the lowest achieving children were selected.…

An analysis of 8,251 homeless children in New York City found that 18% of them received child welfare services over the five-year period following their first shelter admission, and an additional 6% had a history of having received such services before their first shelter admission. Recurrent use of public shelters, exposure to domestic violence,…

The PACER Center is advocating for greater involvement of parents whose children have become involved in the juvenile justice system. Coalition for Juvenile Justice reported in January 2004 that of the 300,000 to 600,000 juveniles who cycle through detention facilities after arrest awaiting legal action, more than half are under 16 years of age…

This paper uses meta-analysis to investigate whether random assignment (or experimental) evaluations of voluntary government-funded training programs for the disadvantaged have produced different conclusions than nonexperimental evaluations. Information includes several hundred estimates from 31 evaluations of 15 programs that operated between…