Using data from over 75 interviews, examines education reform in Detroit (Michigan) and explores the apparent collapse of a local education reform effort in spite of broad dissatisfaction with the current education system. Findings indicate that some long-term institutional impact of the reform remains. (SLD)

Addresses difficulties in the mentoring relationship, especially of African-American youth. Suggests ways to avoid the risks of "drive-by" mentoring, notes the problem of social distance between mentors and students being mentored, identifies characteristics of ideal mentors, offers guidelines for providing necessary program structure…

Dropout, migrant, ethnic minority youth attended General Educational Development (GED) programs and/or one of four sociocultural transition programs: Foxfire, computer practicum, employment competency, or peer mentoring. Compared to controls or GED-only groups, transition participants showed significantly higher achievement, especially students…

Focuses on the need for equal education opportunity for underprivileged students in urban areas to learn foreign languages and literature. While multiculturalism has increased dramatically on the nation's campuses, the options for learning foreign languages has decreased. The article is in favor of cross-college consortial arrangements within the…

Describes a framework to support teachers' reflection about school mathematics and traditionally underserved students, focusing on a study of the beliefs of a group of high school mathematics teachers. The paper asserts that the teachers' views of equity and race blocked substantive reflection about the nature of their instructional practices and…

Tested the effects of prior knowledge and two instructional models--structured problem solving and guided generation (GG)--on mathematical problem solving and transfer to an analogous task. Data on students with high and low prior knowledge highlighted significant main effects for prior knowledge, significant differences on transfer to analogous…

Examines research on high stakes testing and its relationship to student outcomes, presenting data from Massachusetts and North Carolina on state trends related to high stakes testing. Findings suggest that non-white, non-Asian students, and students with special needs and English language learners, are the groups most deeply affected by high…

Investigated factors that predicted variability in responses to analytic and synthetic phonemic awareness training with kindergartners living in poverty. Found that spelling skills were the most consistent predictor of variability in phonemic awareness in response to instruction. Amount of exposure children had to the intervention contributed to…

Conducted a cost-benefit analysis of a federally financed comprehensive early childhood program, the Title I Chicago Child-Parent Centers. Used data for 1,539 program and comparison group children. Findings show that an established public program can provide benefits that far exceed costs. Outlines key elements of program effectiveness. (SLD)

Explores both the development of child welfare in the United States and the impact of international declarations of human and child rights from a global perspective, focusing on: child welfare and the visiting teacher profession in the United States; research on the well-being of children; child welfare policy in an international context; the…

A work-based learning initiative was examined in interviews and focus groups with 110 disaffected/at-risk British youth. Results show how configurations of networks and values at macro, meso, and micro levels enhance or constrain social learning and the ability to develop forms of cultural practice and social capital that aid school-to-work…

A study of high school choice programs in four large cities (New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston) shows that meaningful school choice is beyond the reach of the most vulnerable innercity students. Educators considering such plans must recognize the dangers (like stacked admissions policies) raised for these youth. (MLH)

Findings are examined from studies published from 1980 to the present concerning the effects of peer tutoring on mathematics performance. Findings indicate the effectiveness of peer tutoring in promoting significant cognitive gains for both the tutor and the tutee with populations of low achievers, mildly handicapped, or socially disadvantaged…

Born in rural Tennessee, 15-year-old Billy Charles Barnett is proficient enough at hunting and fishing to support himself by teaching his survivalist skills to others. His economic well-being is threatened by required school attendance. Given the impoverished state of American education, society would not necessarily benefit from a lower dropout…

Applied behavioral-systems family therapy model to lower socioeconomic status juvenile offenders. Compared 27 delinquents, court-referred to in-home time-unlimited family therapy, to 27 lower-risk delinquents who received only probation. Examined number and severity of offenses during 30 months following group assignment. Found delinquents in…