Authentic reading assessment is examined, focusing on its implementation within the Michigan Essential Skills Reading Test (MESRT). Authentic reading assessment emerged as a response to research that indicates that reading is not a particular skill but an interaction among reader, text, and the context of the reading situation. Unlike formal…

This paper describes an American Indian reservation's alternative secondary school which was designed to improve high risk students' attendance, basic skills, and self-image in preparation for transition to the public high school. Students: (1) had been expelled from public or boarding school; (2) had been referred by a social service agency; (3)…

The view that fundamental changes in the educational system are necessary for successful restructuring is reflected in this collection of papers. The first five papers set the context for restructuring design by presenting rationales, models, and definitions. The next three papers focus on educational design processes, and the following two papers…

This two-part anthology of research summaries examines the potential of magnet schools to provide equal education and educational access for minority group children and reviews successful magnet programs. Part 1, "Magnet Schools, Desegregation, and Choice," contains the following chapters: (1) "Using Magnet Schools for…

Based on research by the Migrant Education Secondary Assistance (MESA) project, this report presents final recommendations for the improvement of migrant student graduation rates and secondary education. The strongest areas of need revealed in MESA findings were: (1) better identification and recruitment of secondary migrant students and dropouts;…

A practicum was designed to improve and expand the writing skills of 13 fifth-grade students placed in an upper elementary school Alternative Education program. The major goal was to provide the students with the means to improve their written output and grammar. Secondary goals were to help the children to think logically about the writing tasks…

The Academy of Math, Science, and Engineering was established at the Luther Burbank High School of Sacramento, California as a rigorous and competitive academic alternative program. This report contains an evaluation of the second year (1984-85) of the program. Program accomplishments are reviewed in the categories of: (1) student enrollment; (2)…

Demographic trends show that non-anglo and limited English proficient (LEP) populations are increasing dramatically in public schools. They already make up the majority of the student body in California's largest urban school districts. They are also disproportionately susceptible to dropping out. This Congressional testimony presents approaches…

The third workshop on the preparation of materials for the newly-literate in Asia and the Pacific was designed to train participants in the development, production (including design and illustration), distribution, and utilization of neoliteracy materials focusing on the improvement of rural living and the role of women in rural areas. Workshop…

The social climates of two markedly different high schools are examined in this study. Although both schools reside in the same district and have the same community standards, they are different in curriculum concepts, problem-solving strategies, and size. The two schools, one a typical high school and one a smaller public alternative high school,…

City-as-School (CAS) is a New York City Board of Education independent alternative high school whose primary curriculum objective is to link students with hundreds of learning experiences throughout the community. Students receive academic credit for each learning experience successfully completed. Credit is determined by the nature of the…

Futurists claim that computers will change the workplace and the entire society of the United States within the next few years. Already they are making many changes such as displacement of clerical workers and creation of more jobs for programmers and analysts. In the future, the majority of adults will need to be computer literate. However,…

This revised edition contains seven of James Moffett's talks and articles written since the original edition of "Coming on Center" was published in 1981, along with several of the earlier articles that are still timely. The book provides practical recommendations for specific ways of teaching reading and writing, shows why some…

Most states require compulsory attendance of students through age 16. Challenges to the compulsory attendance laws often derive from disputes between parents and school officials over home instruction. This paper reviews prominent court cases that address legal issues pertaining to home schooling. The landmark case of "Pierce v. Society of…

Virginia Tech has had an undergraduate bachelor of sciences degree program in vocational industrial education (also known as trade and industrial or T&I) since 1957. It was among the first institutions in the nation to establish such a program. Virginia Tech's program was renamed vocational industrial/health occupations education in 1978. The…