A study researched the impact of the portfolio development process as an instructional strategy that promotes increased critical thinking, organization, communication, and self-reflection abilities. The inquiry began with a case study of eight adult learners representative of the student population of a nontraditional undergraduate program with a…

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (the Met) is a unique public high school in Providence, Rhode Island. The Met has no classes, no grades, no tests, and no easy rides. With guidance from adults, each student builds a customized education focused on five learning goals: communication, social reasoning, empirical reasoning,…

While the nation's public systems continue to fall short of delivering equitable educational supports to children and youth, youth workers have spent the last several decades insulating and, in some cases, patching the leaks in the "education pipeline"--a term describing the route students follow from early childhood through…

Danish "efterskoles" are "continuation schools" following elementary school--residential schools that allow students aged 14-16 to defer going to high school while they make choices about their educational future. Efterskoles are based on the principles of N.F.S. Grundtvig, who started folk high schools in about 1850 to educate…

This paper identifies patterns in the academic and social development of six homeschooled students (with learning disabilities or giftedness) based on a seven-year longitudinal study of 100 home-schooled students. It contrasts findings on the effectiveness of home schooling with accepted expectations for special education students in the formal…

This book presents a collection of papers on the lives of urban youths in and out of school. There are 17 chapters in 4 parts. Part 1, "Spaces for Identity Work," includes: (1) "Writing on the Bias" (Linda Brodkey); (2) "Learning to Speak Out in an Abstinence-Based Sex Education Group: Gender and Race Work in an Urban…

Inherent in the nature of community schools is the assumption that many more challenges can be overcome when those involved work together than when working on one's own. This assumption forms the basis of the efforts described in this manual. It describes what community schools are; the challenges they face; and the new realities for schools,…

Students need a variety of ways to encourage them to learn. Web-based learning can provide a platform for achieving this in a variety of ways other than the simple provision of "flat" lecture notes. This paper describes a number of Web-based programs used to augment, rather than replace, traditional, face-to-face delivery of a…

A study was conducted to determine whether the adult basic education environment improved the educational outlook of at-risk students. The research was conducted using a 25-question survey with 100 students enrolled in the Nicolet College Alternative High School program for at-risk students in northern Wisconsin, from January through December…

This study compared the effectiveness of distance education versus on-campus education, as measured by pre- and post-tests, differences in final exam scores and final course grades, age, and preferred learning styles. Learning style preferences were determined by the Canfield Learning Styles Inventory. Participants included 47 undergraduate…

A study examined a variety of student support services and four areas for student success from the viewpoint of World Wide Web-based learners in the University of Central Florida College of Education, Vocational Education area. A two-part on-line survey form was included in the exam files for adult learners in four Web-based courses during spring…

This compilation of reprinted journal and newspaper articles covers the following topics: (1) The Front Lines; (2) Federal Policy; (3) Charter Schools; (4) School Choice; (5) Standards, Tests, and Accountability; (6) Teacher Quality; (7) Curriculum and Content; (8) Higher Education; and (9) Grab Bag. Each section is preceded by commentaries on…

This report summarizes results of AISD's State Compensatory Education programs for at-risk students in 2001-2002.

Developed and implemented through four regional educational laboratories, Experience-Based Career Education (EBCE) provides secondary students with an alternative education program combining academic learning, community resource career experiences, and life skill development. Program evaluation of data from sixteen pilot sites indicates that EBCE…

The term liberal arts is defined and liberal education is proposed as a more appropriate term. Six characteristics of the liberally educated person are identified and curricular changes that would encourage the development of these qualities are proposed. (Author/MLW)