This report consists of brief descriptions of projects that, for the most part, are current or were completed in the last 3 years by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. The first section, "Problem-Oriented Services for Children and Families," describes 27 studies involving children's problems and the systems…

This paper presents findings of a study that determined the contribution of selected factors to the ability of 15 school districts within the Toledo, Ohio metropolitan area to generate revenue over a 7-year period, 1982-88. Data were obtained from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Taxation. Simulations were prepared for…

Attitudes of rural parents toward postcompulsory education were examined through in-depth structured interviews with 140 parents of students in 4 rural Tasmanian high schools. The students were all in Year 10, which is the last year of compulsory education in Australia. Most parents had lived in the same community for over 10 years. The proportion…

In 1990-91, the Austin Independent School District (Texas) received a 3-year grant under Title VII to serve a population of limited-English-proficient high school students called "newcomers" (i.e., recent arrivals to the United States). In addition to their limited English proficiency, these students, who have typically suffered…

Trends in the growth of the immigrant student population over the last 10 years are traced, and issues and challenges that such students present for the member cities of the Great City Schools are highlighted. About 9.5 million immigrants, representing almost 60% of the nation's entire immigrant population, entered the United States in the 1980s,…

Despite the critical failure of many urban schools to educate poor children and children of color, there are examples of schools and teachers who help students meet challenging academic standards in a supportive, culturally responsive, and empowering context. This paper represents one such success story of a teacher's efforts to nurture his…

This review of research and literature examines issues related to the identification of potentially gifted students from groups most likely to be underrepresented in gifted education programs, including racial and ethnic minority groups, economically disadvantaged students, and those with limited English proficiency. Three major reasons for…

Governments have traditionally left the plight of street children and working children, who by some counts number over 100 million, to individuals and nongovernmental organizations, including many religious organizations. As a result, there are a multitude of small, uncoordinated, but highly effective projects throughout the world concentrated in…

To study the nature and extent of the school-dropout problem among Hispanics, a review of relevant literature and an analysis of data from the 1990 decennial census were conducted. School-dropout rate for Hispanic Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 was approximately 30 percent, with the comparison figures at 18 percent for non-Hispanic Blacks…

As part of litigation challenging the equity and adequacy of school funding in Alabama, educational resources and school conditions were examined in the highest and lowest funded school districts in the state. Identification of these districts revealed that all eight of the highest funded districts were urban systems, while all eight of the lowest…

The Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 substantially revised the Title I program for disadvantaged children. Some of the most far-reaching changes relate to testing and accountability. States will now need to develop their own assessments and ensure that these assessments are aligned with challenging state standards linked to educational…

It is a reality that many people are poor, and it is equally real that there is no firm basis to say how many millions of people really are poor. However much poverty there may be, Americans want to reduce it. In this collection of 18 essays, some leading scholars of poverty consider what can be done to reduce poverty. Part 1 explores poverty and…

Four briefs use data from the 1990 Census of Population and Housing to examine housing characteristics of reservation American Indian households. Forty-eight reservations with 500 or more American Indian households were compared to all households in the United States and to nonreservation American Indian households. Data revealed that: (1)…

This report provides a snapshot of homelessness in America as it exists today, and as it can be expected to exist in the future. By further dismantling the safety net that protects many families living on the edge, policymakers will ensure that the numbers of homeless and destitute families increase, creating a new era of homelessness dominated by…

This memorandum provides guidance on issues raised regarding the Head Start Performance Standards for Children with Disabilities, federal regulations to ensure that young children with disabilities receive appropriate Head Start educational and related services. Extensive answers are provided to questions concerning: (1) financial responsibility…