Papers in this collection were commissioned for a conference entitled, "Making a Difference for Students at Risk," to serve as springboards for discussion. Discussions and recommendations from conferees were incorporated into the versions presented in this volume. The two topics that dominated discussion at the conference were: basic…

From 1990 to 1993 PATHS/PRISM worked with five elementary schools and two middle schools in Philadelphia to try to bring about systemic change for schools serving low-income students. This Cluster Initiative attempted to achieve greater coordination of curriculum and instruction, to develop teacher-driven collegial processes, and to revamp school…

The issue of low teacher expectations of students is addressed, bearing in mind that any effort to address low teacher expectations for students that does not address the broader issue of school change will fail. The first section of the monograph explores the relationship between teacher expectations and student achievement. The second section…

This manual provides a detailed outline of the collaborative efforts between the New York City Public Schools, the city's Community School District 6, and community-based partners to develop a community school in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. The community school would be an integral part of the community and contain…

This paper describes and evaluates the Blalock FIRST (Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching) project, a 3-year, federally funded project based in an elementary school that serves mainly female-headed, African-American families who receive government assistance and live in public housing. The Blalock FIRST project seeks to…

This report contains materials from a workshop to provide training in audiovisual materials development for women and other disadvantaged populations, such as slum dwellers, minorities, and migrants. The proceedings section contains an introduction, objective, and summaries of opening, workshop, and other presentations. Chapter 1 provides details…

The Study of Successful Indicators (SIS) project in metropolitan school districts is one study within the Southwest Regional Laboratory's Metropolitan Educational Trends and Research Outcomes (METRO) Center. The mission of METRO is to address schooling issues surrounding the increasing numbers of educationally disadvantaged students in the Pacific…

This overview presents a profile of the Hispanic American community in five key areas: demographics, education, poverty, health, and civil rights. The demographic overview considers population composition and location, population growth, language acquisition, family status, and employment. Educational status and trends, underrepresentation in…

A study and analysis was done of the contributions that open-admissions at City University of New York (CUNY) have made to the development and growth of a college educated class of men and women, especially minorities. In particular the analysis examined the marital, education, and economic contexts in which the children of participants in…

Some of the common characteristics associated with juveniles who become involved in gang activities are identified. Programs that attempt to alleviate the situations that lead to gang involvement and programs that deal with juvenile delinquents are discussed. The history of the juvenile justice system is also traced. Characteristics that can…

This report summarizes the evaluations of 15 schools in seven states that are using the Success for All program, an elementary school restructuring program that stresses prevention of learning problems and immediate intervention when learning problems do appear. The schools included those in Baltimore, Maryland, where the program was initiated,…

As part of a 3-year, 10-state study on the state and local implementation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program, local implementation of child care services was researched. Areas of investigation focused on the availability of child care services, funding and payment mechanisms, parental choice, and information and referral…

This document offers a plan for the education of Texas' homeless children and youth. Front matter includes staff lists, federal assistance support documents, and material on the program's background. Discussion of the plan begins with a section which defines such terms as "school age,""homeless children and youth," and…

This report summarizes research on the impacts of alternative early intervention programs to prevent school failure. Also considered are the magnitude of estimates of program effects and policy implications of using the programs. The nine principal types of early schooling programs reviewed are those involving: (1) substantial reductions in class…

Sources of the crises faced by young black men lie not in the young men, but in society which portrays them as stereotypes. Social conditions are at the root of the following problems of black males: (1) lowered life expectancy; (2) risk of criminality; (3) poor economic conditions; (4) inadequate education; (5) drugs and gang violence; and (6)…