Efforts to involve low income parents in their children's education over the past 20 years suggest that improvement occurs as a result of some element of pressure and support that takes into account the parents' schedule and needs. Teachers and administrators must also be motivated to try new strategies. Includes references. (MD)

Presents empirical evidence for economic inequity for Pilipino Americans, focusing on income and occupation. Explores explanations from two competing theories, one emphasizing individual effort alone (the human capital model), the other focusing more on the social structure (labor market segmentation). (LHW)

Public school systems that provide high quality learning experiences for all children and a wide range of choice to respond to parents' and students' values and concerns can overcome a large part of the inequity that results from poor people's effective lack of choice of private or exclusive public schools. (PS)

The number of poor elderly Blacks and the cost of health care are increasing. Even with Medicare there are out of pocket expenses for those who are least able to pay. Since racial bias may be a factor in triage, the best approach to reducing medical costs is prevention. (VM)

The cost effectiveness of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act was evaluated in terms of moving economically disadvantaged individuals toward financial independence. Data analysis indicated small savings in welfare payments for female recipients, but not males. Data deficiencies in the Continuous Longitudinal Manpower Survey were also…

Criticizes Lawrence J. Schweinhart and David Weikart's article on early childhood development in this "Educational Leadership" issue for overemphasizing inadequacies of the direct academic approach. Claims that findings were based on insufficient data and disclosed no significant differences in self-esteem, locus of control, suspension,…

The dramatic increase in poverty during the first half of the 1980s hit women and children the hardest. Regarding this fact, the following are discussed: (1) economic changes since 1960; (2) the extent of the problem; (3) reasons for the economic vulnerability of women and children; (4) curtailment of social services; and (5) probable future…

One out of five people under the age of 18 lives in families with poverty level income, making them the poorest age group in this country. Federal assistance is necessary to change the situation. Reasons why children are poor and their minimum needs for a physically and emotionally healthy upbringing are covered. (PS)

Today more than half of the women in America raising children on their own get no financial support from the fathers. The article considers the following aspects of states' roles in dealing with that problem: (1) states' powers and alternatives for action; (2) difficulties faced by states in applying those powers; and (3) suggestions for…

Without an increase in five years, minimum wage workers, 60 percent of whom are women, have experienced a sharp decline in real earnings. Over seventeen million Americans fall outside the federal provision and rely on inadequate state standards. Overtime and tipping laws are discussed. Social costs of maintaining the "working poor" outweigh…

Reviews "Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980" by Charles Murray. Murray believes federal social welfare programs sap the moral fiber of poor Americans by eliminating a negative incentive for them to work at low paying jobs. Criticizes Murray's position, citing the importance of positive as well as negative incentives for…

Using High School and Beyond longitudinal data for 1980, this paper shows that government subsidized student aid substantially improved access to higher education for low income individuals. The analysis also shows that wealth neutrality (equal probability of college attendance across all incomes) was not achieved. (10 references) (MLH)

A mail-out survey was used to assess the transportation needs of seniors living in relatively remote rural areas of Saskatchewan. Two types of transportation needs were identified: the need to make local trips at least once a week and the need for transportation to a district center at least once a month. (Author/CT)

Presents findings of a study which investigated the relationship between ethnicity and the contraceptive behavior of a sample of economically disadvantaged pregnant girls under 15. Discusses significant differences found to exist between Hispanic and Black girls' culture and behavior. Offers suggestions for improving family planning intervention…

Documents inequality in school funding patterns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Shows that school districts with higher percentages of economically disadvantaged children also are those with lower per pupil expenditures for instruction. Federal and State compensatory funds do not overcome this unequal expenditure for…