This publication provides a review of the research on issues relating to the gap in achievement between high- and low-performing students, focussing specifically on the topics of retention in grade, remediation of students who are underachieving, and accelerated instruction. Following the executive summary and introductory material, three sections…

This booklet contains 56 strategies for increasing student participation in educational programs not traditional for their gender. Strategies for recruitment are as follows: prepare useful program information, demonstrate interest in serving nontraditional students, work with feeder schools and the community, and work with other agencies serving…

The incidence of multiple births has increased dramatically in the past two decades. Given this trend, it seems reasonable to assume that many teachers will have twins and other multiple siblings in their classes at some point in their classroom careers. This Digest offers some pointers for educators facing the challenges of educating multiples.…

In order to identify the information systems (IS) backgrounds and skills most in demand among employers in the Southeastern United States, the classified ads appearing in the region's major cities during the summer of 1997 were content analyzed. This paper reports the major findings of this investigation and their curriculum implications. It also…

To establish the scale of juvenile violence in Pennsylvania, this report examines the incidence of violence by and against juveniles, and then explores the major costs of juvenile violence. Where possible, urban and rural dimensions of the costs of juvenile violence are separated and analyzed. Violence prevention programs are also studied. The…

This collection of issue papers addresses the inclusion of students with disabilities who are labeled disruptive in general education classrooms. The publication begins by summarizing new provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997. The provisions make it clearer that students with disabilities must be…

The nature and development of the recently released International English Language Testing System (IELTS) instrument are described. The test is the result of a joint Australian-British project to develop a new test for use with foreign students planning to study in English-speaking countries. It is expected that the modular instrument will become…

Intended for parents of young children with disabilities in Texas, this booklet describes the Texas early childhood intervention (ECI) program and identifies parent rights. An introductory chart summarizes five steps of family centered services (from assessment and evaluation to the annual Individualized Family Service Plan meeting) in terms of…

Over the past 3 years, the Mathematics Department of Grossmont College, in California, has examined the issues of course standards, instructor grading variability, and course placement. In 1990, a study was conducted to determine if the Elementary Algebra instructors with lower pass rates had higher standards, and if their students had a higher…

This study examined how high schools made decisions about which courses to offer and which courses were appropriate for various students. During year 1, researchers visited three senior high schools in a major West Coast urban center to observe, study school documents, and talk with educators and students about curriculum offerings and student…

This guide is intended to help parents understand how a child becomes eligible for special education and related services and how to use letter writing to effectively communicate with the school when necessary. Initial information is presented in question-and-answer format and covers parental rights, parental responsibilities, and using letters to…

Suffolk Community College Eastern Campus (SCCEC) designed and implemented a retention program built on the belief that access for students does not necessarily lead to success. The goal of the retention program was to increase retention of students by providing them with the skills and supports necessary to succeed. The group targeted for the…

The Bilingual Academics for Special Education Students project (Project BASES) in its first year served 76 Spanish-speaking students with limited English proficiency and emotional disturbances. The New York City Public Schools program, serving students aged 10 to 14, used an Integrative Linguistic Model to weigh students' academic and linguistic…

An English/reading steering committee was formed in the 1992-93 academic year at Miami-Dade Community College, in Florida, to recommend college-wide procedures and guidelines for including a writing sample on placement tests for entering students. The committee pilot tested a writing sample in two college-preparatory and one college-level English…

Rapid job turnover and high job dissatisfaction among first-time college-educated employees indicate the maladjustment of graduates to the workplace. A three-phase longitudinal study to explore the match between pre-graduation work expectations and workplace realities surveyed college seniors prior to graduation, 6 months after beginning work, and…