Issues in the foreign language placement of college students are discussed: the necessity of a placement test for all incoming students, selection of such a test from the available options, decline of student performance in the last 20 years, and articulation courses from high school to college. (MSE)

Research does not support the popular practice of homogeneous ability grouping. Students are placed in groups through diverse and questionable methods. Teachers usually instruct lower ability groups at a low cognitive level and expect little of students in these groups; poor attitudes and achievement often result. (PP)

Starting on the cover, this article describes programs developed by Julian Stanley's Study for Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) for the early identification and accelerated training of mathematically and verbally gifted students. Also discussed are SMPY spinoff programs and the shortage of math and…

Studied whether special education placement decisions made by teams are superior to those made by individuals. The investigation was conducted in Puerto Rico to determine the benefits of the cooperative group process. Results indicated that teams generated significantly less variability (i.e., errors) than did the same specialists acting…

Describes an experiment conducted by the English department at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in which a brief essay written at home was used to help place incoming freshmen in appropriate writing classes. (JL)

Questionnaires about attitudes toward mainstreaming were completed by 49 elementary education seniors attending University of Nebraska (Lincoln). The survey showed that number of special education classes, handicapped students experienced in student teaching, and handicapped friends and relatives can influence attitudes toward mainstreaming,…

Surveyed liberal arts alumni to determine career outcomes and to strengthen career information networks for current students. The resulting list of job titles suggests a variety of career options and career potential. Found about 79 percent of the graduates satisfied with their jobs. Humanities majors had the least unemployment. (JAC)

In seven articles examines ways of meeting needs of disabled students. Presents a program development plan for institutions. Argues for the need to keep student individuality in mind when developing programs. Describes an adaptive student training program. Discusses career counseling and placement needs of disabled students. (RC)

Utilized 1961-1969 data from the Study of Academic Prediction and Growth to examine (1) why some students are placed in college tracks and others not, and (2) why track placement closely predicts future educational outcomes. Found that prior academic experience and accomplishment, especially early foreign language study, are important course…

The Johns Hopkins University program to identify prodigies in mathematics is reviewed. The Advanced Placement Program of the College Board is seen as a means for intellectually highly able youths to move ahead fast in a greatly enriched fashion and earn college credit. (MLW)

The third in a series reviewing research articles on the role of the employment service counselor. Discusses counselor activities, the ideal counselor role, real-ideal role discrepancies, and special problems. Suggests employment service counseling differs significantly from both job placement interviewing and traditional vocational counseling…

A model for teaching physical education classes to handicapped children emphasizes individualized instruction in self-contained classrooms. In the two-stage developmental paradigm, one stage focuses on program organization with each class having its own physical education instruction. The second stage allows for the varying physical and…

Compares two types of multiple criteria models used to select children for gifted classes. Breadth models, depth models, and a more traditional Intelligence Test Model were applied to fourth graders (N=159). Results indicated depth models included more students with unusually high IQ scores and more promising underachievers. (Author)

While total ontask behavior distinguished institutionalized children from children in community schools and special classes, it did not differentiate retarded children in community based classrooms from one another. (Author/SB)

Funded by local businesses and foundations, Cathedral High School's Project LEADER, also known as the career office, provides job placement, graduate followup, career courses, and work study opportunities for its primarily disadvantaged student body in inner-city Boston. (SJL)