A study compared the ninth-grade performance of students who were randomly admitted to New York City career magnet high schools to those who were randomly not offered seats in those schools. The research measured the effect of career magnets on students of average and low reading ability whose academic records were not strong enough to gain them…

As Mississippi approaches the 21st century and an increasingly more competitive business climate, the state faces a critical need for work force development and better adult basic education. According to 1990 data, Mississippi contributes only 8.5 percent of funding for adult education (the remaining 91.5 percent comes from federal sources) to…

This theme issue addresses school reform, focusing on accountability, attrition, public-supported private education, equitable education, and schoolwide reform. "School-Student Performance and Accountability" (Jose A. Cardenas) discusses what constitutes good performance in school; the shifting emphasis among the input, output, and…

Mentoring at-risk students has become one of the fastest growing and frequently used strategies across the nation to help young people. This document examines the structure and implementation of mentoring programs. Chapter 1 discusses mentoring as an appropriate and effective strategy. The mentoring relationship is examined, natural versus planned…

This report summarizes an open discussion between members of the Indian Nations At Risk Task Force and the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) and conference attenders following 2 days of testimony about issues in Native American education. An administrator outlined the loss of educational opportunity for Native Americans during…

The New York State Department of Education contracts with 13 public school districts for the education of children residing on American Indian reservations. In addition to reporting on all students, the 13 districts must now report the following data on Native American students: (1) scores on standardized achievement tests, Regents competency…

Eight tables, accompanied by brief textual information, present facts from 1985 to 1990 about the school experiences of youth with disabilities. The tables focus on: (1) enrollment in regular education courses by students with 11 types of disabilities attending regular secondary schools; (2) services received by secondary students with…

Over the past decade, retention studies at Hudson County Community College (HCCC), in New Jersey, have consistently placed the college at or near the bottom of a group of 19 New Jersey community colleges in terms of retention. In an effort to determine why students were leaving and develop responses to student attrition, a presidential task force…

Using the findings of an earlier study regarding differences between student and teacher perceptions of what circumstances might contribute to a student's being "at risk," a follow-up study investigated what teachers and other school personnel can do to help at-risk students. Based on responses to two open-ended questions from the…

A study identified factors that influence students to enroll in postsecondary vocational programs and factors that contribute to their continual enrollment. Three Arkansas vocational schools--White River, Gateway, and Ozarka--were the focus of the study. Questionnaires were submitted to students and staff regarding recruitment/retention to…

The Second Follow-Up Field Test (SFUFT) of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) was conducted in 1990 and 1991 by the National Opinion Research Center and the Educational Testing Service. The SFUFT evaluated free response items (FRIs) for possible inclusion in the Second Follow-Up Main Study (SFUMS) and tested survey…

This article identifies challenges to the field of learning disabilities which will seriously affect access to higher education for learning disabled students. Problems at both secondary and postsecondary levels are articulated with a call for policy formulation, research, and administrative planning for change. Literature is reviewed pertaining…

Institutions of higher learning must focus on new ways to serve the at-risk student and the black male at-risk student in particular. By developing and implementing a plan, any teacher can foster retention of at-risk students, even in the absence of institutional support. Twenty effective techniques are: (1) learn students' names; (2) assign…

This report identifies funding priorities to assist governmental and philanthropic agencies in meeting the long-range needs of the Latino community of Los Angeles (California). Information was gathered from a community survey, a survey of Latino community leaders, and focus groups comprised of representatives from various sectors of the Latino…

This booklet was developed to accompany the videotape that summarizes the results of the project, "Educational Excellence through Career-Vocational Education." The 3-year project generated development of a comprehensive guidance plan, initiated curriculum review, involved counselors with teachers and curriculum, provided a means for closer working…