Success in performing the medical calculations required of nurses demands a competency in basic mathematical skills. This competency cannot be assumed of a number of college students and the nursing student is not an exception to this trend. A test was designed to assess basic mathematical competency and administered to two groups of sophomore…

A study was conducted to determine whether a relationship existed between developmental English students' perceptions of the usefulness of writing in their lives and their performance in composition classrooms. Students enrolled in the developmental English course and the companion writing center course completed a writing attitude questionnaire.…

The model for the reading and study skills center at the University of Montana is based on the individualized and classroom techniques that have been successful with university students. The center offers two courses: increasing reading effectiveness and improving reading and study skills. The first is designed to improve reading achievement,…

A staff analysis by the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges is provided of a report and recommendations from the Task Force on Academic Quality entitled, "Remediation in the California Community Colleges: Proposals for Board Policies and Actions." In part I, background material examines the origin of the Task…

A study of developmental programs in two-year college occupational education in New York State was conducted: to determine the use of program success criteria other than enrollment numbers and access; to identify policies, plans, or strategies specifically addressing program quality and course effectiveness; to determine whether levels of student…

Results from the second phase of a project to investigate strategies and outcomes associated with the assessment and evaluation of developmental/remedial/basic skills programs in New York State are presented in this report. Part I introduces the Assessment of Effectiveness of Developmental Programs in Postsecondary Education project, and the major…

Reviewed is research on the bilingual child with learning problems. The author notes that a disproportionately large number of non-English speaking children are placed in special education classes for the educable mentally retarded, and that this group is underrepresented in classes for the learning disabled. It is suggested that appropriate tools…

Current issues in reading diagnosis and remediation may be classified as political, diagnostic, and remedial. The main political issue in recent years has been the overlapping of the concepts of learning disability and reading disability and the consequent conflict of jurisdiction of reading specialists and learning disability specialists. This…

The goals community coleges have set for themselves have failed to make a significant impact on the class and ethnic inequalities that exist in higher education. This article demonstrates that community colleges hold the "chance to succeed." (Author/DC)

This paper analyzes the potential implications of ceasing or lowering the funding for developmental studies programs in California community colleges. After an initial discussion of the financial constraints impinging upon community colleges, the possible effects of fiscal reductions on college missions, and the role of developmental education in…

In fall 1980, the English division at Minneapolis Community College implemented a new approach to teaching Fundamentals of Written English. In recognition that students come to college with a wide range of preparation and skills, the Fundamentals course (formerly English 95) was divided into a two-course sequence. On the basis of student placement…

Between fall 1980 and fall 1981, the procedures for collegewide testing and English placement were revised at Los Angeles City College (LACC). Separate examinations were offered to native English speakers (i.e., the Stanford Achievement Test) and those whose primary language was not English (i.e., the English Placement Test of the University of…

The literature of recent years reveals a surge in efforts to upgrade inservice programs. Basic to the more promising practices has been the recognition that staff development activities based on identified needs are much more likely to be effective than are prepackaged presentations aimed toward a general audience. The few studies analyzing the…

Atlanta Public Schools received $604,250 to operate a program under the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA). The program provided remedial reading and mathematics to eligible students. Students were selected on the basis of scoring 90 age achievement quotient points or below on the "Iowa Test of Basic Skills." Four objectives were included…