While the need for improved literacy in the work force is generally accepted, questions still remain as to what levels of literacy are required for different jobs and who will provide the necessary adult literacy training. To answer these questions, researchers must develop a database of information about literacy needs and deficiences. Developing…

In 1988, the Basic Skills Task Force was established to assess the effectiveness of four academic policies in addressing the needs of California community college students with skills deficiencies. The policies define the scope and content of Adult Basic Education and of Precollegiate Basic Skills Instruction in nondegree-applicable credit…

In 1989, Saddleback College's (SC's) English composition assessment process was evaluated to determine its success in placing students in appropriate courses. To gain entrance to one of SC's three composition courses, students must complete a prerequisite course or take the College English Placement Test (CEPT) and, at the option of the student,…

Data from a national survey of principals in public schools with a 7th grade were used in this study of schools that serve disadvantaged, advantaged, and other populations. Differences in the schools' course-taking opportunities, organizational structures, extracurricular programs, remedial activities, instructional approaches, staffing needs, and…

This listing is a comprehensive survey of 1987-88 funded projects for students of limited English proficiency in New York noting district, number of participating pupils, grade level, language or type of program, grant amount awarded, and project director or contact person. Sections present this information on Elementary and Secondary Education…

In 1985-1986 the Pima County Adult Education program conducted an adult basic education (ABE) curriculum project that was intended to devise materials for use in determining and remediating content gaps in the district's adult basic education and high school equivalency programs. The needs assessment instrument, which was designed to discover…

Three common policies used by English departments in Kuwait universities to accommodate the students in appropriate course types and levels are discussed and compared from a practical perspective. The three policies are concerned with placement tests and remedial courses and are intended to: (1) place students with high scores on the standardized…

Descriptive and evaluative information is provided on Florida Junior College at Jacksonville's College Reach-Out Program, which targeted junior high and high school students in an effort to increase black student enrollments at the college. Introductory sections discuss the need for the program in light of the decline in the number and percent of…

As part of an ongoing process of curriculum revision at Reading Area Community College (RACC), this program review examines current basic skills programming and support services portions of the college curriculum. Following introductory comments in section I, section II reviews pertinent basic skills research, indicating that useful programs…

After discussing the role of Kansas's community colleges in providing remedial/developmental education, this report presents data on the characteristics of students enrolled in remedial/developmental courses. Highlighted findings include the following: (1) 8% of all students enrolled in the community college system were enrolled in…

The Summer Youth Employment and Training Programs funded by the Job Training Partnership Act were reviewed to determine how the various service delivery areas (SDAs) planned to assess and improve the reading and mathematics skills of participants. Telephone interviews with program officials at 200 randomly selected SDAs found that local school…

Intended for college-level basic writers, this booklet integrates training in selected oral communication activities with writing instruction in order to improve students' academic writing. The first section discusses oral communication theory, emphasizing the underlying rhetorical abilities of invention, audience adaptation, and argumentation, to…

This final report summarizes the activities and findings of a research project which developed a model program for preschoolers "at risk in language." A total of 22 children, including 17 children "at risk" and 5 peers, participated in the program; the children served by the project showed increased facility with language in…

This paper evaluates the strengths and limitations of a computer tutor designed to help students understand physics concepts. The tutor uses a teaching strategy called "bridging analogies" that previous research has demonstrated to be successful in one-to-one tutoring. The strategy is designed to remedy misconceptions by appealing to existing…

How microcomputers are to be utilized in on-going mathematics instruction is discussed. In the first section, the ideas of Skinner are considered in relation to microcomputer use. How computer-assisted instruction would appear when Skinner's programmed learning suggestions are followed is described, and other points of his philosophical beliefs…