Children who attended Head Start maintained educationally substantive gains in general cognitive and analytic ability, especially in comparison to children without preschool experience. (PCB)

A study conducted in Utah shows that ability grouping is harmful to remedial students. Findings from a comparison of mathematics gains for three groups--remedial, average, and accelerated--showed that remedial students learn more in advanced mathematics programs than in those designed for them. (TE)

South Carolina has found that meaningful improvement in Chapter 1 schools requires taking six crucial steps: (1) set meaningful goals; (2) pay attention to school culture; (3) revamp the curriculum; (4) pick up the pace; (5) integrate learning objectives with the regular program; and (6) change teaching tactics. An insert summarizes changes…

About 1,500 schools nationwide pay an estimated $200 million in federal funds to private enterprises claiming to provide better literacy instruction than the disappointing Title I results of the past 34 years. Programs run by Kaplan Inc., Success for All Foundation, Sylvan Learning Systems, and Reading Recovery Council are described. (MLH)

Investigated the long-term academic effects of a first-year foundation course designed to enhance the academic performance of university students. Found that third-year academic performance is not simply a function of initial language and mathematics competence levels; those who improved performance in the foundation course tended to perform well…

Along with the restructuring of educational programs must come the restructuring of resources. Schools should review all resources, including the ones for teacher development, to focus on serving students optimally. Under the new Title I schoolwide programs of the Improving America's Schools Act, this is easier and more logical than before. (SLD)

This report provides results of a review of the methodology used by the Office of Human Development Services (HDS) to measure Head Start performance and to control high risk Head Start agencies. The review was performed at HDS headquarters and regional locations nationwide. The review was based on a sample of 200 Head Start agencies and focused on…

This manual provides a step-by-step guide for meeting the six goals for parental involvement in Chapter I programs. The goals are to: (1) inform participating children's parents about the program, the reasons for their children's participation, and the program's instructional objectives and methods; (2) support the efforts of parents, train…

Primary children in the individualized multiage programs (IMP) had lower state and trait anxiety than those in traditional learning environments (TRAD), as measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. The IMP-TRAD instructional programs and trait anxiety had different effects on performance at the first and second grade levels.…

Discusses research on reading and mathematics in two first year classes in a working class district, in which one class was taught using the mastery learning approach, whereas the other class was taught in the traditional manner; mastery learning attempts to help every child attain operationally defined objectives. (JM)

This document comprises a department-by-department review of the major federal programs and activities serving youth in 1989-90. Youth initiatives in the following agencies are described and new activities and significant changes are discussed: (1) U.S. Department of Labor; (2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; (3) U.S. Department of…

The expansion of Project Head Start in Maine to the point of serving nearly 25 percent of eligible children is detailed in this report. Section I describes the expansion and some of its benefits, such as equalization of services across county boundaries and the establishment of a uniform unit cost-per-child for use in appropriating state funds.…

This evaluation of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) Chapter 1 programs in the 16 participating schools and camps of the California Youth Authority presents findings for the year 1983-84. The students enrolled in the program were severely academically disadvantaged teenagers (reading and mathematics abilities five or more…

The purpose of this study was to identify the number of Head Start enrollees in three selected sites who were in foster care during or after their Head Start experience. The study also examined the role of the Head Start Program in strengthening families in order to prevent separation. Reviews were conducted of public agencies' records of 50…

This paper discusses minicomputer-based ILSs (integrated learning systems), i.e., computer-based systems of hardware and software. An example of a minicomputer-based system in a school district (a composite of several actual districts) considers hardware, staffing, scheduling, reactions, problems, and training for a subskill-oriented reading…