The African American woman has commanded widespread public attention, but popular misconceptions of her socioeconomic role and status differ sharply from her actual situation. The following basic characteristics of the contemporary African American woman, drawn from census figures, are outlined: (1) demographically, females comprise a majority of…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) in Austin, Texas defines a dropout as a student who leaves AISD and for whom there is no evidence that he/she is pursuing an education in another district or institution offering a high school diploma. All students who withdraw from AISD are initially considered dropouts. When a request for a…

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1996 Long-Term Reading Assessment show that overall student reading performance, as tested at age levels 9, 13, and 17, has increased for both 9- and 13-year-olds since the first assessment in 1971. Scores for 9- and 13-year-olds in most racial/ethnic and gender subgroups reflected…

This new report series grows out of internal discussions at the Education Development Center (EDC) about the meaning of equity in education, student diversity, and reflective practice. This premiere issue looks across the EDC at a wide array of projects focused on equity and diversity. The following articles are included: (1) "Introduction:…

This report presents the results of a 1995-96 survey of U.S. colleges and universities offering doctorate, masters, and bachelors degrees in physics and astronomy, focusing on degree production and current student enrollment. It found that a decade-long increase in physics doctorate production appeared to be leveling off, with the 1995 degree…

The National Survey of Family Growth is a periodic survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, and designed to produce national estimates of statistics on fertility, family planning, and aspects of maternal and child health that are closely related to childbearing. This report presents statistics based on data collected in the…

This report provides a descriptive overview of nonteaching employees in higher education institutions. The data for the report comes from the 1993 Fall Staff Survey of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) produced by the National Center for Education Statistics. The nonteaching staff at higher education institutions includes…

Data gathered in 1993 by the Census Bureau as part of the Survey of Income and Program Participation were analyzed to determine the relationship between level and field of training and economic status as of 1993. More than 27% of adults had obtained a degree of some type beyond high school, and the proportion of the adult population without a high…

This report presents statistics on social and economic characteristics of the population below the poverty level in 1985 based on the March 1986 Current Population Survey (CPS). The data in the report consist of cross classifications of poverty status by such characteristics as age, race, sex, family relationship, educational attainment, work…

This issue analyzed college completion rates across populations and over time. It examined the ratios of highest degree completed to the total population that entered college from 1992 to 2000 with specific characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, and year. The analysis was designed to be useful in understanding patterns and trends in…

This research brief highlights student employment trends and their implications for higher education, and identifies major sources of national data on the subject. Text and tables provide data on: (1) number and percentage of college students employed, by age range, for 1988; (2) changes in the number and percent of employed college students, from…

It is difficult to think of any subject more conspicuous by its absence from the college classroom than the discussion of racial issues. Factors contributing to this absence include uncertainty about how to raise and discuss such issues and fear of appearing to be racist. In order to break higher education's silence on racial issues, faculty…

This report presents data on dietary intake obtained to assess the nutritional status of the United States population, aged 1-74 years. Age, sex, race, and income level differences in dietary intake are among the variables considered. Data are analyzed for certain groups at high risk of malnutrition (e.g., the poor, preschool children, women of…

This report describes disadvantaged urban eighth-grade students. All statistical data were drawn from the student, parent, and school files of the base year of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). The following findings are summarized: (1) rural schools contain the greatest proportion of disadvantaged eighth-graders, but…

This double issue of "Equity Coalition" deals with issues related to the need for inclusive science training and encouraging the interest of women and minorities groups in science. The following articles are included: (1) "Say Yes to Science" (Percy Bates); (2) "Science and Equity: Why This Issue Is Important"…