Discusses how the acquisition of literacy, and particularly its acquisition through the whole language approach, may have unanticipated repercussions in the lives of the learners. Proposes four constructive ways of noticing, respecting, and using these repercussions of change in a whole language classroom. (MM)

This article details some of the changes that have occurred in U.S. land-grant universities and colleges of agriculture, and the resulting issues and challenges facing faculty. Strategies for addressing these challenges are proposed. (Author/CW)

In developing appropriate reading instruction for language minority children, the following factors should be considered: the developmental nature of literacy, the connection between speech and print, the conventions of the writing system, the importance of comprehension, the role of native language and literacy, and the transferability of skills.…

As the number of Hispanic and Asian students increases, school districts need to explore ways of heightening staff awareness of cultural differences. School personnel need to address diversity and withhold judgments until situational facts are known. (MLF)

Institutions that succeed at recruiting minority faculty with doctorates are more resourceful than others, using a variety of strategies to recruit, encourage, and retain a diverse faculty. Colleges and universities must become more hospitable to minorities so faculties can complement the increasingly minority student bodies. (MSE)

Alumni programs can involve more minority group members by focusing on constructive change for the benefit of future alumni. Administrators should challenge minority alumni to participate, have strategies to deal with concerns and complaints, determine campus commitment to diversity, and send appropriate messages to alumni. (MSE)

This paper examines acculturation of Southeast Asian-American students, most of whom come from refugee backgrounds; outlines their unique conditions of educational risk; describes assessment procedures which call for identifying skills previously developed in a different environment; and recommends reciprocal teaching to help refugee children…

This article highlights problems inherent in traditional screening measures for giftedness and suggests the student portfolio as a promising alternative for the identification of gifted children, especially those from special populations. Examples of items to be included in portfolios include writing samples, journals, artwork, projects, class…

Four aspects of violence in the lives of U.S. children are of great concern today: children are involved in violence at every level, there are no safe harbors for many children, family violence is frequent, and society accepts violence as part of its culture. (SM)

Two types of national data sets are described and used to analyze minority student equity in higher education: longitudinal survey data for tracking student persistence and cross-sectional data for monitoring the performance of institutions. Development of additional data sets of institutional characteristics that can provide true explanatory…

This article confronts concerns in providing family intervention services to the growing population of non-White, non-Anglo families. Strategies are offered for gathering information about these families while respecting their nonmainstream culture, values, and beliefs. Alternative perspectives on child rearing, disability, medicine, intervention,…

Discusses how teachers can use magazines written for culturally and linguistically diverse groups to increase their own knowledge base and to use as a resource for multicultural-education lesson planning in order to provide students with an opportunity to learn about high achieving individuals who come from backgrounds similar to their own.…

This article discusses desired characteristics and competencies in teachers of gifted students who are culturally, ethnically, or linguistically diverse. These include: culturally relevant pedagogy, equity pedagogy, a holistic teaching philosophy, a communal philosophy, respect for students' primary language, culturally congruent instructional…

A framework is provided for creating learning environments that maximize the potential of all students, and methods are presented for transforming teaching and learning to improve the achievement of students from diverse backgrounds. The determination of "goodness" in schools is redefined and the shifting roles of education leadership are…

Lack of relevant course work is a top reason why high school students drop out, and studies have shown that low-income and minority students are less likely to be enrolled in college preparatory curricula than their more affluent peers. In today's world, it is critical to ensure that all students have access to a rigorous, high-quality education…