After outlining an ideal, the author examines the reality of the response by governments of the major host countries of Europe to the educational needs of migrants' children to determine how far they have been met and to suggest some factors which may have determined the nature of this response. (Author/SJL)

Procedures mentioned in this article include: (1) developing a new test, (2) modifying test items or keyed responses on existing tests, and (3) developing new norms for existing tests. Examples are given for each procedure, and advantages and disadvantages are discussed. (Author)

Reports on research on peer helping programs and describes a peer tutoring program in three New York City high schools. Results illustrate the importance of youth participation in meaningful roles. Notes that programs in which youth help youth could do many positive things, especially in urban schools. (SLD)

Highlights dynamic assessment, an approach to assessing cognitive ability in which students are instructed on how to perform on certain tasks and measured on their progress in learning to solve similar problems. It describes how dynamic assessment can be used for identifying disadvantaged students for specialized enrichment programs. (CR)

Homework may boost academic achievement, involve parents in their children's schoolwork, and teach students to study independently. However, critics claim that homework increases family conflict, limits independent learning, and widens the achievement gap. After-school homework clubs help students whose home life doesn't support getting help from…

Questions have been raised about whether parents with limited English proficiency are having difficulty accessing child care and early education programs for their children. Research suggests that quality early care experiences can greatly improve the school readiness of young children. GAO was asked to provide information on: (1) the…

This literature review examines whether verifiable evidence supports the supposition that early interventions result in better child developmental outcomes than later interventions for disadvantaged children with disabilities. First, existing reviews of the literature on the "earlier is better" supposition were examined. Second, a meta analysis on…

The literature is reviewed on three curriculum models that were developed to help economically disadvantaged youngsters overcome the consequences of poverty and prepare for the academic challenges they would face in later years. The first section of the paper presents a historical overview of the developments in compensatory preschool education…

Programs to aid disadvantaged youth in making the transition from school to work are often lacking or underdeveloped. As a result, many disadvantaged youth become unemployed, and more than half of disabled adults are unemployed. The Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act contains provisions for vocational services for special populations. This…

This report summarizes recent research about the effective education of poor minority students in rural areas. Significant barriers to high student performance are briefly discussed and research findings about strategies designed to overcome these barriers and to lead to high performance are reviewed. Solutions for educating disadvantaged students…

Presented here are reviews of the reports from the National Institute of Education (NIE) on the Compensatory Education Study (an evaluation of compensatory education programs in the United States). Ernest House's article addresses the evaluation study directly. It covers the study's assessment of funding allocations, program administration,…

This paper traces the concept of the "gifted disadvantaged" child and reviews the development of educational resources for this special population. The National Merit Scholarship Program is described as an example of a program which, though designed to provide opportunities for students from all social strata, until 1964, did not…

This monograph is the first in a series of reports related to the Successful Secondary Schools Study in three Canadian provinces, a study that will contribute to high student achievement outcomes for students of low socioeconomic status. This document provides a synopsis of the literature and research dealing with successful and effective schools,…

Examines the reasons behind and the effects of standardized and minimum competency tests. The authors conclude that the tests lead towards lower performance expectations for disadvantaged students, and increasingly rigid tracking along class, cultural, and racial lines. (AM)

To examine the possibility that teacher variables affect school integration results, this article reviews the literature on minority children and teacher attitudes and behavior. This literature indicates that biased assessments (unfavorable attitudes, qualitatively inferior instructional behavior, and lower expectations) are made of minority or…