This book reviews research and theories concerning environment-behavior relations in educational settings. Chapter 1, "The Ecosystemic Metaphor," presents the school as an open system, considers psychological theories of human behavior, and defines the environment. Chapter 2, "The Behaviour Setting," looks at relations between…

Over the last 20 years, the college enrollment rate of Latino high school graduates has dropped dramatically in comparison to that of non-Latino Whites. Among college graduates, the only category in which Latinos earned a degree at a higher rate than non-Latino Whites was at the associate's degree level. Latinos have nearly reached parity with…

This article reviews the conceptual foundations of adaptive behavior as they relate to adults and young adults who exhibit different subtypes and severities of learning disabilities. Research findings on adaptation to education, employment, and social settings are presented. Implications of the role of adaptive behavior in self-determination are…

This paper discusses the characteristics of nontraditional student populations, reviews programs of interest, identifies problems and concerns of these students, and provides a model for orientation sessions targeting nontraditional populations. Following a brief introduction, section II discusses the characteristics, retention, and academic…

This theme issue on acceleration of gifted students offers an Ontario (Canada) perspective on early entrance to school and grade-skipping. It begins with a history of acceleration programs and then outlines their current status, with less than 40 percent of school boards with gifted programs using some form of acceleration. It goes on to analyze…

Second in a series of seven volumes containing the proceedings of the 1983 Australian Family Research Conference, this publication deals with family law. Papers and authors included are: "Attitudes of Divorced Men and Women to the Family" (Margaret Harrison), "Dispute Resolution in Australian Family Law" (Henry Finlay),…

Given the importance of adolescents' educational adjustment, a key question for those concerned with improving adolescent functioning is what can be done to increase adolescents' levels of educational functioning. This review addresses a number of broad facets of adolescents' educational functioning, including those in the psychological…

Examines transition of children from home or preschool to school in Australia and New Zealand. Almost all Australian states have a "reception" or kindergarten full-day year in school prior to Year 1, few have common entry ages, and most use a variety of enrollment procedures. Emphasizes need for continuity to smooth transitions and…

Trends affecting higher education in Australia, issues relating to selection and admission, and difficulties that many students face during their first year in college are discussed. Declining enrollment trends and an over-supply of graduates in a number of fields, especially some science fields, are discussed. A shift of emphasis away from…

Explores the impact of sensitive caregiver relationships on a child's emotional, social, and cognitive development. Includes suggestions for emphasizing such relationships in early childhood programs, including planning routines and activities that focus on relationships. (HTH)

Stresses the central role of academic advising in student retention. Reviews Tinto's model of retention stressing the importance of student academic and social integration. Describes studies demonstrating the predictive validity of integration for retention, and identifying attitudinal and behavioral correlates of attrition. Reviews obstacles to…

Examined how young adolescents perceived the opportunities provided by middle school teachers and staff and how such opportunities related to changes in academic and social-emotional functioning over time. Found that specific instructional, interpersonal, and organizational dimensions of middle school life were associated in important ways with…

This paper first explores the problem of increased cultural diversity in public education and then offers suggestions and guidelines for educators in the creation of an anti-biased classroom and curriculum. Case studies of two Hispanic students illustrate the role of acculturation and the middle school classroom setting and curriculum on academic…

In response to California Legislation that would change the cut-off for the minimum 5-year entrance age from December 2 to September 1, this paper reviews the literature discussing the appropriate age for beginning school. The review includes a brief history of kindergarten and its place in California law; discusses the possible impact of the…

Change in middle school students' sense of school belonging was examined in relation to grade point average, motivation variables, and teachers' promotion of mutual respect in classes. Survey data from 618 students collected in three waves during the sixth and seventh grades were submitted to growth curve analysis. On average, students' sense of…