Examines U.S. public schools' changing demographics and their effects on barriers to equal opportunity for racial and ethnic minorities. Disabilities of poverty, inadequate income, denied access to shared American values, and collective discrimination obstruct these groups' high educational attainment. Equity plans and monitoring must eliminate…

In the U.S. Congress, attention to scientific fraud and misconduct has involved extensive use of oversight authority. Because scientists and universities have failed to respond promptly to calls for self-regulation, Congress has imposed formal regulations and favors increased scrutiny of research and a reassessment of university-government-science…

Addresses the political and policy environment that has shaped the educational agenda for rising U.S. state accountability systems, highlighting these policies' effects on the limited-English-proficient learner. The hope for language-minority students lies in pressures on school officials to narrow the white/minority achievement gap. (Contains 64…

The minority-student population of Florida is rapidly increasing, to the point that minorities now represent 40 percent of the nearly 2 million public school students. All indications are that this trend will continue. Many of these students have a limited English proficiency (LEP), and most LEP students are Hispanic Americans. To educate these…

Sixteen chapters discuss the relationship among literacy, culture, and difference in education; restructuring school curricula to meet the needs of those traditionally excluded from education's dominant discourse; the social and cultural context of literacy; and literacy's highly political nature. After "Series Introduction: Literacy,…

This comprehensive and up-to-date history of American education encourages critical thinking by offering alternative interpretations of each major historical period. It shows how educational history is nested within and shaped by the larger forces, including mass media, that shape the dissemination of knowledge and power within society.…

This multidisciplinary anthology with chapters by faculty members, administrators, and students consolidates moral and political views of multicultural education and the institutional changes that have taken place in the past 20 years in higher education. Selections include: (1) "Rethinking America: The Practice and Politics of…

The implementation of a legislative mandate to promote innovation in postsecondary education through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) is analyzed. Attention is directed to how this highly discretionary program successfully translated policy goals into grants practices. The values of two implementation strategies…

Voters in California will vote June 2, 1998 to decide the fate of Proposition 227, a measure proposed by businessman Ron Unz that would substantially change the way that students who are not proficient in English are taught. If approved by the voters, Proposition 227, the Unz Initiative, would essentially eliminate bilingual education programs in…

Debate over the role of college presidents, governing boards, and faculty in college governance reflects growing economic and political pressures on colleges and universities and demands for stronger leadership and more efficient administration. However, unlike the corporate model of governance, higher education institutions should never become…

Outlines some equity problems still existing in the cultural thrust of the public school curriculum and instructional materials, discusses the political context of materials and curriculum selection, and proposes some strategies for resolution of curriculum and instructional materials problems. Equity must become the political will of the American…

Explores the concept of youth culture in South Africa, examining its emergence and development. The historical background supports a framework to inform the debate on policy strategies to deal with negative aspects of current South African youth culture. An agenda is suggested for redirecting youth culture. (SLD)

Explores issues surrounding hate crime legislation and prosecution, with emphasis on motivation and first amendment issues. Hate crime legislation attempts to import the civil rights model into criminal law, but the very existence of the hate crime label raises social and political stakes in intergroup crimes. (SLD)

Analyzes the relationship between educational development and Malaysia's sociopolitical and economic context. Under the Vision 2020 rubric, liberalized educational policies are leading to a more democratic, privatized, and decentralized educational system. Curricular revisions stressing basic skills, moral values, and individual development are…

Due to recent political changes in Latvia, it has been possible to conduct national comparative studies that may result in reforming the educational system. The first national survey in the field of education was the International Association of Educational Achievement (IEA) Reading Literacy Study. This study was done in Latvia as a parallel to…