Researchers have found that middle school students undergo developmental changes that require unique educational structures and support. As a result, experts have suggested a number of specific strategies for organizing middle schools in order to best meet students' needs. This Information Capsule summarizes middle school redesign initiatives that…

The purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a brief, feasible, and cost-effective universal screener for kindergarten readiness. The study examined whether teacher ratings of kindergarteners' academic, behavioral, and overall readiness at the beginning of the year were predictive of academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes at…

Using longitudinal student data from 15 four-year (n = 3,072) and 13 (n = 788) two-year postsecondary institutions, the authors tested the effects of interest-major congruence, motivation, and 1st-year academic performance on timely degree completion. Findings suggest that interest-major congruence has a direct effect on timely degree completion…

Compares high-school dropout rates for boys versus girls in 45 schools with grade spans of 7-12, 9-12, or 10-12. For all three grade spans, boys had higher dropout rates than girls. Highest rates were in the 10-12 grade span; the lowest were in 7-12 districts. (Contains 13 references.) (MLH)

Residence life programs play a key role in recruiting students, helping them make a successful transition to a new institution, and in retaining them, whether students are enrolling for the first time, transferring from another institution, or entering graduate school. Chapters in this book address theories of learning and development, new…

The purpose of this Handbook is to provide the user with the information needed to develop a program similar to the Providence Educational Center (PEC) in his or her community. As an alternative to incarceration in a training school, the PEC in St. Louis, Missouri provides intensive remedial education and counseling to adjudicated delinquents.…

This study was an attempt to determine if Black educationally and economically disadvantaged freshman students could increase their likelihood of success in college through an enriched summer program and if their prior experience with White persons had any effect on the attainment of these goals. Sixty seven socio-economically disadvantaged Black…