Magnet high school attendance seems to lead to improved academic performance (Cobb, Bifulco, & Bell, 2009; U.S. Department of Education, 2008; Yu & Taylor, 1997). Likewise, perceived social support has been linked with positive outcomes for adolescents, including improved academic performance (Rosenfeld, Richman, & Bowen, 2000; Demaray & Malecki,…

This paper describes Scratch, a visual, block-based programming language designed to facilitate media manipulation for novice programmers. We report on the Scratch programming experiences of urban youth ages 8-18 at a Computer Clubhouse--an after school center--over an 18-month period. Our analyses of 536 Scratch projects collected during this…

On March 1, 2009 from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Madison Hotel in Washington, DC, the National Science Foundation hosted a listening session, requesting input on Section 7033 of the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act regarding Hispanic-serving institutions and science,…

The ascendance of Menudo, the Puerto Rican rock group, was the most significant cultural event in the Hispanic community in the last eight years. As a phenomenon of popular culture, Menudo is worthy of study because of its main audience (Hispanic) and because it illustrates the dialectical interplay of gender, class, Hispanic ethnicity, and…

It's a real honor to be with you all today. You have dedicated your lives to advancing the American ideals of equality and opportunity--principles that for centuries have drawn millions of people to risk everything to come to this land. And there is no faster path to equal opportunity than a good education. It is the key to the American dream. And…

In Texas and other border states, the increasing numbers of Hispanic students magnifies the numbers of non-English speakers or limited English speakers. The statewide Texas distribution of students revealed that 58% of all students are minority students, with Hispanics making up the largest minority group, 40.6% of all students. This paper…

This paper examines three types of Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) trends that may represent Promise effects: 1) trends in overall enrollment, 2) trends in relative enrollment by ethnic group, and 3) trends in KPS achievement on the standardized test used by the state of Michigan for No Child Left Behind accountability, the Michigan Educational…

This study was designed to determine if the level of ethnicity, as measured by an acculturation instrument, is related to levels of vocational identity. Three measures were used: (1) My Vocational Situation (J. L. Holland and others, 1980); (2) the Majority-Minority Relations Survey (MMRS), an alternate form of the American-International Relations…

Most studies of discrimination have been based on researchers' observations or on the perceptions of those who discriminate. Few attempts have been made to focus on the perceptions of the victims of discrimination. A comparison made between the direct perceptions of Hispanic Americans and those of Chinese Americans, both of whom are victims of…

The present study was undertaken to find ways to help bilingual preservice teachers become more aware of diversity and more questioning of methods for literacy development in order to address issues of critical literacy. Twenty-five bilingual preservice teachers, enrolled in a Spanish Reading Methods at the university tutored 25 kindergarten…

Many school accountability programs, including the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act are built on the premise that the threat of sanctions attached to failure will produce higher student achievement. However, the stigma associated with failing schools and the expected costs of possible future sanctions may lead experienced teachers to leave these…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored Mexican-American female principals' perceptions of leadership, power, and caring. Interviews were conducted with six principals of public schools in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. The principals described the personal and social challenges of being Mexican-American and female, and those…

Mastery motivation is considered important because it promotes competence and is believed to be the precursor to achievement motivation. Focusing on toddlers between 16 and 22 months old, this study examined the relationship between mastery motivation and environmental contributors, such as maternal expectations, and cultural orientation in Puerto…

Because of its complex history, Puerto Rico's legend and myth surpass the literature of other regions and present special characteristics and problems pertaining to its population. Bibliographic control of Puerto Rican publications is often insufficient and there is a need for an organized and extensive bibliography which covers all disciplines…

It is important to know and understand the cultural heritage of Hispanic students if this population is to achieve academic success. Excessive drop out rates coupled with low high school and postsecondary graduations indicate the need for reforming school reading/writing and academic curricula. Also, educators at all levels need to be aware of the…