In 2001-02, the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Body conducted seven research projects examining Indigenous educational policies and strategies. Qualitative and quantitative methods included literature reviews; academic data collection; and interviews and focus groups with Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, parents, community…

As part of a discussion of the complexities of evaluating bilingual education, this paper discusses critical questions related to equitable education. A first concern is the development of standards. Children must be given equal opportunities to learn, but the development of standards and new assessments alone will not ensure that inequities will…

Beginning in 1987, a reform movement was heavily funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to change the teaching of calculus. Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) received seven NSF grants over an eight-year period, allowing the college to: establish a state-of-the-art calculus computer lab; purchase calculators, graphing…

Challenges to civil rights and affirmative action in the 1990s are identified. Five cases of racial, sex, ethnic, and reverse discrimination behind the Civil Rights bills of 1990 and 1991 are discussed. The ultimate challenge is to demonstrate that if civil rights litigants win, others need not lose. (SLD)

Investigates the relationship between Chapter 1 and regular classroom teachers' estimates of test content coverage (opportunity to learn) and mathematics achievement of 89 fourth graders (65% were African American and 35% were white) in Chapter 1 mathematics instruction. Results indicate the importance of measuring students' opportunity to learn…

Working from a timeline established by the Office of the Chancellor for the California Community Colleges (CCC) for implementing student equity initiatives, this report describes a model process for planning and implementing programs to increase minority participation and graduation rates. The first section describes the planning group, suggesting…

Because students spend only 19% of their time each year in school, families and schools need to focus jointly on "the 81% solution" to improve learning beyond the school day and year. This paper discusses examples of the 81% solution that are being implemented in a variety of communities by the LINCT (Learning and Information Networking for…

Written from the perspective of a state director of special education, the paper identifies and discusses accomplishments in special education during the 10 years since the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) was enacted, current problems and issues, and future challenges within the following key areas of change: (1) access to…

Jonathan Kozol challenges politicians of both parties to confront the economic and political issues that deprive the poor of equal education. Criticisms of current policies include the following: (1) dependence on property taxes penalizes the poor; (2) local control protects privilege and oppresses minorities; (3) education has been removed from…

Comparative case studies of 10 public universities (Brooklyn College, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Florida State University, Florida International University, Memphis State University, Temple University, University of California at Los Angeles, University of New Mexico, University of Texas at El Paso, and Wayne State University)…

Court ordered desegregation introduces significant requirements for school districts' testing programs. The Remedial Order in effect in Cleveland, Ohio (Reed vs. Rhodes) cautions defendants that "they must insure that all tests, whether standardized, criterion-referenced, or teacher-made are developed, administered, and scored in a…

Prepared for use as a background report at a 1984 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference, this document, based on responses to a questionnaire sent to OECD member countries, is divided into two sections. The first part analyzes major policy developments relating to elementary and secondary education and new…

Nathaniel T. Allen's life (1823-1903) offers insights into 19th century professionalization of education in the United States. His independent political views set him apart as a strong-willed and dauntless supporter of equal education opportunity. Appointed by Horace Mann as principal of a model school connected with the first public normal school…

The purpose of this report is to determine the feasibility of and need for a series of social indicator reports on the status of women and disadvantaged minorities in education, as students, teachers, and administrators. Further, it addresses questions concerning the form, issues to be covered, and data that should be used if such reports are…

This paper discusses two examples of federal agencies which administer laws fundamental to the protection and advancement of the educational interests of minority children: the Office for Civil Rights, and the Division of Education for the Disadvantaged. Provisions of these laws can be construed as protective standards which may provide the major…