This study evaluated the effectiveness of Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS[TM]) compared to the Grammar-Translation approach for acquiring and retaining new vocabulary in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class. The subjects were adult Hispanic learners with limited literacy. An experimental design approach was used to gather…

This study used oral survey methods to examine first the diversity of Meso-American languages and second the potential language maintenance or loss of these languages among Meso-American language speakers in Wiregrass country (North Florida-South Georgia). Language shift, the process of gradually changing from one first language to another first…

The purpose of this study was to explore the manner in which parents' attitudes toward science learning influences their children's attitudes and the effect of ethnicity on attitudes toward science learning. The results of this study show that parental attitudes toward science learning were influenced by both parents' early life experiences and…

AISD's Spanish English language learner students' (ELLs) 6th-grade TAKS reading passing rates declined from 2008 to 2011, possibly due to the increased number of Spanish ELLs who exited language programs prior to 6th grade and increasing state academic achievement standards in Spring 2010.

While disproportionate representation of students of color has been extensively documented, an understanding of the factors contributing to this phenomenon is limited. The purpose of this paper is to explore existing literature on the premise that a current shortage of special educators of color impacts this overrepresentation. Since the problem…

The ACT is a national college admissions examination. ACT, Inc. provides an annual summary of student performance at the end of each academic year. Results from the 2010 annual summary are described in this brief report.

Appropriate special education is unquestionably beneficial for children with "real" disabilities. It offers them an individualized education plan to help develop their potential. But special education for children without specific disabilities, as more often the case of minorities, is unjustifiable. For the latter children, special…

The authors used data from the National Household Education Surveys (NHES) Program 2007 Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007) (N=10,681) to examine household income, gender, and race of parents, and their importance in shaping parental involvement in children's education. The study finds…

This report uses the AISD High School Exit Survey as a vehicle to explore explanations for the consistent postsecondary enrollment gap between Hispanic seniors and students of other races/ethnicities. Two separate research briefs also were published. [For the research brief, "2011 High School Exit Survey and Postsecondary Enrollment,"…

This research brief highlights findings from the full report (published separately). Researchers used the AISD High School Exit Survey as a vehicle to explore explanations for the consistent postsecondary enrollment gap between Hispanic seniors and students of other races/ethnicities. A separate research brief with recommendations also was…

This research brief provides recommendations for increasing postsecondary enrollment of Hispanic seniors in AISD. A separate full report and research brief also were published. The full report describes how researchers used the AISD High School Exit Survey as a vehicle to explore explanations for the consistent postsecondary enrollment gap between…

Unknown is the extent to which restrictions imposed on Latino students' first language undermines their ability to learn and how these limitations impact their attrition rate. The purpose of this study was to describe Latino students' lived experiences of acquiring English as a second language in the academic context. Five Latino students…

This paper describes the outcomes and key elements of collaborative professional development on K-12 educators working to improve education of Latino and English learning students in a state with rapidly changing demographics. Across four years (2003-04 through 2006-07), 37 teams from 16 urban, suburban, and rural school districts in the state of…

This supplemental report examines AISD parent survey responses by student ethnicity. A separate full report on AISD parent survey results also was published. [For the full report, see ED628083.]

The purpose of this study was to provide information on the state of Hispanic education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The data were obtained from Kentucky school Superintendents or their designees in 175 public school districts through a survey (12 questions) mailed in late spring, 2007. Responses were received from 136 school superintendents…