This study investigated what factors in the experiences of black, inner-city 10th and 11th graders enabled them to succeed in spite of the often debilitating factors and circumstances that surrounded them. Interviews with students, teachers, and administrators at an urban all-black high school selected by the National Center on Effective Secondary…

A multivariate "school process" model is evaluated to explore the antecendents and consequences of curriculum enrollment. Selected characteristics of peer associates, measures of academic achievement, and three subjective outcome variables--educational plans, self-conceptions of academic competence, and intellectual orientations--are…

A study examined educational attainment among Latino students in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area. California's Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program results for 1998-99 were used to assess student achievement in reading and mathematics for grades 4, 7, and 10. Data were also collected on enrollment, dropout rates, percentage of…

The mobile lifestyle and fragmented education of migrant secondary students creates a need for innovative solutions that will enable them to graduate from high school. This handbook was developed to assist Texas school district operations and state and interstate educators in the coordination and delivery of instructional and support services for…

This research brief describes the findings of a study to determine which of the High Schools That Work (HSTW) practices appear to be most effective in raising student achievement. The study explored the effects of six clusters of practices: (1) curriculum standards; (2) academic and career/technical integration; (3) teacher practices; (4)…

This booklet outlines what students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level university courses. The standards presented in the booklet were designed to create a new way to view college preparation. The standards--known as the knowledge and skills for university success (KSUS) standards--were developed from a 2-year study in which…

A survey of 145 faculty members from 28 honors university programs found moderate satisfaction with student performance on critical and creative thinking, problem solving, research, written and oral communication, and leadership. Motivation, attitude, intellectual curiosity, and discipline were identified as distinguishing student characteristics.…

"Higher Education Counts" is the annual accountability report on Connecticut's system of higher education. Since 2000, the report has been the primary vehicle for reporting higher education's progress toward achieving six, statutorily-defined state goals: (1) To enhance student learning and promote academic excellence; (2) To join with…

This manual was created to give rural American Indian youths ways to build their self-concept, spiritual strength, and, thus, improve their ability to achieve success. This document draws heavily from anecdotal material--Indian lore and the author's personal experiences--to encourage good social conduct by Indian youth. It suggests that everyone…

This report explores some of the complexities involved in setting, maintaining, and judging standards in higher education, and examines the interactive effects that the standards of schools and colleges have on each other, with special emphasis on the implications of selective college admission practices. Focus is on whether current standards are…

This monograph summarizes selected major activities, trends, issues, and recommendations related to curriculum, instructional materials and instruction related in science education that have been documented in the literature. The technique used for selecting trends, issues, and recommendations was to identify relevant literature that had published…

A study examined various characteristics of learning environments that promote or retard the development of basic skills proficiency. Data on four school programs--vocational noncooperative, vocational cooperative, general education, and college preparatory--were collected in a repeated measure design via observations, testing, and interviews. A…

Freshmen who received less than a 2.0 grade average during their first semester at college were asked to indicate on a written questionnaire the extent to which 68 factors were or were not a reason for their poor academic performance. Respondents were also encouraged to supply additional observations about their educational experiences that seemed…

Factors contributing to Native students' college success were examined in a study of 50 Native freshmen and 42 non-Native freshmen at the University of Alaska in the 1973-74 academic year. The study compared students in relation to three common explanations of college success: level of academic preparation, goal orientation, ease in the campus…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Americans Speak on Education: Public Credits Education System for U.S. Success in the World, but Worries About Future…