Home interviews with 30 Puerto Rican families in eastern Pennsylvania revealed that parents of higher-achieving children in grades K-2 preferred that their children have a native-language environment at home and in school to a greater extent than did families of lower-achieving children. Contains 48 references. (TD)

Use of performance gaps analysis in program evaluation is examined by analyzing and critiquing the gap reduction design as an experimental design and an analytic tool in program outcome evaluation. The example of the Bilingual Education Evaluation System illustrates the contention that disadvantages of the method outweigh its contributions. (SLD)

A study examined 10 exemplary bilingual educational programs to identify characteristics that contributed to the high academic performance of their students. Twenty-five indicators of success were identified in the areas of school leadership, support, and instructional practices. All 10 programs were committed to maintaining students' primary…

A survey of 100 parents in a California school district bordering Mexico examined relationships between the bilingual program parents chose for their kindergarten and first-grade children and parental demographic factors. Parents placed their children in settings that mirrored home language use. Parents with a higher level of education were more…

This article by Patricia Whitelaw-Hill, Executive Director of READ, addresses the issue of the education of limited-English students in public education. New York has joined California in concluding that bilingual education programs are not working as well as English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs in helping language minority students become…

Four issues of "The Forum," a publication of the New York State Federation of Chapters of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), contain the following major articles: "Integration, Mainstreaming or Inclusion...Who's On First?" (Tim Knoster); "Links to the Community: Why Inclusion?" (John B. Kish and Leslie A.…

Some minority and female students traditionally have not been given the help they need to enroll and succeed in mathematics and science classes. Now, however, a variety of approaches are available to give these students the extra attention they need. Parents can help children develop an interest in science and mathematics by: (1) identifying role…

The academic achievement of limited-English-speaking (LEP) students has long been a major national educational concern. This digest focuses on: (1) factors that promote or inhibit academic achievement in a second language; (2) the length of time needed for LEP students to achieve at comparable levels in school with their native English-speaking…

Although most educators agree in theory that labeling linguistically and culturally different students as "low I.Q." can adversely affect their academic progress, in practice a disproportionate number of bilingual students are still being "deported" into special education and vocational classes as a combined result of…

This ERIC digest considers three important issues for educators of bilingual students, specifically Spanish-American children. First, it articulates the ongoing debate about which language to use for instruction. Second, it examines myths about the negative effects of bilingualism. And finally, it presents supporting evidence and suggestions for…

In 1985-86, the Bilingual Program at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, New York, was in the final year of a three-year funding cycle. It served 212 students of limited English proficiency (LEP), including 191 Haitian students, in addition to 14 Hispanic, 6 Asian, and 1 Middle Eastern student. All participants received English as a second language…

The Vocational and High School Equivalency Bilingual Program helped students with limited English proficiency develop their English language skills enough to enable them to participate effectively in mainstream classes and compete successfully in the United States labor market. During 1985-86 the program provided English as a second language and…

Project CHAMP provides instruction in English as a second language (ESL), native language arts, and content-area instruction in mathematics, science, and social studies to Chinese students of limited English proficiency (LEP) in three New York City high schools: Seward Park, Washington Irving, and Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1983-84, the first year…

During the 1984-85 school year, the Biliteracy Skills Development Program at George Washington High School (New York City) served 283 Hispanic students of limited English proficiency (LEP). The aim of the program, which used a mini-school design, was to enable students to develop oral proficiency in English and literacy skills in both Spanish and…

In 1984-85, Project HOLA was in its second year of funding at William H. Taft High School in the Bronx, New York. HOLA serves Spanish-speaking students of limited English proficiency (LEP). Project goals include speedy acquisition of English skills, orientation to life in America, maintenance and improvement of Spanish skills and cultural…