Leveraging publicly available data about schools" absenteeism from the New Jersey Department of Education, the present study examined how neighborhood-level resource deprivation and violent crime related to chronic absenteeism in Passaic County's elementary, middle, and high schools. Results highlighted geographic disparities in Passaic…

A mainstay in NCLB and the Obama administration education plan is turning around low-performing schools. This study utilized surveys and interviews with school leaders from four turnaround urban high schools in Texas to understand student outcomes before and after school restructuring and reconstitution. Although some organizational changes were…

Although the value of school-community partnerships is unquestioned, the reasons for success and failure are not sufficiently understood. This mixed-methods case study examines 60 years of partnering at one urban high school, using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to better understand the effect on student development as measured by…

Investigated whether Chicago public school students were disadvantaged relative to students in other Illinois schools after accounting for background factors. Data on test scores, dropout rates, and school, community, and family characteristics indicated that Chicago's grade schools performed comparably to other schools, but Chicago's high schools…

This study of 108 matched pairs of Spanish surname and non Spanish surname students from 9 Title 1 parochial schools, who graduated in 1968, 1969 and 1970, found no significant difference between the dropout rates of Spanish surname and non Spanish surname students when they were of comparable ability: the best predictor of dropout rate was the…

A situation has existed in the specialized high schools of New York City in which criteria for admission (the admissions test and the summer program) have been applied without any systematic determination of their validity: data from the present study suggest a more rational educational approach. (Author/JM)

Strain theory, which is widely criticized, presumes a negative relationship between social class and delinquency. The theory is strengthened with the following variables added to the analysis: (1) grade level, (2) social status, (3) achievement, (4) absences and dropout frequency, and (5) tracking. The paradigm of collective behavior may also be…

If schools continue to ignore their responsibilities, urban Appalachian children will continue to lose faith in themselves and respect for their heritage. (Author/GC)

Critically evaluates recent statements and actions by federal and state officials who do not realize the efforts that will be necessary to raise school standards. Reviews kinds of standards proposed by current reform, considers their effects, and discusses the conditions under which at risk students could respond positively to higher standards.…

This article discusses the effects of tracking on student self esteem. From a study of 650 Israeli students, the author concludes that low self esteem of non college-bound students results only when they use academic track students as a reference group. (GC)

Studies 683 African-American, inner-city children in Chicago (Illinois), exposed to 4 to 6 years of early childhood education. Benefits seem to have lasted for girls but less so for boys. Reading scores for girls and boys at the program end were similar and equal to local and national norms. (JB)