"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) Getting Back to Average: American Fifteen-Year-Olds Rank 14th in Reading, 17th in Science, and 25th in Mathematics,…

Attempting to scrutinize the rational for economics education, this book is a collection of papers by economics educators who seek to envision what economics skills and knowledge will be needed in the future and whether these justify teaching economics at the pre-college level. Twelve economics educators contributed articles: (1) "The Case…

Maintains that economic research recently has been characterized by the development of increasingly sophisticated models of economics learning. Recommends that further application of the Survey on Economic Attitudes include factor analysis as an alternative approach to gain additional insights into affective economics learning. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the economic literacy of 942 adults and compares the results with the economic literacy of high school students. Finds that high school students outscored the adults. Also finds that adult scores were related positively to both the level of education achieved and the completion of an economics course. (CFR)

This paper chronicles the effort of a curriculum development team to alter the high school social studies curriculum, its content, and instructional methods. Specifically, Entrepreneur/Economic Education (E-3) is the focus of this curriculum reform effort. The E-3 program is designed as a four-year cooperative effort involving selected teachers,…

This article examines the economic status of two-parent families and the earnings contribution of employed teens and young adults. Using data from the 1989 Consumer Expenditure Survey, this study describes and compares two-parent families including employed and nonemployed teens ages 14-17 and young adults ages 18-24. Descriptive results indicate…

Maintains that economics is a way of thinking and is consistent with efforts in educational reform that emphasize thinking skills. Presents a review of educational objectives linked with suggested instructional materials in economics education. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the differences in economics education between private and public schools. Finds that public school students are less likely to be exposed to economic concepts prior to high school economics courses than private school students. (CFR)

Vocational education in the United States has come under increased scrutiny, and its proponents need the tools to convince the critics of its merits. Many economic conditions have a strong impact on vocational education, and understanding of economics is important in offering a rationale of vocational education. In a time of shrinking revenues,…