Despite enormous political, social, and psychological forces working against them, some inner city black youths defy the odds and succeed academically. This study focuses on a group of successful at-risk minority students in an urban secondary school, and in particular on their student experience, including interactions with school culture,…

THE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM AT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS SPECIAL ISSUE. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THIS PRECOLLEGE PROGRAM WERE RECRUITED IN METROPOLITAN AREAS WHICH HAD ACTIVE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS. THE PRIMARY AIM WAS TO IDENTIFY AND REDIRECT UNDERACHIEVING DISADVANTAGED YOUTH WITH POTENTIAL AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ASPIRE…

"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) Preparing, Recruiting, and Retaining Education Professionals: Senator Reed Proposes New $500 Million Bill to Improve…

This report summarizes key outcomes and discussion points from the first meeting of the Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium's Developmental Education Initiative. On January 6, 2004, 37 developmental educators from Twin Cities colleges and universities participated in think-tank sessions to begin discussions about college readiness and…

Implementation of the High Schools That Work (HSTW) key practices improved achievement for career-bound students in these four ways: (1) HSTW sites showed significant improvement in average reading and math scores; (2) the percentage of career- bound students meeting HSTW performance goals in 1994 and 1996 increased from 33% to 43% in reading and…

The Texas Education Agency's (TEA's) state GEAR UP project--Texans Getting Academically Prepared (TGAP)--has provided interconnected activities supporting early awareness of and preparation for higher education among low-income and minority students, their families, and schools in six South Texas school districts. Over its six years, the state…

In 1989, a study was conducted at Columbia College (CC) in California to determine the effects of CC's "College Success" course (Guidance 7) on student attitudes, performance, and retention; and to determine ways in which the course could be improved. College Success, which focuses on techniques for effective reading, studying, memorizing, test…

Designed for migrant students in grades 9 through 12, the Yo Puedo Program attempted to motivate students to remain in and graduate from high school and to continue their education at the university level. The 5-week summer program, conducted at the University of California at Santa Cruz, provided an academic setting and a positive learning…

The issues of competency testing, standardized testing, and new measures of achievement and competency in college are discussed. Attention is directed to the following questions: what skills and subjects are basic, how can schools enhance and measure competence, and who is responsible for setting higher standards? Considerations of the National…

Information for students, counselors, and parents to help in the evaluation of options and opportunities available for most college-bound students is presented in 17 articles. Titles and authors include the following: "Getting the Most from Your High School Counselor" (James Warfield); "The Use of the SAT at Selective Colleges"…

In order to obtain information about intermediate educational outcomes, especially the post secondary experience, this followup study of the Upward Bound Program (UB) was conducted. The study focused on educational progress and persistence, but also investigated student's educational expectations and problems experienced in obtaining an education.…

This survey examines post-secondary plans, aspirations, and characteristics of twelfth grade students in order to develop a medium range enrollment forecasting model of postsecondary education and to develop a data base on high school student aspirations. The survey is the third year of a three-year project undertaken in Manitoba, Canada.…

Describes the objectives, design, and implementation of the Lancaster Partnership Program, involving the Lancaster City School District (Pennsylvania), Millersville University, and three local corporations in efforts to increase the participation rate in higher education of Latino and African American high school students. Efforts focused on…

Describes Project Austin-East EXCEL, a pilot college preparatory program for inner-city minority high school students in Knoxville (Tennessee). Develops an "academic ethos" through the following components: (1) reading, writing, and foreign language program; (2) "demystification" of the college experience; and (3) career…

With passage of House Bill 3103 in 2004, the Legislature recognized the challenges facing students as they move from one educational sector to another. The omnibus legislation, which amended and clarified the mission of the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) called on the board to work with the state board of education, the superintendent…