Adolescents growing up in low-income communities experience decreases in school engagement during their transition to middle school due to multiple stressors. Holding goals for their futures increases their resilience, yet research on the types of goals that are most beneficial and on parents' influence on the formation of future goals is limited.…

Background: To achieve high participation rates and a representative sample, active parent consent procedures require a significant investment of study resources. The purpose of this article is to describe processes and outcomes of utilizing active parent consent procedures with sixth-grade students from urban, ethnically diverse, economically…

This study investigated the nature of written instructor responses to student writings and the relationship of these written responses to the quality of subsequent student work in urban elementary and middle schools. Most of the 22 instructors who submitted the study's body of student writings (n=114) provided their students with some sort of…

This study examined the process of action research in two schools that were part of a larger action research community in a suburban and urban school setting. The study used a qualitative multiple-case study research design using ethnographic techniques to follow the two schools as they conducted action research during the 1993-1994 school year.…

Describes an urban-suburban partnership in education involving the study of Latin. Lists reasons for joint venture and how it benefitted students. Describes responsibilities of the staff, program activities, and texts and materials used. Presents evaluation of the program and successful techniques for cooperative learning. (BAC)

Considers addressing problems of urban schools by basing educational practices on effective schools literature and accepted middle school concepts. Recommends ways to improve inner-city schools which include teaching educators to understand urban learners, teaching higher-order and critical thinking skills, pairing adult mentors with learners, and…

This report describes the demographic characteristics and educational experiences of immigrant students in New York City's elementary and middle schools. Immigrants comprise a substantial share of the elementary and middle school student body. Far more immigrant than native-born students are limited English proficient (LEP) and Asian, and far…

Many school systems have so much difficulty when it comes to educating students between the ages of 12 and 15. There seems to be perennial dissatisfaction with how public schools educate these "young adolescents." The grade configurations of schools varied, but the dominant pattern was eight years of primary school followed by four years…

This report evaluates the Chapter I Take-Home Computer (THC) Program established in five elementary schools and four middle schools in academic year 1990-91 in the Atlanta (Georgia) Public Schools. The program involved sending 180 computers home for 6-week periods only with those students who had parents who were willing to attend a meeting and…

Describes the MAGIC ME program in which urban middle school students visit and form relationships with the elderly in nursing homes. The importance of meaningful long-term service is demonstrated through anecdotes of the interaction between students and older adults. MAGIC ME has a history of success in many communities. (SLD)

A study was done to evaluate Partners for Valued Youth (PVY), an instructional cross-age tutoring program in San Antonio (Texas) designed to reduce dropout rates among Hispanic limited-English proficient (LEP) middle-school children, who are at risk of leaving school. The program has these students tutor younger, elementary school students. The…

This handbook provides information about an innovative model, Partners for Valued Youth (PVY), that encourages "at-risk" students to stay in school and to set broader goals for themselves through a cross-age tutoring experience in which at-risk middle school students tutor younger, elementary school students. After a preface, the…

This report describes the administrative structure and program design for an after-school program for school age children (aged between 5 and 13 years) in the 1990-91 school year in the Atlanta (Georgia) Public Schools (APS). The program took policy and regulations from the pertinent Board of Education policy and guidelines and was administered by…

Two studies were done to explore factors associated with the rate at which students move from one school community to another in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District. The first study sought to learn the demographics of mobile students. The second study examined the relationship between student mobility and achievement. The first study…

Notes that the capacity of schools to respond effectively to diverse learning needs of students often falls short, due to the lack of a systematic knowledge base on restructuring the current system to incorporate effective practices that achieve a high standard of schooling for all students. Describes and evaluates one successful inner-city…