Elementary school enrollment rose 9% between 1990 and 1996, with largest increases among minorities and in the West, Southwest, and Southeast. Highly educated parents are more likely to enroll their kids in day care; 50% of all 5-year olds attend full-day kindergarten. Schools are getting bigger, and parental involvement in literacy education is…

By 2010, whites will comprise only 9% of the world's population--the smallest ethnic minority. While 26% of all Americans are nonwhite, among schoolchildren it is 36% The North's populations are old, white, wealthy, well educated, and declining. The South and West's populations are young, ethnically diverse, poorer, less educated, and increasing.…

Discusses enrollment and other trends regarding preprimary education, student and family characteristics, public and private school populations, teachers, revenue, federal aid, expenditures per pupil, mathematics proficiency, and computer competence. (MLH)

During 1990-95, most states showed increases in total elementary school enrollments and minority group enrollments. About 75% of all preschool children attend day care centers. First graders are getting older. The number of teachers is increasing; there has been little change in pupil-teacher ratios or class size. State public finance shows modest…

In this special section, various authors (in separate articles) discuss the new face of school segregation; socioeconomic integration--a plan to mix poor and middle-class students; and ways to bridge the minority achievement gap, teach linguistically diverse students, and identify and nurture the gifted poor. (MLH)