Educational scholars have argued that poverty can hamper student achievement. In this critical discussion paper, we provide a historiography of how urban poverty increased in America over the last 30 years of the 20th century. We contend that educators and educational researchers working in P-12 urban schools should understand how federal urban…

This study uses a mixed-method sequential exploratory design to examine influences on urban adolescents' engagement and disengagement in school. First, we interviewed 22 middle and high school students who varied in their level of engagement and disengagement. Support from adults and peers, opportunities to make choices, and external incentives…

This qualitative case study examines and illuminates the social-emotional and educational experiences of children ages 5 to 18 residing in an urban, family emergency housing shelter located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Data were collected and triangulated through participant observations, semi-structured interviews, and…

The More Effective Schools Program was designed to prevent academic failure of disadvantaged urban children by focusing on their basic language and mathematics problems. It attempted to improve the quality of a traditional educational program through reducing the pupil-teacher ratio; offering more small-group and individualized instruction;…

This volume summarizes the third year of the 3-year Study of Chapter 1 Implementation and addresses how schools have responded to the changes in Chapter 1 created by the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments of 1988. Results are summarized of nationally representative surveys, collected during 1991-92 and the third year of Hawkins-Stafford implementation,…

Asthma is at near-epidemic proportions among poor urban children, but in Baltimore, a school-based health program is providing relief. The six-week program teaches children how to manage their disease, which in turn reduces absenteeism and decreases emergency room visits. Informal assessment indicates the program is fairly effective. (SM)