In Astronomy 101 at the University of New Mexico, we carried out a repeated-items experiment on quizzes and tests to investigate the impact of cooperative testing. This trial was the only change in a reformed course format that had been refined over previous semesters. Our research questions were: (1) Did cooperative quizzes result in gains for…

In this study, the researcher developed an instrument to assess college attendance motivations in order to assess the motivations of 179 entering Hispanic freshmen and to explore the relationship between demographics and motivation. Student motivations formed a hierarchy with knowledge at the top, followed by self-improvement, job enhancement,…

This study took place at a newly formed charter school serving 150 students in a large metropolitan city in the southwest. Students were mostly Hispanic (98%), and all were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in interviews with 45 sixth- (n = 28), seventh- (n = 10), and eighth- (n = 7) grade…

Research indicates that lower levels of school commitment may be one potential outcome of policy initiatives such as high-stakes testing and exit exams. Such outcomes may lead these policy initiatives to have unintended consequences for students, particularly racial or ethnic minority students. This study examines whether race or ethnicity…

This paper reports on a survey administered to 226 mathematics students at a Texas high school with a 99% Hispanic student population. The survey consisted of items that gauged attitudes toward mathematics and the frequency of traditional versus non-traditional classroom activities. A series of analyses of variance were conducted with gender and…

It is estimated that within the next 20 years, the majority of elementary, intermediate, and secondary school-age children in the United States will come from "minority" backgrounds. This increasing diversity will present school counselors with many new challenges. To assist counselors with these evolving demands, researchers designed a…

Recent studies and personal narratives suggest a connection between the low academic achievement of Latina/o students in the United States to the lack of care they experience in schools. The author reports on a study he conducted of the Chicago-based Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School, focusing on the experiences of its students and…

This paper provides an overview of dropout rates in New Mexico and reports the perceptions of Hispanic and Native American students on dropout-related issues. New Mexico has the third highest dropout rate in the nation. Over 7,500 students in New Mexico drop out each year, and many schools lose 30-50 percent of their students. Dropout rates are…

Describes the theory of action linking the Chicano-Latino Youth Leadership Institute with positive youth development, highlighting promising practices. Selection of participants is based on an application process and Hispanic high school students are encouraged to apply. Data from surveys, focus groups, reflection forms, and analysis of Minnesota…

A study of 107 low-income, Mexican American adolescents aged 10-13 in Los Angeles found that students' educational and occupational expectations were most strongly related to "social persuasion"--the expectations communicated by parents, teachers, and peers--but were not related to family attainment or neighborhood variables. Educational…

Investigated social pressure to avoid acting white, interviewing relatively high achieving African American and Mexican American students in public and private high schools. Most did not avoid academic achievement to avoid accusations of acting white, and most reported no loss of ethnic identity. They felt strong resentment toward peers'…

Examines the differential impact of a range of college diversity initiatives on white, African American, Mexican American/Chicano(a), and Asian American college students. After four years of college, regardless of the students' race/ethnicity, their overall level of satisfaction with their college experience was positively influenced by a variety…

Examined relationships among collective self-esteem, perceived social support, and cultural congruity among 151 Black and Latino college students enrolled in predominantly White universities. Findings indicate Black and Latino women reported higher levels of cultural congruity than did men; higher public collective self-esteem and higher social…

This study examined the effect of a computer-enhanced problem-based learning (PBL) environment on middle school students' learning, investigating the relationship among students' self-efficacy, attitude toward science, and achievement. As Bandura defined it (1986), self-efficacy refers to the beliefs people have about whether or not they can…

This Special Report surveys existing conditions for Latino [superscript 1] language minority students in Indiana's schools and identifies the most significant problems and challenges for improving their learning. The report opens with an overview of recent demographic shifts in Indiana's K-12 student population, and makes an important distinction…