In Florida, community colleges are required to report their entry-level basic skills testing results to the public school system in their service area. Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) has been reporting that approximately 60% of Dade County Public School (DCPS) graduates cannot pass basic skills tests in math, writing, and reading. DCPS has…

This report combines syntheses of prior research with new analyses of previously collected data to address trends for minority group participation in higher education over the past 25 years. Two chapters focus on the aggregate impact of individual choices and behaviors in college attendance. Chapter 1 describes trends in minority enrollment and…

This monograph summarizes selected major activities, trends, issues, and recommendations related to curriculum, instructional materials and instruction related in science education that have been documented in the literature. The technique used for selecting trends, issues, and recommendations was to identify relevant literature that had published…

The observable effects of curricular tracking were investigated for a cohort of students in six Vermont high schools during the years 1981-89. The outcome variable was persistence in school as predicted by grades in academic subjects from grade 4 through 9, or time of withdrawal, and the level of courses in which students were enrolled. Three…

This report addresses the problem of retaining and graduating college students, particularly black students, in 4-year college programs. Seven key ideas are suggested: (1) colleges granting admission to students who lack adequate preparation should offer appropriate developmental or remedial support to these students; (2) colleges should ensure…

In its first year of operation, 1981-82, the Bilingual Demonstration College Preparatory Program in New York City served 81 students of Hispanic origin with limited English proficiency. The program stresses the acquisition of English skills as well as the development of the students' native language and is geared toward mainstreaming students as…

A 12-step plan for investigating colleges and making college choices is presented for college applicants. In addition to information on selective college admissions, the 12 chapters cover the following steps: knowing admission requirements and procedures, determining the student's strengths, following a demanding curriculum, taking advantage of…

A random sample of the records of all juniors and seniors tested under the American College Testing Program (ACT) during 1986-87 was selected to assess the relationships among the number and type of college preparatory courses students take, their grades in those courses, and their ACT test scores. Focus was on the impact of differential…

Lack of preparation and planning, lack of financial aid, and the complexities of the application process are the main reasons that American Indians and Alaska Natives do not enter or complete college. This guide provides information to assist Native American students in preparing for college and obtaining adequate financial assistance. Section 1…

An overview of innovative curriculum programs to increase student retention, with a focus on vocational instruction, is presented in this paper. The Pennsylvania Dauphin County Technical School is described, which utilizes a practical performance-oriented approach and individualized instruction in a vocation clusters system. The review of research…

The curriculum recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Articulation Between Secondary Schools and Ohio Colleges are presented, along with the recommendations of the Advisory Council for College Preparatory Education. The recommendations for college preparatory science programs include the laboratory experiences and scientific vocabulary, as…

A study examined various characteristics of learning environments that promote or retard the development of basic skills proficiency. Data on four school programs--vocational noncooperative, vocational cooperative, general education, and college preparatory--were collected in a repeated measure design via observations, testing, and interviews. A…

Evidence of decline in academic performance and academic standards in schools and colleges, and examples of reform are considered, based on work of a Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) task force. Declining scores on college entrance examinations and other standardized tests imply that students have been learning less in high school.…

A model for developing articulation between college and high school second language programs is presented. The four-step process involves discussion, planning, implementation, and expansion of the network. After the discussion, the following goals for a network were established: (1) to provide additional educational experiences for foreign…

Information about college preparation programs, opportunities for leadership experiences, funding sources, and resource organizations is presented to help schools develop preparatory programs for youths currently underrepresented in higher education. The following qualities of an effective university and college opportunities (UCO) program are…