This study examined the effects of participation in Chapter 1 programs on students' educational outcomes. A total of 52 students at an elementary school in Maquoketa, Iowa, were divided into a primary group of students who participated in a Chapter 1 program during grades 1 or 2; an intermediate group of students who participated in a Chapter 1…

This report examines the effects of feedback, through the use of computer-assisted instruction, on the problem-solving abilities of "at-risk" college students, i.e., students identified as academically disadvantaged. Study subjects were 30 male and female undergraduate students aged 18 to 23 years. The study used two computer-assisted…

This article discusses the meaning of evaluation for teachers and students, reasons for evaluating students, and evaluative methods teachers might use. First, three principles of evaluation are presented: students should know the criteria for judging good and bad work; every student should have an opportunity to succeed at one type of evaluation;…

The Innovative Approaches Research Project (IARP) develops instructional models for language minority students. The project focuses on dropout prevention, instruction of exceptional students, math and science instruction, and literacy. IARP implemented four model programs: (1) Partners for Valued Youth: Dropout Prevention Strategies for At-Risk…

A survey of the parents at a middle school in central Florida indicated that parents believed homework should contribute to the student's grade and that 47% of the respondents felt that mathematics should have daily homework. Based on these results, a study was conducted to determine the effects of implementing an innovative automated…

This report discusses the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, an untracking program that places previously low-achieving students in college preparatory classes. The first part of the paper describes the origins of AVID at Clairemont High School in San Diego (California) and its development into a mature program. The students…

This report assesses the Alternative Learning Methodologies through Academics (Project ALMA), which is designed to assist the academic progress of 531 Spanish-speaking students of limited English proficiency who attend John Bowne High School in Queens and John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx. Participating students received instruction in…

In 1987, the Board of Education of the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Public Schools set goals for reducing the achievement gap between black students and white students and improving the educational outcomes of all low achievers, regardless of race. This paper summarizes programs, most involving parents, community leaders, and the corporate sector in…

A review of studies of at-risk students is presented in this document. Two recurring themes that occur in the studies reviewed are structured involvement and high expectations of students. The following items are reviewed: "Sex, Race, and Grade Differences in the Locus of Control Orientations of At-Risk Elementary Students," by Beverly D. Payne…

Conference papers outlining strategies for implementing change through inservice education are presented. Three opening papers deal with the general theme of the conference: "Effective Inservice Education" (Gordon Lawrence); "A Panel Discussion on Staff Development" (Margaret L. Trent, Robert W. Evans, and Frederick R.…

Theoretical traditions concerning school environments and student achievement are described, and their insights are linked with analyses of school and classroom interactions to develop a simple conceptual model of environmental influences on student achievement. The literature regarding environmental influences is then reviewed, and the last…

In the fall of 1985, 10 academy programs were established by the State of California as replications of the Peninsula Academies already operating in a local school district for four years. An academy is a modified high school program with the following specific elements, among others: (1) students with academic potential who are at risk of…

A practicum was designed to improve the quality of peer interactions among seventh and eighth graders in a private elementary-secondary school. The goals of the practicum were to facilitate positive peer interactions among the middle school students, create a more positive atmosphere in the middle school, and develop positive attitudes toward…

This paper surveys some of the teaching methods, learning activities, and programs either proposed or already used by some Pennsylvania schools to improve their students' performance on the Educational Quality Assessment. The assessment, mandated by Pennsylvania statute, measures student achievement in ten goal areas, such as self-esteem, verbal…

The purpose of this report is to provide summary information regarding the evaluation of the Early Prevention of School Failure Project (EPSFP). Initially funded by the state of Illinois, the EPSFP encourages school districts to identify and remediate deficiencies in students which appear to be related to early school failure. Immediately…