In the fall of 1993, Quebec's Heritage College implemented a reception and integration (i.e., "d'accueil") session to help first term incoming students identified as "at-risk" and "undecided" succeed in their collegiate studies. This report describes the development and implementation of the project, focusing on…

This study examined the sense of community felt by students and teachers at 24 elementary schools in 6 school districts in different regions of the United States. The study is based on the assumption that students who feel part of a caring community will adopt the community's norms and values. On a 38-item questionnaire, students indicated the…

This report describes how a longitudinal study was conducted, which examined 1,235 at-risk sixth-grade students (95 percent Black and 5 percent Hispanic) in the Chicago (Illinois) Public Schools and their schools and families. The longitudinal study traced the children's patterns of school adjustment since their enrollment in government-funded…

This longitudinal study examined the experiences of out-of-home preschool child care to performance and adjustment in elementary school. Subjects were 145 children in Goteborg, Sweden, who were on average 16 months of age when they were enrolled in this study. Within 4 weeks of enrollment in the study, 54 children began center-based day care, 36…

The United States is now experiencing a new wave of immigrants, which is expected to increase as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Schools, particularly those in five states, are facing great challenges in their efforts to meet the educational needs of immigrant students, most of whom speak different languages and are poor. When…

This paper on postsecondary education addresses students whose hearing impairments fall in the range from profound deafness to a slight loss of hearing. The paper begins with a discussion of definitions and communication methods. Options in academic postsecondary settings are outlined, including mainstream colleges or universities, specially…

The report summarizes current knowledge about immigrant students in California public schools. First, the most recent available evidence concerning the size, ethnic composition, and other characteristics of fluent-English-proficient and limited-English-proficient language minority students enrolled statewide is reviewed. Data from the Los Angeles…

This booklet, written for parents of children entering Virginia's public elementary schools, is designed to help parents help their children during this crucial stage of education. Chapter 1, "Starting Elementary School," discusses requirements for children in kindergarten, readiness for kindergarten, preparing children to enter…

A study was made of children beginning school, to learn more about their response to school and how to help them adapt to it. Participants in the study's year-long first phase were 36 teachers from two very different local education authorities (LEA) and 92 children who started school in 1985-86. Teachers identified activities and organization in…

The educational and social requirements of gifted females in rural areas are not only different from those of gifted females in urban settings but are significantly different from the educational and social requirements of their male peers. On the one hand, girls are encouraged to pursue academic and/or professional opportunities usually available…

Designed for use by persons who plan and lead orientation and cross-cultural training sessions for AFS students, natural and host families, and volunteers, this handbook implements and supports recommendations from an AFS workshop and ideas originating in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United…

This study investigated 394 participants in the 1987 Arkansas Governor's School (AGS) and a comparison group of 60 AGS alternates on selected measures of cognitive development and personal/social acceptance. The AGS is a 6-week intensive residential program for talented high school students who had finished their junior year. Information was…

The purpose of this report is to compare the freshman experience of commuter and residents students at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) who were studied as part of the Maryland Longitudinal Study. Residents, dependent commuters, and independent commuters in the Representative Sample (434 students representing all ethnic groups at…

This report discusses the results of a survey of the characteristics and the social and academic experiences of black undergraduates at eight predominantly white and regionally diverse State college campuses. The majority of the students sampled were freshmen. Major findings are that: (1) black undergraduates did not report markedly unpleasant or…

This guide for college students discusses the psychological adjustments of late adolescence and skills and techniques for coping and developing interpersonal skills. The book is comprised of the following topics: caring relationships, sex ("Let's Talk about Sex" by Jacqueline Kansky), listening, self-awareness, self-esteem, criticism, confidence,…