This document describes the numbers of Minnesota students who are actively selecting their schools, and the number of Minnesota school districts offering options from which families may select. The first section explains the different kinds of school choice offered to Minnesota students. The second section illustrates the change in Minnesotans'…

Persistence and graduation rates of University of California, Davis, special action students admitted in any fall quarter from 1975 to 1985 were studied. Special action students show academic potential but do not meet admission requirements of completed course work and academic achievement. The number of special action students during this 10-year…

This paper examines the conflict going on within the community of English instructors concerning the value of instruction in traditional grammer and the past and present effect of certain historical processes and of the forces which shaped those processes on the techniques and methodologies of English instruction. The paper discusses the open and…

This Third Edition of the 1985 report, "Dialogue for Change," discusses options and examples of educational choice and teacher empowerment and summarizes developments between 1985 and 1987. The following key options are discussed in Chapter 1, "Proposed Options for Change": (1) magnet schools; (2) open enrollment; (3) purchase…

Methods of assessing the reading needs of college students can be examined in relation to two broad categories of college reading programs: (1) the self-contained course or sequence of courses in reading and study skills, and (2) courses or programs in which instruction in reading and study skills is interwoven with supplementary instruction in a…

Reasons for slipping academic standards in U.S. community colleges and a specific program combating this problem are discussed. Two reasons are offered for this slippage; the first has to do with the ambiguous state of the community college faculty. These teachers are said to have difficulty defining their roles because they feel a powerlessness…

Minimum competency testing, in which passing a uniform test is necessary (but not sufficient) for promotion or graduation, has been carried out in a number of colleges, including the City University of New York (CUNY). Competency programs usually have three basic components: placement testing, remedial instruction, and exit testing. Competency…

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE EDUCATION WHICH ENABLES CHILDREN TO ADJUST NORMALLY TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. THIS CANNOT BE DONE IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS RACIALLY IMBALANCED. THE MINNEAPOLIS HUMAN RELATIONS TASK FORCE FEELS THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MUST NOT WAIT FOR A SOUND COMMUNITY BUT MUST TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO…

Following a description of the facilities, programs, and students of El Centro College (Texas), this paper reviews the conflicts arising between the mandates of external certifying boards, the expectations of hospital administrators and other medical personnel, and the realities of community college philosophy, planning, staffing and budgeting for…

The size of the educational enterprise clearly demonstrates that education is big business. In 1976, education involved 29% of the national population, cost approximately $131 billion, and accounted for 8% of the gross national product. Close attention should be given to the way in which those responsible for delivery of educational services…

The three research papers in this document concern open admissions and student success in the classrooms of Bronx Community College. Together, these projects capture much of what is involved in a comprehensive open admissions program. The first research report explores the technical characteristics, and therefore, the feasibility for use with…

A major reason for the public's concern about curriculum and instruction at all levels of education has evolved because of the serious decline in student academic achievement. After two decades of innovation in teaching styles there are increasing complaints about academic grade inflation, functional illiteracy, and student inability to read,…

This document reports the third annual conference of the City University of New York on Open Admissions. Following introductory remarks, proceedings of the English, mathematics, science, and reading workshops are presented with emphasis on models and innovative approaches. (MJM)

Students who go to a junior community college because their grade-point deficiencies in secondary schools block entrance to regular 4-year institutions present motivational challenges to educators. Two of the major problems in motivating a college student when his efforts in the educational system have already been largely futile include lack of…

This report includes evaluations of four New York City school district educational projects funded under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The Intensive Reading Program offered concentrated, individual reading instruction to needy open enrollment children as well as some indistrict pupils. The program's objectives…