This study investigates the role of background characteristics and in-school and out-of-school experiences on public high school dropout rates using data on the 1980 sophomore class from the High School and Beyond Survey. Major findings include the following: (1) dropping out of high school is a complex phenomenon, influenced by an interaction of…

Trend data show that while the numbers and proportions of undereducated youth are falling, undereducation in the eighties, especially among minority youth, is considerable and persistent. This study uses a population-based definition of undereducation for which trend data are available for Whites and Blacks, beginning in 1967, and for Hispanics in…

The book is the outgrowth of two studies: a cross-sectional analysis comparing the experiences and tested achievement of high school seniors over the decade 1972 to 1982, and a longitudinal analysis relating cognitive growth (particularly in mathematical skills) of 1980 high school sophomores to their schooling experiences over the period 1980 to…

The effects of test content reflecting black or white culture, on the performance of college-bound students of both races was examined. Eighty-five culture-specific items were developed for use in the English Usage and Social Studies Reading subtests of the ACT (American College Testing) Assessment Program. Items were administered as four separate…

Rural Chicanas share values and problems with other rural women (conservative orientation toward sex roles and life styles, conflict between traditional demands of rural culture and pressure to enter the labor force), but with additional socio-linguistic barriers (limited English-speaking ability, few marketable job skills). Many Chicanas do not…

To evaluate the significance of matching Hispanic "consumers" to Hispanic "experts," a series of three studies investigated counselor preferences among lower division Hispanic and Anglo students, students' preference for counselors' directive, non-directive, or neutral communication styles, and patterns in students'…

THREE FACETS OF THE VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE STUDENT WERE STUDIED--(1) HIS EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS, (2) THE RELATIONSHIP OF HIS PLANS TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS, AND (3) THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIS PLANS AND THE PLANS OF OTHER STUDENTS. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF ALL MALE SENIOR STUDENTS IN 11 NEGRO AND 12 WHITE…

The primary objective of the largely exploratory study was an empirical examination of familial socialization practices and their influence on ambition (measured as education and occupational expectations) of black and white males and females. Existing generalizations about career expectations were extended by establishing comparisons on the basis…

This study examined sources and occupational consequences of utilizing alternative educational patterns in a nationally representative sample (Retrospective Life History Sample) of black and white men. The study explored patterns of educational activities used, the antecedents of the use of alternative normative patterns, and occupational effects…

The resource book contains essays and ethnic vignettes to help teachers and teacher educators understand the diverse lifestyles, backgrounds, and attitudes of students and families in American society. The book provides background information for elementary and junior high activity units contained in SO 010 213. Part one contains four chapters…

To identify the perceived counseling and guidance needs of students as expressed by students, teachers, and administrators, a project was conducted to develop and field-test a set of needs appraisal instruments which would objectively determine the counseling and guidance needs for elementary, junior high, and secondary schools in Louisiana and…

This study, based on cultural stereotypes, seeks to determine the demographic characteristics which differentiate among young people and correlate with their levels of alienation. A preliminary version of an experimental scale, designed to determine the existence and extent of alienation manifested by in-school adolescents, was developed in a…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) It's Education, Stupid: Greenspan Stresses the Importance of Education to Improving Job Prospects, Incomes, and…

This paper seeks to guarantee that all preK-college students are provided an equal opportunity for a world-class education, noting that ultimately, success must be measured by student achievement and recommending that all educational agencies partner with community agents to develop and implement strategies to remove racial disparities and improve…

Funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this report examines strategies for linking the health and child care systems in an effort to improve poor children's health. Studies show that poor, African American and Latino children have less access to health care and worse health outcomes than middle-class or non-Hispanic white…