The characteristics of professionals recruited into the Legal Services Program sponsored by the Office of Economic Opportunity are examined in this paper. It finds that, contrary to the literature on activist professionals, Legal Services was not dominated by lawyers with elite family and educational backgrounds or with prior commitments to…

Volume II of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics presents special studies from the matrix of data which allowed further policy relevant analysis. The ten special studies, each corresponding to a chapter in the volume, are as follows: Housing and Homeownership; Residential Mobility and Family Housing Adjustments; Modes of Travel to Work; The…

This report describes first-time students in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) in terms of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic background, academic characteristics, and goals. Additionally, the VCCS student characteristics are compared with American Council on Education norms for two- and four-year public college students…

A survey was conducted to examine the behavior of students as they decide where to go to college; in particular, the effects of financial considerations on their decision are examined. Admissions data from a group of select private colleges and universities are described along with trends in admissions at these schools. A random sample of parents…

Rising maternal employment, welfare reform, and increased preschool enrollment contribute to accelerating family demand for child care in California, and federal and state governments have responded by doubling support for child care and preschool programs between 1996 and 1999. However, there is little information available on how child care…

Noting that California is in the middle of a decade during which its adolescent population will increase by 36 percent to nearly 5 million by 2005, this report examines the well-being of California's adolescents. The report's introduction notes that although California youth are more likely to complete high school, less likely to be unemployed,…

The role of standardized tests in American education is being challenged as many feel that they are unfair and actually reinforce and legitimize existing inequalities. The Educational Testing Service, the SAT, meritocracy, test coaching, and economic bias are discussed. (MLW)

Reviews trends in Black economic progress and compares data for Black and White families. Describes how structural changes in families and income inequalities are symptoms of a growing Black underclass. Calls for policies to reduce joblessness among underclass men and increase child support by absentee fathers. (MW)

A study was done to investigate the impact of public school building conditions on student achievement. An analysis of District of Columbia public schools showed that the size of an individual school's Parent-Teacher Association budget is positively related to the school building's condition and to student academic achievement. (JB)

This study examined the changing social and economic impact of college attendance in Pennsylvania between 1980 and 1990. It is based on a sample of over 500,000 census interviews. The study found that, in general, individuals who attended and finished college will marry other individuals who went to college, and that both parents will work and…

This eight-part booklet discusses issues relevant to the lives of children in the United States today. Part 1 reports on poverty in America, suggests actions citizens can take to protect children and support families, lists risks facing America's children, and answers common objections to addressing children's issues. Part 2 lists the ranking of…

This report addresses the sources and remedies for child poverty in the United States through a review of the effects of trends, policies, and changes in social relationships; and an analysis of data concerning poverty and children. An introduction sketches the present condition of children in poverty and the policies and attitudes of the past 30…

A longitudinal study of racial/ethnic residential segregation in 27 central Texas cities used data from the 1970 and 1980 censuses to investigate effects of 3 socioeconomic indicators (education, income, occupation) and other variables (age of city, city growth rate, percent of Black and Spanish population) on changes in Black-White,…

The effects of school factors on occupational attainment of black students were studied based on data from the 1972 National Longitudinal Study (NLS) and its 1980 followup and the 1980 High School and Beyond (HSB) study and its 1982 followup. The sample sizes were as follows: 319 NLS females, 167 NLS males, 324 HSB females, and 259 HSB males.…

This document presents statistics on black income, employment, and poverty in 1987. The black poverty rate rose significantly in 1987, from 31.1 percent to 33.1 percent; the white poverty rate fell from 11 percent to 10.5 percent. The poverty rate for black children under age 18 reached 45.6 percent; for those under age six the poverty rate…