This guide is designed to help local elected officials become better intergovernmental advocates for their city's children and families. The book is based on the experiences of selected policy researchers, collected via a questionnaire sent to some 50 local officials. It advocates developing and using intergovernmental collaboration and…

This paper consists of 13 chapters that describe a study of the effects of training in conflict resolution and cooperative learning in an alternative high school in New York City. Three of the school's four campuses participated, with Campus A receiving conflict resolution training, Campus C receiving cooperative and Campus B receiving training in…

This paper presents an argument that cooperative learning's effect on academic achievement is mediated by students' academic self-concept and academic goals as well as briefly reporting findings from an empirical investigation of the theories presented. The paper argues that the psychological processes produced by cooperative learning groups cause…

The dropout problem in the nation, in the Council of the Great City Schools (GCS) school districts, and in the central cities is reviewed. Annual, single-year, four-year, and status dropout rates are examined. During the decade from 1982 to 1992, the gap in dropout rate between Whites and other ethnic groups has narrowed. The majority of the GCS…

This paper describes a methodology for the evaluation of dropout prevention programs, for calculating dropout rates, and for comparing alternative programs equitably. A first step involves developing a hierarchy of criteria for evaluating programs. These criteria are used to obtain dropout risk probability for individuals and groups and types of…

There is an increasing body of literature about runaway and homeless youth, but few studies have investigated what happens to the youth after they use Runaway and Homeless Youth Centers (RHYCs). This study examines the services available and the impact these services have on the youth. Data are analyzed from a survey mailed to all RHYCs operated…

This manual is written for adults working in the schools to organize student governments. It is based on the experience of the Youth Action Program (YAP) of East Harlem (New York City) in organizing and developing student leadership. The manual is divided into 10 sections. "Student Government: Leadership and Purposes" explores the…

This manual is written for adults who work with teenagers and young adults. It is based on the experience of building the Youth Action Program (YAP) of the East Harlem (New York City) Block Schools. The manual begins with background information on the accomplishments and plans of YAP on its 10th anniversary, followed by a section on YAP's basic…

This report describes an inquiry into the work attitudes and career decision making skills of 754 sophomores in seven rural and one urban high school in Maine. The study is the first part of a planned 7-year longitudinal study that will interview these students again when they are seniors and then again 5 years later. The eight papers in the…

This document, presented in chart essay form, reports findings of a study of the individual, family, school, and community characteristics of Hispanic ninth grade students enrolled in predominantly minority high schools in major American cities in 1986-87. The findings represent an essential firt step in ascertaining why Hispanic students stay in…

Collaborations between high schools and colleges have emerged during the 1980s as a means to increase enrollments and academic success of low-income minorities in higher education although their benefits have yet to be clearly demonstrated. This review surveys the literature on the effectiveness of these collaboratives. The report is comprised of…

U.S. agriculture has built its reputation on the best agricultural education system in the world. However, its greatness only provides a solid foundation on which to build an even better future. Some things that must be done to meet the challenge of the future are the following: (1) change the stereotypes of what farming is; vocational agriculture…

The 10-day 1981 National Leadership Conference (NLC) sponsored by the American Youth Foundation was held at Camp Miniwanca (Michigan) for 182 urban high school students selected for leadership ability or potential and other specific criteria established by each student's home city. Students participated in seminars, skills explorations,…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study (NLS) of the high school class of 1972 (statistics on a national sample of young adults as they moved out of high school into early adulthood) were used to test rural young adults' sex role orientation and the rural-urban differential in sex role orientation. NLS data were collected for the base year…

Rural youth are a diverse group not only geographically, but socioeconomically, ethnically, and culturally as well. Historically, the rural student has not achieved as well as his urban counterpart in high school or in post secondary education. There is evidence that this is beginning to change and that rural students are doing as well or better…