Noting that the period of adolescence, and the expectations of society for adolescents, have grown and changed dramatically over the last century, this book compiles chapters from leading scholars in a variety of fields related to education to provide a broad overview of several of the most pressing concerns regarding the education of adolescent students. The volume presents a historical perspective of adolescence; a look at the organization, purpose and function of schools for early and late adolescents; exploration of specific features of school and school life that affect the learning and development of adolescents; and consideration of teen parenting, and dropping out of school, two specific adolescent issues with educational implications. Following a foreword by the editors, the chapters of the book are as follows: (1) "Is Adolescence Here To Stay?" (Barbara Finkelstein); (2) "A Goal Theory Perspective on the Current Status of Middle Level Schools" (Carol Midgley); (3) "The Social Structure of the American High School" (Sanford M. Dornbusch and Jeanne G. Kaufman); (4)"Social Relationships and School Adjustment" (Kathryn R. Wentzel and Ann A. Battle); (5) "Teaching Adolescents: Engaging Developing Selves" (Anita Woolfolk Hoy, Peter Demerath, and Stephen Pape); (6) "Motivation in the Second Decade of Life: The Role of Multiple Developmental Trajectories" (Akane Zusho and Paul R. Pintrich); (7) "The Effects and Implications of High-Stakes Achievement Tests for Adolescents" (Marguerite Clarke, Lisa Abrams, and George Madaus); (8) "Race and Gender Influences on Teen Parenting: An Identity-Focused Cultural Ecological Perspective" (Margaret Beale Spencer, Lauren J. Silver, Gregory Seaton, Sharon R. Tucker, Michael Cunningham, and Vinay Harpalani); and (9) "Dropping out of High School: Detours in the Life Course" (Philip Kaufman). (Each chapter contains references.) (HTH)