This collection of articles, first presented at the Sixth Annual Work Conference on Urban Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, includes critiques on compensatory education programs, a report on a study of nonwhite child rearing practices and parental concern with education, a survey of preschool programs, a report of a study designed to increase classificatory skills of black preschool children, and an article about use of programmed instructional aids to foster language development. An elementary school curriculum project in social studies and science, focusing on new teaching strategies and materials, is described along with the "Skills Center" approach to teaching reading and other skill subjects. "Curriculum relevance" is scrutinized and currently published instructional materials are evaluated. Inner city social renewal as implemented through the community school concept along with efforts to upgrade educational opportunities at a segregated high school, and a city's tactics to improve racial imbalance are described. Finally, employment problems of minority group youth, use of paraprofessionals, a program to encourage college attendance, and public school responsibility for career preparation and manpower development are also discussed. (KG)