The goal of this book is to examine the relationship between parental family structure, especially parental divorce and/or remarriage, and the academic achievement of children. Much has been written about the need to raise the academic achievement of students from minority backgrounds. However, minority is often defined in terms of skin color and other external characteristics. Another minority group whose status may not be so easily discerned is children from nonintact families. Although these children are not readily identified, they nevertheless face their own set of unique circumstances of which educators, researchers, and parents should become more aware. In addition to examining the relationship between parental family structures and academic achievement, this book also examines some of the most debated theories within the family sciences, including: single-parent families, nontraditional family structures, residential mobility, and socioeconomic status. (Contains an index and 237 references.) (GCP)