This document contains the proceedings of a conference on improving the academic skills of urban students. Titles and authors of the twelve included papers are: (1) "Academic Skills and the SAT," George H. Hanford; (2) "New York City Promotional Gates Program: Implications for Instruction of Academic Skills," Charlotte Frank; (3) "Recognizing School Improvement in Academic Skills," Max Weiner; (4) "Achievements and Pitfalls in Funding Pre-Collegiate Public Education Activities," Fred A. Nelson; (5) "Strenthening Schools as Institutions," Theodore E. Lobman; (6) "The Partnership for Education in New York City," Frank J. Macchiarola; (7) "Public-Private Partnership to Improve the Schools: The Boston Model," Robert Spillane and Robert B. Swartz; (8) "New York State Board of Regents Action Plan to Improve Elementary and Secondary Education Results in New York State," Louise Matteoni; (9) "Thinking Skills and the Regents Action Plan," Paul Regnier; (10) Improving the Academic Performance of Urban Students through the Integration of Thinking Skills," Glen W. Cutlip; (11) "Categorical Programs for Disadvantaged Youth," James Smith; and (12) "A National View of High School Graduation Requirements," Chris Pipho. (KH)