An approach to enrollment management used by Southern Vermont College involves calculating the revenue lost for each student place left empty because of lack of student aid. It evolved from administration's efforts to select and schedule courses efficiently and to provide adequate class sections for students' needs. (MSE)

A discussion of tracking, or student grouping by academic ability, looks at arguments for and against such tracking, outlines several alternatives, including cooperative learning, active teaching strategies, and extended learning time for low-achievers. It is concluded that tracking is ineffective, harmful to many, and undermines democratic…

This response to HE 531 676 proposes that critics of ability grouping for instruction are looking at grouping as a social, not educational, issue and that research supports the notion that grouping is good for all students, not just high-achievers. Gifted education is seen as a legitimate educational undertaking compatible with other goals. (MSE)

It is argued that lack of sustained academic effort, not student grouping, is the major reason for differences in student performance. Ability grouping is seen as a useful tool, especially in accelerated programs for bright children, that should not be rejected in favor of approaches that ignore individual differences. (MSE)

This response to HE 531 678 argues that, although there is evidence that accelerated programs designed for gifted children can be effective, most emphasize enrichment, not true acceleration. Enrichment is seen as appropriate for all students, not just the highest-achieving 3%. (MSE)

Middle schools are a critical element in preparing for postsecondary education. Students must be offered a challenging curriculum, moral support, and guidance that strengthens their commitment to education. Few reform efforts have consciously emphasized this role in precollege preparation. There is a need for detracking and increased emphasis on…

The legacy of gender inequity in education continues underneath an appearance of equal access. In elementary school, girls perform better than boys in most areas, but their test scores decline steadily through college. Females continue to be excluded in the classroom, in textbooks, and in extracurricular activities. Strategies for change are…

College and universities are struggling to address a decline in public trust. College athletics can be used to enhance public perceptions of higher education by having coaches and players promote education; highlighting multicultural athletes' successful teamwork; and encouraging athlete participation in community service projects. (MSE)

The process by which the new Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and achievement tests were developed is outlined, highlighting the evolution of new formats and emphases. It is proposed that the tests, which incorporate extensive changes, encourage genuine learning and respond to increasing cultural diversity in the population. (MSE)

The charge that there is thought control and intimidation in the college classroom must be examined more closely. There are times when politics overtakes "correctness" on the campus, but it is more often the students intimidating the teachers, through choice of courses, than the other way around. (MSE)

Mathematics educators have led the educational reform movement in recent years. New curricula and innovative teaching methods are emerging in elementary and secondary programs, as illustrated by the work of the College Board, University of Chicago, University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco, and the National Science Foundation. (MSE)

The Ventures in Education program, begun 10 years ago, includes honors-level curriculum, advanced placement courses, summer workshops, enrichment, a longer school day, and continued counseling and guidance. It has demonstrated that poor, disadvantaged high school students can learn to excel in demanding courses of study. (MSE)

Every young person should be obliged to engage in some program of systematic study until he/she can meet core learning standard for entry into adult society realizing that this will take different amounts of time for different individuals. Learning can take place in wide variety of settings and by many methods. Age-grade link also needs to be…

College and university admission officers need to be aware of the costs associated with current campaigns to recruit, educate, and retain a diverse student population. Misrepresentation of the campus community in promotional materials and failure to anticipate demands created by a diverse student body are among these costs. (DB)

The article reviews campus climate and trends for each decade from the 1940s to the present. Noted are such influences as the returning veterans (1940s), desegregation and Sputnik (1950s), the civil rights struggle (1960s), female rights (1970s), and financial pressures (1980s). (DB)