Deficit models of low-income parents' involvement in schools are giving way to concepts of empowerment. An after-school computer education program in an inner-city youth club kindled parent interest and participation by focusing on children's educational success and valuing parents both as parents and as adult learners. (22 references) (SK)

Community education seeks equal partnership between community and learning. By respecting differences, empowering adult learners, and fostering self-actualization, community education effectively meets the learning needs of culturally diverse populations. (SK)

Examples of popular education in the United States include the Bay Area literacy project in California, a movement for ethnic and minority education and organization; the Tenant Management Program in Chicago; and a master's degree program for community leaders in Chicago's Hispanic community at the Universidad Popular. (SK)

Effective programs for culturally diverse groups preserve cultural distinctiveness, accommodate preferred learning strategies and environments, use existing social networks, empower learners, emphasize lifelong learning, support family involvement, reach the most disenfranchised people, obtain creative financing, and develop the cultural…

This article discusses theory and practice issues relating to learning disabilities. A chronology of theoretical models in the field, including medical, psychological process, behavioral, and cognitive/strategy models, is offered. Seven steps useful in implementing learning strategies are described. (Author/PB)

This article focuses on current theories and practices in educating students with behavioral disorders, including the intrapsychic, psychoeducational, and structured/behavioral models. The history of the field is reviewed and a practical way of viewing behavior from a theoretical perspective is offered, with examples connecting theory and…

This article emphasizes the need to develop special education policy and practice appropriate for rural students. The article examines recommended practices for improving delivery of services to rural schools, services readily available to rural families and communities, and the role of the rural special educator. (Author/PB)

Two experiments examined visual cues as a means for four severely mentally retarded secondary-age students to order in fast-food restaurants. The experiments involved training in school-based simulated environments or in community restaurants. Use of the visual cues was quite effective and easily generalized. Previous experiments with similar…

This article examines the appropriateness of current publications with respect to teaching handicapped adolescents about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Twelve publications were analyzed using the Fleusch Readability Formula, and none were found appropriate for handicapped adolescents. A new brochure was designed from these findings,…

The General Concerns Inventory: Least Restrictive Environment was administered to superintendents, special education coordinators, and principals from 60 Alabama school districts. Of 4 factors (social/personal concerns, staff and curriculum concerns, fiscal concerns, and legal concerns), only social/personal concerns discriminated among the 3…

This article describes cross-cultural counseling for students with disabilities and their families. Suggestions are given for developing less biased attitudes toward children from cultural groups outside the mainstream. (Author/PB)

Investigated was the use of cognitive conflict to probe the misconceptions held by preservice elementary teachers that in a division problem the quotient must be less than the dividend. Explains how preservice teachers' reliance on information about the domain of whole numbers and their instrumental understanding support their misconceptions.…

Assessed were second grade students to determine whether their beliefs about causes of success in mathematics were related to their personal goals in mathematics. One class that experienced mathematics instruction consistent with a constructivist view rated higher than traditional classes on Task Orientation, attempting to gain understanding.…

Investigated whether children who reflected the structure of word problems with their concrete models were successful in learning to symbolically represent problems with structure-based open number sentences. Forty-five first graders were taught to write canonical and noncanonical open number sentences. (Author/YP)

Analyzed were 19 preservice teachers' understanding of division in 3 contexts. The teachers' knowledge was generally fragmented, and each case of division was held as a separate bit of knowledge. (Author/YP)