Reports a study that examined drug use among 579 high school students of whom 102 were black. Self-report surveys indicated, among other findings, that white students were more likely than black students to have had exposure to drugs. Black males reported the highest self-esteem and white females the lowest. (SM)

This article presents an interview with Professor Ralph W. Tyler (a pioneer in the field of education and assessment) that lends some historical perspective to the current alternative assessment movement. After highlighting Tyler's contributions, the article provides six caveats on assessment, then reflects on Tyler's work. (SM)

This study assessed the extent to which teacher practical knowledge was student centered and practiced schoolwide in three high schools nationally recognized as pioneers in school restructuring. Teacher and student interviews indicated that the pedagogy practiced within the schools differed little from that of typical suburban and urban high…

This study examined the relationship of writing achievement and attitude toward writing and the relationship of grade level and gender to attitude toward writing among elementary students. Analysis of students' writing competence and attitudes toward writing indicated that grade level, gender, and attitude were good predictors of writing…

This study examined whether graphic organizer instruction would facilitate comprehension, recall, and information transfer, and how much explicit instruction was necessary for independent generation of graphic organizers. Fifth graders read social studies information with or without graphic organizers and explicit instruction. Explicitness and…

This study examined the impact of explanation seeking on the achievement and attitudes of students in grades 7-10 learning to solve correlational reasoning problems in a cooperative learning setting. Results provided little support for explanation seeking as an achievement strategy due to students' inability to recognize when they needed help and…

This study examined gender-related issues in four Canadian and Asian education systems based on algebra and geometry achievement data. Results suggested that each system affected the academic achievement of males and females in similar ways, although one gender might be affected more seriously than the other. (SM)

High school students enrolled in a French course learned vocabulary words under conditions of either massed or distributed practice. Though performance of the two groups was virtually identical immediately after completion of the study, the students who had learned the vocabulary by distributed practice did substantially better on a second test…

An explicit strategy method developed from a composite of basal arithmetic texts was used for mathematics problem-solving instruction for a group of fourth graders. Posttest results were positive. Implications for teaching mathematics problem solving to low performing students are discussed. (Author/DF)

This study investigated whether instruction aimed to heighten awareness of narrative structure would enhance fifth-grade children's use of story elements during comprehension and composition. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

The purpose of this study was to determine if the DISTAR Reading I Program was more effective than a basal reading program in increasing school-based language ability for 80 first-grade Black students. (Author/IAH)

Results from a study of students from two high schools indicate that by using data from students' permanent records, dropouts could be differentiated with 66 percent accuracy in third grade and with 85 percent accuracy by ninth grade. School-attending nongraduates could be identified with 77 percent accuracy by ninth grade. (IAH)

Results from an experimental study suggest that (a) participation in classroom management workshops enhanced teachers' (N=29) organizational and management skills; (b) district personnel could be trained to deliver the workshops and conduct classroom observation; and (c) training procedures that were successful with secondary classrooms were also…

Third grade students involved in group-assisted reading made greater achievement gains in comprehension and vocabulary than did those who were given no assistance. Group-assisted reading is easy to implement and may be used to help remedial readers perform better. (JD)

This study examined the effects on, and contribution of, input and process factors on student achievement in Louisiana public schools. Socioeconomic and minority status strongly predicted school achievement. Discrepancy between white and African-American students' achievement increased with grade level. Student attendance substantially affected…