This study investigated how economically and sociologically underprivileged students readied themselves for college, highlighting factors affecting the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) students' chances to: secure college qualifications, graduate from high school, and apply to four-year institutions. Data from the 1998 National Educational…

For students to develop to their fullest, educators must understand that traditional notions of potential can have a negative effect. Educators must understand the nature of potential to anticipate and promote the emergence of qualities not yet evident, as well as to capitalize on potentials already manifest. (IS)

Procedures that have been used for assessing a discrepancy between ability and achievement of students suspected to have a learning disability are examined. Methodological deficiencies and/or unavailability of conclusive validity evidence are cited to support the conclusion that all of the procedures are worthless for screening purposes. (SEW)

The author reviews the past few years of experience gained in English schools of mixed-ability teaching in science and makes some personal interpretations of the lessons to be learned from that experience. It is hoped that some of these issues will be of relevance to other countries. (Author/SK)

Estimates of teacher effects on pupil achievement and attitudes in the seventh and eighth grades were obtained, controlling for entering achievement. Results indicated strong teacher effects on pupil attitudes in both mathematics and English. Teacher effects varied depending upon subject matter and class mean initial achievement level. (Author/RD)

A survey of 219 Ohio State University students before and after freshman year investigated the relationship between retention and changes in freshman perspectives on social and academic issues. Results indicate faculty contact may play a significant role in student attitudes but may not affect retention. Retention may be only indirectly related to…

Surveyed 249 faculty at two British universities regarding their perceptions of changes in teaching and research since the introduction of separate funding for teaching and research in 1986. Faculty at both the research-oriented and teaching-oriented university reported spending less time on research and more time on teaching and administrative…

Examines family encouragement and selected background variables influencing Mexican American female academic achievement at a large southwestern university. Results revealed that students with a positive view of their academic ability combined with a strong sense of personal responsibility for their academic future were likely to be academically…

The attributions of 575 tenth graders in senior high schools in Norway of their perceived general results in school and how attributions related to self-esteem were studied. Students who felt they had done well attributed their results more to ability than did those who felt they had done poorly. (SLD)

Impacts of the parents' divorce and the student's academic potential and drug use on non-completion of high school were examined using 3 methods of structural equation modeling with latent variables. Data were collected from 706 adolescents (in grades 10 through 12). Maximum likelihood, asymptotically distribution-free, and categorical variable…

Examines latent mean differences in the results of a number of self-concept measures of low and high track suburban Canadian high school students. Suggests that low track students may compensate for their negative academic experiences by emphasizing social popularity. (FMW)

Data from 31 middle school teachers were categorized through the use of qualitative research to determine what teachers perceive to be the advantages and disadvantages of ability grouping as well as alternative grouping practices. Found that most teachers were knowledgeable about ability grouping through experience or professional development;…

This article describes action-oriented teacher research in which teachers use information students reveal about the competent aspects of their lives as learners to direct their teaching efforts. The article notes methodological considerations of this approach and applications to the study of special education. (Author/DB)

Questions whether the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities are admitting large numbers of black students who are not capable of competing with their white classmates and if admission double standards are doing more harm than good. The article is followed by editorial comments addressing the author's position on mismatching. (GR)

Responds to Maureen Hallinan's review of research and recommendations regarding grouping students for instructional purposes. Contends that ability grouping is much more than an administrative practice. Concludes that the school's normative, social, and political climate should be the object of reform. (CFR)