A Deming expert explains that his 14 principles are no recipe but must be combined with the theory of profound knowledge, which poses essential questions and recognizes the importance of human variation, intrinsic motivation, and external rewards. She also debunks grading, formal teacher evaluation, tracking, and decentralized management. (MLH)

The Carnegie report's opposition to tracking and advocacy of teacher empowerment are the only features distinguishing "Turning Points" from earlier efficiency-driven educational change proposals. This essay examines historical antecedents for policy recommendations concerning curriculum integration and school-based health services,…

Describes four eras in Mexican-American education: (1) schooling in the Southwest, 1848-1890; (2) expansion of Mexican-American education, 1890-1930; (3) changing nature of public education, 1930-1960; and (4) the contemporary period. Explores such themes as exclusion, segregated and inferior schooling, and nativism. (SK)

Analyzes methodologies used by those embroiled in the "mainstreaming debate" (whether a basic writing curriculum is the best way to help entering college students). Finds methodological confusion leading to monologues going in circles rather than constructive dialectic. Argues that researchers ought to consider the evidence and arguments of those…

Individual factors, such as socioeconomic background and streaming choices (at the secondary level), contribute significantly to educational inequalities. Families have unequal resources to manage their children's schooling careers in an increasingly complex, decentralized system. The class or school attended widens gaps in academic results and…

Longitudinal data from two cohorts of over 4,000 students, followed from grade 7 through grade 9, reveal that schools differed in track structure, criteria for student assignment, assignment flexibility, and the effects of tracking on student growth in achievement over time. Implications for the school choice debate are discussed. (SV)

To meet rigorous new graduation requirements, an upstate New York district rejected "packing" and pullout programs in favor of differentiation via individual learning-style instruction, Socratic seminars, performance-based assessment, tiered assignments, and academic intervention. Detracking forced staff to consider more inclusive…

The practice that has come to be known as "tracking" began as a response to the influx of immigrant children into America's schools during the early 20th century. To educate this newly diverse student population, school officials thought it necessary to sort children into different "tracks" based on their ability or past performance. With the new…

The most recent Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools found that 74% of Americans believe that the achievement gap between white students and African American and Hispanic students is primarily due to factors unrelated to the quality of schooling that children receive. This assumption is supported by…

This paper examines the extent that material, social, and cultural resources and schools account for the relationship between socioeconomic background and student achievement among 15-year-olds in 30 countries. Generally, cultural factors play a more important role in most countries although in a small minority of countries, material resources…

Research on stratification in schools shows that the differentiated structure of schools is associated with increasing inequality of educational outcomes. Some writers have therefore advocated "detracking"--the elimination of stratification within schools. Other writers have suggested that differentiation within schools is possible without the…

Most research on year-round education has focused on the effectiveness of year-round versus traditional-calendar schools. This paper presents findings of a study that examined student differences within a year-round elementary school by attendance cohorts (tracks). Specifically, the study sought to determine track differences in writing…

Concerns about student resegregation resulting from discriminatory student grouping practices are highlighted in this paper. Part 1 determines the characteristics of discriminatory ability grouping and tracking practices through a content analysis of 35 Office for Civil Rights (OCR) case file documents for the fiscal years 1983-89. Twenty-three…

Findings of a case study that examined teacher perceptions of the implementation of a destreaming program, the "Transition Years," in a secondary school in Ontario (Canada) are presented in this paper. Interviews were conducted with the principal, vice principal, and 11 teachers in the school, which was engaged in restructuring its…

A 2-year, in-depth study of curriculum tracking in three large metropolitan-area high schools found that most high school teachers and administrators hold vocational education in low regard. Such thinking is a barrier to educational reforms proposed to integrate and improve academic and vocational education. Radical changes may be difficult to…