This study examined the risk for alcoholism, diabetes, and depression (triADD) in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the U.S. Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a series of descriptive statistics and regression models were used to examine the interrelationships among these disorders in AI/AN populations. Despite a small sample size, results indicate that AI/ANs are at elevated risk for the individual and combined presence of triADD (OR = 12.5) when compared...
Topics: ERIC Archive, At Risk Persons, Alcoholism, Diabetes, Depression (Psychology), Alcohol Abuse, Alaska...
Teaching multicultural education has been a consistent theme in teacher education programs across the United States (Miller, Strosnider, & Dooley, 2000), yet most institutions of higher education have struggled to incorporate standards for implementing this coursework into their certification and/or endorsement programs. Evans, Torrey, and Newton (1997) found that 82% of states require some level of multicultural or diversity training for teacher preparation programs. However, only 37% of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Educational Change, Teacher Education Programs, Teacher...
Due to changing demographics in the K-12 student population contrasted with the homogeneous population of prospective teachers, the uncertainty about teacher preparedness to meet the needs of diverse student populations remains a controversial educational issue. Teacher educators have continued to question whether preservice teachers presently in schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) have the requisite skills and the necessary sensitivity toward racial and cultural diversity...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Cultural Pluralism, Elementary Secondary Education, Teacher Educators, Preservice...
Self-regulated learners engage in self-generated thoughts, actions, and feelings while pursuing academic goals. The most successful learners use appropriate learning strategies and maintain high levels of motivation. Few studies on the self-regulation of learning have examined individual differences such as gender and ethnicity among college students. The study examined gender and ethnic differences in the relationships between academic performance, self-regulation, motivation, and delay of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, College Students, Delay of Gratification, Self Efficacy, Academic Achievement,...
In this article, we report on a study examining those factors which contribute to the mathematics performance of a sample of children aged between 8 and 13 years. The study was designed specifically to consider the potency of a number of mathematical affective factors, as well as background characteristics (viz., gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status), on children's mathematics performance. Data were collected by surveying the children and drawing on performance ratings from their...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Mathematics Achievement, Preadolescents, Early Adolescents, Children, Gender...
In this article, I present a framework that can be used in our work with special groups of gifted students--one that recognizes the effects of socioeconomic status (SES), racism, and other limiting factors on educational achievement and provides a blueprint for interventions. This framework stems from Urie Bronfrenbrenner's ecological theory of development and emphasizes the role of social support systems in the development of talent. I then argue that two important reasons to retain a strong...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academically Gifted, Cultural Influences, Minority Groups, Program Development,...
The achievement gap, traditionally measured by test scores, also can be documented by dropout behavior. Examining dropout behavior among Black, White, and Hispanic students, with a particular focus on gaps within groups and not just between Whites and minorities, shows a clearer picture of the achievement gap. The results of our study show multiple achievement gaps both between and within groups, ultimately concluding that within-group gaps were often more significant than gaps between groups....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Dropout Rate, Dropout Prevention, Low Achievement, Parent Participation, Academic...
The issue of the disproportionate identification and placement of racial/ethnic minorities in special education has been investigated extensively. One of the most useful tools in this research is the risk ratio, which compares one racial/ethnic group's risk of receiving special education and related services to that of all other students. The risk ratio can be used to calculate disproportionality at both the state and school-district-levels. However, analysts often encounter difficulties in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Disproportionate Representation, Related Services (Special Education), Special...
Adequate yearly progress (AYP) on No Child Left Behind criteria was examined for a randomly selected sample of districts that qualify for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP). The sample involved 10% of districts that were eligible for the Small Rural Schools Achievement (SRSA) program and 10% that were eligible for the Rural and Low-income Schools (RLIS) program. Based on district reports, nearly 80% of SRSA schools made AYP, 11% failed, and 11% did not have adequate data. For...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, Federal Legislation, Educational Improvement, Rural Education,...
Since 1996, our research team has conducted 15 focus groups with 169 middle-school youth in small communities as formative research for campaigns against alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and violence. Some key findings of a synthesis of focus-group results are that girls and boys perceive different risks to alcohol and tobacco use; peer relationships are important, but there is great potential for parents to increase influence; females and Hispanic youth are most concerned about serving as good role...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Role Models, Smoking, Narcotics, Focus Groups, Adolescents, Rural Areas, Drinking,...
In this article, the author begins with an examination of economic racial inequalities by updating Bowen, Lago, and Furry's (1997) presentation and putting it within historical and modern contexts. The author then addresses literature documenting the historical context from which these circumstances derive to explain differences in financial practices by people of different race. Finally, he mentions implications of the aforementioned analysis and suggests direction for future research and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Racial Differences, Learning Theories, Economically Disadvantaged, Racial Factors,...
A four year panel study at an ethnically diverse commuter university examines the relationships among assessments of professor performance, GPA, academic program satisfaction, and perceptions of equal treatment of students of varying ethno-racial origins. Repeated analyses of variance indicate that although the first three of these variables do not clearly divide on the basis of ethno-racial origin, non-European origin students are more likely than those of European origin to perceive that not...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Student Diversity, Grade Point Average, Personality Traits, Satisfaction, College...
This research project employs a historical methodology to analyze and characterize the growth of the knowledge base in gifted education following the U.S. Department of Education's (1993) report, "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." Topical priorities and descriptors of inquiry are compared against the recommendations of the National Excellence report. During the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003, a disconnect is evidenced between recommendations and actual...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Research, Academically Gifted, Research Needs, Gender Differences,...
This study explored the perspectives of a group of teacher educators of color in an effort to capture their perceptions of teaching and teacher education. The purpose of the study was to find out what teacher educators of color bring to their work and to the teaching profession--what are their experiences, goals, intentions, passions, challenges and hopes--and how they see themselves in relation to their White peers. The data indicate that one strong theme that exemplified the responses of all...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Student Teaching, Preservice Teacher Education, Teaching (Occupation), Multicultural...
Eric Hanushek and Steven Rivkin examine how salary and working conditions affect the quality of instruction in the classroom. The wages of teachers relative to those of other college graduates have fallen steadily since 1940. Today, average wages differ little, however, between urban and suburban districts. In some metropolitan areas urban districts pay more, while in others, suburban districts pay more. But working conditions in urban and suburban districts differ substantially, with urban...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Qualifications, Teaching Conditions, Teacher Salaries, Student Problems,...
The authors describe various parenting behaviors, such as nurturance, discipline, teaching, and language use, and explain how researchers measure them. They note racial and ethnic variations in several behaviors. Most striking are differences in language use. Black and Hispanic mothers talk less with their young children than do white mothers and are less likely to read to them daily. They also note some differences in harshness. When researchers measuring school readiness gaps control for...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Behavior Problems, School Readiness, Discipline, Mothers, Child Rearing, Parent Child...
In the United States black women have for decades been twice as likely as white women to give birth to babies of low birth weight who are at elevated risk for developmental disabilities. Does the black-white disparity in low birth weight contribute to the racial disparity in readiness? The author summarizes the cognitive and behavioral problems that beset many low birth weight children and notes that not only are the problems greatest for the smallest babies, but black babies are two to three...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Prenatal Care, Medical Services, Body Weight, School Readiness, Early Intervention,...
This article allows readers to look at racial and ethnic disparities in school readiness from a neuroscience perspective. Although researchers have traditionally measured gaps in school readiness using broad achievement tests, they can now assess readiness in terms of more specific brain-based cognitive functions. Three neurocognitive systems--cognitive control, learning and memory, and reading--are essential for success in school. Thanks to recent advances in brain imaging, it is now possible...
Topics: ERIC Archive, School Readiness, Academic Achievement, Achievement Tests, Neurology, Memory, Brain,...
The author documents pervasive racial disparities in the health of American children and analyzes how and how much those disparities contribute to racial gaps in school readiness. She explores a broad sample of health problems common to U.S. children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, and lead poisoning, as well as maternal health problems and health-related behaviors that affect children's behavioral and cognitive readiness for school. If a health problem is to affect...
Topics: ERIC Archive, African American Children, Behavior Problems, School Readiness, Early Childhood...
The author considers whether differences in genetic endowment may account for racial and ethnic differences in school readiness. While acknowledging an important role for genes in explaining differences "within" races, he nevertheless argues that environment explains most of the gap "between" blacks and whites, leaving little role for genetics. Based on a wide range of direct and indirect evidence, particularly work by Klaus Eyferth and James Flynn, the author concludes that...
Topics: ERIC Archive, School Readiness, War, Disadvantaged Youth, Academic Achievement, Parenting Styles,...
This article considers whether the disparate socioeconomic circumstances of families in which white, black, and Hispanic children grow up account for the racial and ethnic gaps in school readiness among American preschoolers. It first reviews why family socioeconomic resources might matter for children's school readiness. The authors concentrate on four key components of parent socioeconomic status that are particularly relevant for children's well-being--income, education, family structure,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Neighborhoods, School Readiness, Socioeconomic Status, Family Income, Family...
The authors introduce readers to the research documenting racial and ethnic gaps in school readiness. They describe the key tests, including the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS), and several intelligence tests, and describe how they have been administered to several important national samples of children. Next, the authors review the different estimates of the gaps and discuss how to interpret these differences. In interpreting test results,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, School Readiness, Intelligence Tests, Test Results, Test Theory, Family Income,...
Whether adolescents from immigrant and ethnic minority families will make a successful transition to adulthood hinges on their educational achievement, their acquisition of employable skills and abilities, and their physical and mental health. This article focuses on the extent to which diverse adolescents are prepared for adulthood according to these three critical developmental outcomes. It finds that, in general, adolescents from Latino and African American backgrounds appear to be less...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Physical Health, Health Insurance, Adolescents, Immigrants, Financial Support,...
During middle childhood, children begin to navigate their own ways through societal structures, forming ideas about their individual talents and aspirations for the future. The ability to forge a positive pathway can have major implications for their success as adults. The pathways to success, however, may differ for children of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds. This article provides a conceptual model of child development that incorporates the contextual, racial, and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Racial Segregation, Social Stratification, Cultural Influences, Immigrants, Child...
Several major demographic shifts over the past half-century have transformed who we are and how we live in this country in many ways. Most striking, however, is the fact that children today are much more likely to be members of ethnic or racial minority groups. Racial/ethnic minorities are destined, in aggregate, to become the numerical majority within the next few decades. This article presents a wide range of statistics reflecting cultural, family, social, economic, and housing circumstances...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Racial Differences, Socioeconomic Influences, Ethnicity, Poverty, Educational...
Since the 1970s, finding alternative permanent families for children in foster care who could not return to their birth parents has been a primary goal of the child welfare system. Since that time, significant gains have been made in helping such children find permanent homes through adoption and guardianship. This article analyzes these trends and finds: (1) A majority of states have doubled the number of adoptions from foster care over the 1995-97 baselines established by the federal...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Placement, Child Welfare, Federal Government, Adoption, Welfare Services, Foster...
Reunifying children placed in foster care with their birth parents is a primary goal of the child welfare system. Yet, relatively little is known about the reunification process. This article analyzes new data on trends in family reunification and discovers: (1) Although most children still exit foster care through family reunification, exit patterns have changed over the last 8 years. Currently, reunification takes longer to happen, whereas adoptions happen earlier; (2) A child's age and race...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Racial Factors, Child Welfare, Foster Care, Well Being, Family Relationship, Parent...
Even though federal laws have had a major influence on foster care and child welfare policy for more than 40 years, additional reforms are needed to ensure safe and stable families for children in care. This article describes the complex array of policies that shape federal foster care and observes: A number of federal policies addressing issues such as housing, health care, welfare, social security benefits, taxes, and foster care reimbursement to the states, form the federal foster care...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Safety, Courts, Child Welfare, Foster Care, Public Policy, Family Environment,...
A group (n = 170) of inner-city, predominantly African American, health clinic patients were asked to identify the characteristics they desired in a new clinic health educator. A plurality (44%) of the patients perceived a bachelor's degree would be a sufficient level of education. The vast majority of patients claimed the sex of the health educator (84%) and the race of the educator (82%) did not matter. Additionally, a majority of patients perceived that the age of the educator (53%) and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Role Models, Patients, Clinics, Urban Areas, Health Education, Teacher...
Although studies regarding health issues and the obesity epidemic have increased in recent years, few of these studies target college-aged students. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in race/ethnicity with respect to prevalence of overweight/obesity (defined by body mass index or BMI) among college students attending an urban university. In addition, the demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risks between the overweight and obese group (n = 138) were...
Topics: ERIC Archive, College Students, Ethnicity, Obesity, Body Composition, Urban Universities,...
Background: Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that has been on the rise in the United States. Some genetic component is apparent. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify demographic, clinical, attitudinal, and health belief factors associated with intention to obtain genetic testing for hereditary melanoma among unaffected first-degree relatives of melanoma patients at low to moderate risk for hereditary melanoma. Methods: Using contact information provided by index cases diagnosed...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Age Differences, Demography, Attitude Measures, Health Education, Testing, Cancer,...
Background: Inconsistent findings exist regarding correlates of physical activity (PA) in the literature. Leisure-time physical activity among U.S. adults has declined for the last decade. Purpose: This article examines differences in vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity physical activity by gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, and income among a representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods: A total of 1,000 adults participated in a random-digit telephone survey in 2005 (62% response...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Ethnicity, Body Weight, Body Composition, Marital Status, Health Education, Physical...
Background: The substantial increase in youth obesity during the last two decades may have serious biological as well as behavioral/mental health consequences. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess how ecological factors and hence overall well-being were related to body mass index (BMI) in youths. Methods: Three BMI categories (normal; at risk for overweight; overweight) were calculated for 847 adolescents. Behavioral/mental associations were assessed for each category as well as...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Body Composition, Adolescents, Well Being, Depression (Psychology), Suicide, Holistic...
In this article, the author explores the many other faces of rap that do not get the media exposure that they rightfully deserve. As this article attempts to reveal, rap music, as a form of cultural pedagogy and critical literacy, is only one way to achieve the goals of a "critical education." Rap lyrics can also be used as a tool to help the dominant class understand its position compared to others who are different. Many rap songs make this difference painfully clear and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Racial Differences, Mass Media Effects, Poetry, African Americans, Cultural...
This article addresses the democratic rhetoric taught in a Costa Rican High School and the ways in which that rhetoric clashed with school practices that revealed hierarchies based on race, ethnicity, class, and religion. This contradiction was rendered visible through student elections, the Independence Day celebration, and civic acts. Through these acts, it became apparent that white, wealthy, Catholic students were upheld as most closely matching the image of ideal citizenship projected by...
Topics: ERIC Archive, High Schools, Social Influences, Social Class, Religious Factors, Civics, Racial...
To engage in the goal of equity requires a certain amount of rage in one's belly. Understanding the context in which we are presently situated regarding our successes and challenges to achieve equity and social justice can serve to inform our future actions as educational leaders.
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academic Achievement, Educational Change, Social Justice, Equal Education,...
Both socioeconomic and school factors contribute to the underachievement of poor children and children of color. This article explores factors that contribute to the underachievement of students of color and offers practices that culturally proficient school leaders can use to build a school culture that may positively impact the academic achievement of students of color. (Contains 2 tables.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Socioeconomic Influences, Low Income Groups, Educational Environment,...
Although the mixed heritage population of the U.S. continues to grow, few (if any) attempts have been made to examine educational needs specific to this group of children, especially from the family's perspective. This article uses ethnographic data to examine the experiences of one mixed heritage family--with an African American father and a Chinese American mother--in an urban middle school. The data revealed that the family experienced several sources of tension from the school, from the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, African Americans, Educational Needs, Ethnography, Chinese Americans, Middle Schools,...
The objective of this study was to examine (1) the association between consumption of fast food and sweets on overweight among U.S. adolescents; and (2) how consumption of different types of food and physical exercise is associated with parental education and other background variables. The data were based on cross-sectional, national survey study of 15,686 students from grades 6 to 10 (age 10 to 15) in the U.S. Results indicated that after adjusting for covariates, participants with high fast...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Obesity, Exercise, Food, Adolescents, Eating Habits, Grade 6, Nutrition, Correlation,...
This paper describes the prevalence of depression and suicidal tendencies as well as risk factors for attempted suicide among students in Bolivia. Adolescents 13-18 years old (182 females, 394 males) from randomly selected schools in La Paz completed the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Frequencies and logistic regression were used to identify factors--including academic performance, violence, and sex--associated with suicidal attempts. One fourth (26.9%) of females and one in ten males (8.9%)...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Females, Prevention, Academic Achievement, High Risk Students, Suicide, Adolescents,...
The purpose of this study was to assess physical activity levels and the relationships between activity and personal characteristics among a cohort of college students and to determine personal characteristics that predict activity. A sample of 1,700 undergraduates was mailed a survey that requested demographic information and assessed health behaviors including self-reported physical activity. Of the 1,575 successfully mailed, a total of 903 completed questionnaires were received--a response...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Undergraduate Students, Physical Activities, Physical Activity Level, Health...
By better understanding differences in health-risk behaviors among youth in rural, suburban and urban communities, health educators and other public health practitioners can more appropriately focus prevention and health care programs. In this study, we examined data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to determine whether alcohol-related risk behaviors among students are associated with population density. We found that in 2003, only driving after drinking alcohol varied by...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Urban Areas, Suburbs, Place of Residence, Public Health, Health Behavior, At Risk...
A large national database (U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2001) was analyzed for age, sex, race/ethnicity and television viewing among American adolescents aged 12-18 years. Body Mass Indices (BMI) were calculated from self-reported height and weight. Ninety-fifth percentile and above was classified as obese; [less than]95th percentile was classified as non-obese. After controlling for age, sex and race, odds ratios were calculated for obesity and hours/day of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Public Health, Television Viewing, Obesity, Body Composition, At Risk Persons,...
The authors discuss the role that volunteer programs may play in increasing levels of physical activity. In some cases volunteer programs may simultaneously improve individual health, benefit the environment and increase the public's opportunities for physical activity. From a survey of 2,032 respondents, results suggest that volunteers are more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than non-volunteers. Moreover, those who volunteer on environmental issues are 2.6 times as likely to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Play, Physical Activities, Health Promotion, Hygiene, Volunteers, Physical Activity...
The Minnesota Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Plus project augmented the DARE curriculum with community, parent involvement, and extracurricular activity components. Of the 24 schools in the DARE Plus project, the 8 receiving the DARE Plus intervention are examined in this study. The association of participation in the extracurricular activities component of the DARE Plus project with adolescent substance use is investigated. The intervention targeted the class of 2005 from seventh to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Extracurricular Activities, Intervention, Smoking, Drug Education, Drug Abuse,...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate hand washing behaviors in public restrooms with and without reminder signs. Gender, race, signage, and time of day were examined to determine if there were differences in hand washing compliance based on these variables. Participants included male and female adults entering restrooms at two public shopping malls in a midwestern city. The total number of observations made was 599. Of those observed, full hand washing compliance (based on CDC guidelines)...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Signs, Hygiene, Racial Differences, Gender Differences, Health Behavior, Adults,...
This study examined emotional and perceptional changes American people had experienced 10 to 12 months after the September 11 (9-11) terrorist attacks. A nationally representative sample of 807 U.S. adults ages 18 or older was interviewed using random-digit dialing that included unpublished numbers and new listings. The results indicated that 5 to 8% of the respondents had probable posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms such as angry outbursts, trouble falling asleep, difficulty concentrating,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Terrorism, Employment Level, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Geographic Regions,...
HIV/AIDS continues to spread among children, youth, and young adults across all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, including those with disabilities. This article considers information on HIV/AIDS such as individuals' health-risk behaviors, environmental circumstances, and perceptions that may contribute to HIV-infection; how disability characteristics, and cultural traits and values impact school-based HIV/AIDS prevention programs; and, culturally competent instructional considerations...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Cultural Traits, Prevention, Special...
Are magnet schools in a position to meet diversity ideals? As districts are declared unitary and released from court ordered desegregation, many are framing their commitments to fairness and equity in terms of diversity--i.e., comparable rates of participation and comparable educational outcomes in all segments the student population. In this study, the enrollment statistics for magnet and contiguous non-magnet public schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, a large, urban district that had...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Urban Schools, Public Schools, Magnet Schools, Outcomes of Education, Enrollment...
With the mandate of "No Child Left Behind," high-stakes achievement testing is firmly in place in every state. The few studies that have explored the effectiveness of high-stakes testing using NAEP scores have yielded mixed results. This study considered state demographic characteristics for each NAEP testing period in reading, writing, mathematics, and science from 1992 through 2002, in an effort to examine the relation of high-stakes testing policies to achievement and changes in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Federal Legislation, Academic Achievement, High Stakes Tests, Standardized Tests,...