Ruth B. Ekstrom

Ability Grouping in Middle Grade Mathematics: Process and Consequences

AbstractAbility grouping, a common practice in schools, has come under sharp criticism of late. Critics argue that ability grouping does not improve academic performance and affective development a...

The Effects of Youth Employment Program Participation on Later Employment.

A three-year follow-up of a national sample of 419 youth employment training program participants and356 nonparticipants of comparable background showed that participants obtained more months of employment and had greater job satisfaction. These statistically significant differences were sustained even after controlling for the effects of age, sex, race/ethnicity, economic status, and local unemployment rate as well as for preprogram levels of education and reading ability. Program effectiveness, as determined by par ticipant-control differences in months of employment, was greater for minority than nonminority youth and greater for females than for males.

Evaluating women's homemaking and volunteer work experiences for college credit

This project developed methods and materials to assist colleges in evaluating the competencies which women acquire from their nonmarket (volunteer work and homemaking) experiences. Competencies were identified through interviews and questionnaires of womens activities. Next an informal task analysis of each activity was conducted to develop a list of the competencies involved, the “I Can” lists. A twelve step counseling process, based on the use of the “I Can” lists, is described. The paper also discusses methods of dealing with faculty and administrative concerns about this type of experiential learning evaluation.

Creating Employment Equity through the Recognition of Experiential Learning

Jiliet J. Beier is a Senior Research Assistant and Ruth B. Ekstrom is a Research Scientist in the Division of Educational Research and Evaluation, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey. The authors wish to thank Brooke Gruenberg for her editorial assistance. In the last ten years, the percentage of women entering and re-entering the labor force has grown considerably. Today 57 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 64 are in the paid work force, according to the Department of Labor. Indications are that this growth will continue. For example, in a recent survey Yankelovich found that one-third of the women who are now full-time housewives plan to return to paid work.