Effective Strategies for Educating Students in At Risk Situations

This publication provides an in-depth look at many of the factors that place students at risk; the core organizational, instructional, and curricular structures of schools; and the strategies that have been proven effective with students in at-risk situations. Chapter one discusses a number of situations that affect children's and youth's academic success - the family, community, student, and school factors that contribute to placing children at risk. Chapter two reviews the need for restructuring to ensure that the educational system has flexibility to renew itself as social and economic conditions change. Chapter three discusses those actions taken which anticipate, forestall, or deal with cognitive, social, or personal problems before they irreparably impair a student's ability to perform successfully in school. Chapter four introduces the concept of mediation and suggests strategies that should be in place in restructured schools. Chapter five presents intervention strategies. Chapter six provides a summary of the discussion presented in this publication.