| ability grouping | The assignment of pupils to homogeneous groups according to intellectual ability or level for instructional purposes.
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| alternative families | Family units that differ from the traditional image; examples include foster care children, single parents, central role of grandparents, and gay couples.
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| detrack | The movement to eliminate school tracking practices, which often have racial, ethnic, and class implications.
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| gatekeeping | Philip Jackson's term describing how teachers control classroom interactions.
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| latchkey | A term used to describe children who go home after school to an empty house; their parents or guardians are usually working and not home.
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| McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act | The primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of homeless children in public schools.
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| sociograms | A diagram that is constructed to record social interactions, such as which children interact frequently and which are isolates.
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| tracking | The method of placing students according to their ability level in homogeneous classes or learning experiences. Once a student is placed, it may be very difficult to move up from one track to another. The placements may reflect racism, classism, or sexism.
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| unremarked revolution | The unheralded but persistent move of schools away from formal tracking programs.
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