Communities across the country are grappling with different approaches to improving their schools. Introducing or expanding charter schools is one of the approaches that states and school districts have considered or implemented. Charter schools serve more than 5 percent of public school students nationwide and make up close to 7 percent of all…

Conducting market research for out-of-school-time planning can replace assumptions with facts, give kids and parents a voice to express their needs and preferences, and help build stakeholder buy-in and support. This practical guide shows community leaders, policymakers and out-of-school-time practitioners how to use market research to make more…

In this article, the author states his belief that community based learning among adults can be a powerful force for encouraging personal development and for strengthening democracy in this multicultural, globally interdependent, battered world. To do so, however, it needs to pervade all the curricula, degree programs, learning contracts, and…

Reviews present labor statutes and examines three alternatives to current practices; proposes that teaching, by its nature, is not well administered by industrial standards or well adjudicated through industrial unionism. Suggests "professional unionism" as a means of effecting educational reform. (DR)

To help educators and community members design and conduct community council elections, this book describes six successful election projects conducted in midwestern communities in response to federal Teacher Corps regulations. The projects exhibit a variety of approaches and were conducted in varied settings with limited resources. The first…

This guidebook is one in the Target Topic Series developed to highlight issues and concerns related to effective community education operation. It is intended for the community educator and community education advisory council member who want to learn about the importance of community involvement to the quality of life in the community. A pretest…

The article reviews the literature on the participation of persons with disabilities in religious organizations and summarizes a study which found that clergy (n=125) are aware of only low numbers of persons with disabilities in their congregations and are not highly active in providing accommodations or services to these individuals and their…

Education is the foundation of democracy. As such it must work for all young people. Yet far too often young people disengage from learning and do not reach their full, human potential. Community schools--places where partners come together to offer a range of supports and opportunities for children, youth, families, and communities before,…

This handbook presents a description of the New York City Mentor program. It is designed to provide guidelines for the participating schools and law firms as well as an explanation of the program for potential participants. The program pairs law firms, solo practitioners, and corporate legal departments with public high schools. Lawyers visit…

The National Parent Involvement Summit brought together representatives from 28 organizations, associations and businesses, including educators, advocates, policymakers, and business leaders. The mission of the Summit was to obtain or renew a strong commitment to family involvement; generate visibility for its mission; strengthen efforts to meet…

The Mississippi Board of Education adopted the School/Community Involvement initiative in 2003 as a part of the Mississippi School Level Accountability Model Evaluation Instruments. This guide provides the components of those standards along with ideas and suggestions to assist parents, community members and school staff with the development or…

Designed to be a resource guide for parents, teachers, and policymakers, this book traces the historical development of family literacy and provides an overview of the field in the United States. It includes discussions of more than 100 sources about family literacy. The book presents specific information about particular family literacy programs…

This guide helps leaders working with parents and the community learn about promising practices in parent and community involvement in school reform. By examining the efforts of seven contrasting groups working with parents nationwide, the guide depicts the many forms that parent and community involvement in schools can take, highlighting…

This monograph presents four papers which focus on the experiences of people with disabilities in terms of their personal relationships and belonging to a social network. The first three papers are authored by Zana Marie Lutfiyya. An overview article, "Reflections on Relationships between People with and without Disabilities," describes some of…

Developed by the Florida Parent to Parent Support Program, two manuals provide materials for developing local parent-to-parent support groups for parents of children with a broad range of special needs, including those with sensory, physical, or learning disorders; developmental disabilities; emotional disturbances; and those at high risk for or…