This document is designed as a self-assessment tool for districts to gauge their progress in implementing college- and career-readiness standards. This tool was primarily designed to help central office leaders and staff assess implementation at a systems level. Each section provides a core set of leading questions, along with descriptions of what…

When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students' education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller "School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action," presents tools and guidelines to help develop more…

How well does your school support the health and well-being of students and staff members? Explore the answer with this ASCD Action Tool and accompanying online scoring and analysis tool. Updated to reflect current research, new standards, and best practices, the Canadian second edition of the action tool guides you through the four steps of the…

Within a system, change affects stakeholders differently. Consequently, when making changes in the mental health system, mental health agencies should expect varied reactions from staff, community members, consumers, and families. Since misunderstandings can stymie efforts to implement evidence-based and promising practices, it is important to…

Mini-Med Schools are public education programs now offered by more than 70 medical schools, universities, research institutions, and hospitals across the nation. There are even Mini-Med Schools in Ireland, Malta, and Canada! The program is typically a lecture series that meets once a week and provides "mini-med students" information on some of the…

These guidelines for 2010-2013 relate specifically to the Partnership Brokers program. This program is part of the Australian Government's contribution to the Youth Attainment and Transitions National Partnership and will commence on 1 January 2010. These Guidelines set out the requirements for the provision of services by organisations contracted…

This technical assistance document addresses sustainability as a systemic change process in the context of school-community connections. Part 1 reviews what sustainability means. Part 2 includes a set of tools and aids for sustainability, emphasizing processes that will mobilize partners and develop effective mechanisms for system change. Part 3…

It is no secret that strong parental involvement is essential for school success. Yet, it is still a challenge to get parents more involved in their children's education. According to the most recent MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, teachers and principals agree on the importance of parental involvement--71% of principals and 59% of…

Fourteen guidelines for the proper coordination of physical education volunteers are given. Proper placement and training methods are discussed, and program evaluation objectives are considered. The responsibilities of the volunteer in relation to the teaching and learning process and to the school and community are examined. (JN)

Describes and discusses a three-step process for creating a feasible evaluation system for a theater program: (1) writing a values statement; (2) creating an internal accountability plan; and (3) making an external accountability plan. (SR)

Provides step-by-step guidance on planning and implementing effective, site-based intensive family preservation program research and evaluations. Discusses research processes and describes appropriate research designs and methodologies. Considers issues in collaborating with university researchers and other stakeholders in the process. (JPB)

Designed to be used in conjunction with the curriculum and procedural materials of the three instructional components in the Research for Better Schools' (RBS) career education program, this series of administrative guides is composed of four items. The RBS introductory manual explains experience-based career education (EBCE) and the RBS approach…

At least five issues need to be considered in the application of contextual appraisal practices to special education programs: the impact of legislative influence, individualized student factors, the program/school relationship, the school/district relationship, and the community/school relationship. (Author/DB)

Suggests that school systems "audit" their communication system to assess their communication needs. Provides two tests that audit a school system's environment and its community. The test results indicate whether the system's communication program should emphasize formal or informal communication methods. (RW)

The engine that drives the America 2000 strategy is the Community Challenge--a nationwide movement designed to help America move itself, community by community, toward the six National Education Goals. A community can do four things to become an America 2000 community: (1) adopt the six national education goals; (2) develop a communitywide…