San Francisco sculptor Ruth Asawa discusses her own artistic development and describes the Alvarado Arts Workshop, a community-based arts education program begun by herself, other parents, and community leaders in the San Francisco schools. (Author/SJL)

This ERIC Digest asserts that parent involvement is critical in facilitating children's development and achievement and in preventing and remedying educational and developmental problems. Topics briefly discussed are benefits to children and to parents of parent involvement, effective approaches to parent involvement, problems in involving…

This brief paper describes the "Brookline After School Special:" a program created to meet the after-school needs of older elementary school-age children throughout the city of Brookline, Massachusetts. The rationale for the program, a discussion of aspects considered in implementing the program, and reflections on the first year of…

Interview with Chris Rhines, who oversees the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) program in Oregon, discusses the process used to select schools for CSRD, the critical role of principals as leaders of change, the importance of a school's ability to do a needs assessment and apply the findings, and common implementation problems. (CDS)

A parent of a kindergarten child in Texas began observing her child's classroom when she noticed that the whole language instructional approach described to parents before the beginning of school was apparently not being implemented as stated. The parent was surprised when her child's teacher suggested, after only six weeks of instruction, that…

Guidelines for implementing comprehensive career development for special needs learners are presented. They include review and evaluation of curricula for appropriateness, determination of the learner's current stage of career development, program planning, integration of career development opportunities, ongoing program implementation assistance,…

The role of the principal in implementing school choice policy is examined in this paper. Choice policy is viewed as a triad composed of three points--policy, consumer information, and diversity of the learning environment. Guidelines are offered for principals to help parents make school choice decisions, and several helpful booklets are…

This report examines the variety of attitudes, actions, inactions, and beliefs that have created barriers to effective implementation of parent participation mandates of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Data were drawn from the monitoring experience and direct involvement with administrative complaints and litigation of the…

The "whole language approach" has generated much controversy among educators, who have agreed on the importance of language in the early years but have not reached consensus on the most effective approach to employ. Whole language is viewed as a developmental process. Research, conducted since the mid-1980s, has shown that whole language is an…

New York City has implemented all-day kindergarten programs, reduced the size of primary grade classes, and proposed that the public schools provide pre-kindergarten programs for 4-year-olds by 1989. In the process of program implementation, much has been learned about large-scale efforts aimed at young children. It is known that simply realigning…

Discusses the benefits of establishing computer centers in early childhood classrooms to enhance cognitive learning, develop self-esteem, and stimulate divergent thinking. Outlines steps necessary for setting up a classroom computer center, such as defining procedures and rules and choosing appropriate activities and software. Suggests ways to…

To help New Jersey parents and other citizens increase their involvement in schools, this handbook describes school-site management, a form of decentralized administration that can help broaden effective citizen participation in educational management. Part 1 first defines school-site (or school-based) management--a type of school governance in…

From his experience as a teacher organizer, the author offers concrete and detailed advice about preparing for the successful implementation of an educational innovation, Project Follow Through. In an informal format, he discusses the selection of appropriate school sites, recruitment of volunteer teachers, presentation of the innovation, and…

The goal of this conference was to assist early childhood professionals in their efforts to provide training to parents and family-focused, community-based transitions between preschool and school. The conference was also designed to assure children access to a high quality, developmentally appropriate preschool; adequate nutrition; and health…

A synthesis of existing research and commentary, this book seeks to clarify the national experience with school desegregation and to identify ways of maximizing the potential benefits and reducing the possible costs of desegregation. Chapters 1 and 9 discuss assumptions about the overall consequences of desegregation, while Chapters 2 through 8…