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…

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…

Special education programs and support services for individuals with learning disabilities must be part of an education agency's total instructional program and must not be regarded as a separate and parallel system. Recommendations regarding program and service planning and implementation and service options are presented. (CB)

The paper focuses on differences between regular and special education and suggests ways in which the principles of P.L. 94-142 (the Education For All Handicapped Children Act) can be extended to the education of nonhandicapped students. Special education as mandated by P.L. 94-142 differs from regular education in six dimensions: mandate for…

Climate and culture are inherent in the life of every organization, including schools. They are difficult to define and even more difficult to change, yet any reform effort must address them first if it is to succeed. This report helps school leaders understand these crucial factors and measure their influences on the school. It offers various…

Describes a planning process necessary for the successful implementation of a school of choice option. Topics discussed include resistance to change; development of an Organizational Status Report (OSR); developing a mission statement, goals, and objectives; a Community Communications Document (CCD); monitoring ongoing progress; and evaluation…

The North Clackamas (Oregon) School District's Instructional Computer Services Advisory Committee presents recommendations in this document concerning the philosophy, goals, and operational components of a program for developing computer literacy among administrators, teachers, students, parents, and other members of the district community. The…

The Assessment-Confrontation-Strategizing Model for developing parent and community involvement in school decision-making consists of three stages. In the assessment stage parent perceptions of the permeability of the school's psychosocial boundaries are examined and the differing educational values held by teachers, administrators, and…

The notion of intervention strategies is introduced in this paper to explain why and when certain change efforts are successful. It is argued that the choice of control points and the selection of control linkages are determined by characteristics of the task in the implementing agency. Many implementation failures can be attributed to the…

Discussion of literature-based reading programs focuses on a study that investigated the elementary school library media specialist's roles as information specialist, teacher, and instructional consultant during the implementation of a literature-based reading program. Recommendations are offered regarding parents' roles, material selection, and…

This book is concerned with educational change affecting elementary and secondary schools in the United States and Canada. A wide range of innovative programs are discussed as examples of the practical meaning of change, including projects involving various curriculum areas, microcomputers, career education, open-concept schools, desegregation,…

This report discusses the place of preservice and inservice teacher education in the needs of gifted children, outlines the role of the gifted education specialist, and discusses the competencies that gifted education specialists should have. It begins by providing a joint statement of core beliefs and goals related to giftedness and the…