In this article, the author talks about incorporating what those in academia do best--scholarship and teaching--and what government bureaucrats do best in administering housing and community revitalization programs into a strong and sustainable system of community engagement and outreach. He frames the discussion by focusing on some examples of…

Students attacking other students. Students attacking teachers, support staff, and even community members. Disrespectful and threatening language, overwhelmed or inattentive parents, and an administrative system that often appears unable to bring back order in the classroom. These are stories have become an everyday part of teaching in urban…

For many years, policymakers and the public have been holding students and schools accountable for improvement, but there was no way to determine whether the public and its elected officials and community organizations were doing their part to strengthen public schools. To address this shortcoming, Public Education network (PEN), with funding from…

Profiles successful magnet arts schools in New Orleans, Prince George's County (Maryland), and Denver and provides guidelines for school board members desiring to open schools of the arts. Board members are urged to garner support, find a suitable location, build a staff, decide on format and enrollment method, and develop partnerships with local…

This article introduces Community Bridge, a participatory public art project that brought together artists and residents to address aesthetic needs of an urban environment. The Community Bridge is an exemplary work of art by American artist William Cochran. In addition to creating a natural gathering place for residents of all ages, the bridge is…

This report is designed to help the state, local school systems, and schools plan, implement, and assess parent/community involvement programs to promote greater student success. Following an introduction and an executive summary highlighting the state team's findings, section 1 discusses research on the relationship of parent involvement to…

The rural work ethic, a strong sense of community togetherness, and the absence of class distinction help rural schools avoid the politics that often stand in the way of education in larger urban and suburban schools. Factors contributing to successful schools include clear goals, good principals who know how to motivate faculty, faculty who know…

At Prince George's Community College (PGCC) in Largo, Maryland, a number of environmental and revenue changes in the 1980's resulted in complex political issues for the college. Changes in the county's black population (from 14% in 1970 to 51% in 1990) meant that the faculty's composition no longer reflected the diversity of the student…

Maryland community colleges receive financial support from both the state and their local jurisdiction, as well as from student charges and other income from operations and investments. The proportion of local aid varies considerably across jurisdictions. A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) to measure local support…

The first 38 pages of the document describe the project designed to develop a coordinated, comprehensive system to deliver community services and continuing education services throughout Maryland higher education institutions. Discussed are project objectives, operations, and accomplishments, the final evaluation summary, the impact on the…

On June 9, 2003, the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males was convened by the Maryland K-16 Leadership Council (chaired by the University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan, former Maryland Acting Secretary of Higher Education John A. Sabatini, Jr., and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S.…