Growing evidence suggests that Positive Youth Development (PYD), a holistic approach to developing assets and competencies, can help prepare young people for success in adulthood, including success in the workplace. At its core, PYD focuses on creating a supportive, developmentally appropriate learning setting by emphasizing positive…

A comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) is a multi-component whole-school approach designed to assist schools in targeting opportunities for students to be more physically active and help students achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity (PA) each day. A CSPAP consists of five components (1) quality physical…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established School Health Profiles (Profiles) in 1996 to monitor school health policies and practices in secondary schools in states and school districts across the United States. Profiles is a system of surveys conducted biennially in even-numbered years and provides data on the following topics:…

Engaging families and communities in physical activities for the benefit of children is an extension of the role of a physical education instructor. Although it is possible for a physical educator to generate ideas that encourage families and communities to move, a certified director of physical activity (C-DPA) would be better trained to…

There is a need within health, physical education, recreation, dance, and sport programs to increase community engagement via experiential learning. The Chase Charlie Races are presented in this article as a model pedagogical strategy to engage community youths and families in a training program and running event to help promote fitness. Key…

School leaders are increasingly called upon to pursue meaningful partnerships with families and community groups, yet many leaders are unprepared to meet the challenges of partnerships, to cross cultural boundaries, or to be accountable to the community. Alliances are needed among educators, families, and community groups that value relationship…

One of the most misunderstood issues in pre-K-12 education today is how to educate children who are not yet proficient in English. When policymakers refer to these students as English language learners (ELLs)--as many school district officials presently do--or as limited English proficient students (LEPs)--as federal legislators did in the No…

A 5-year project which focuses upon the processes necessary for initiation and implementation of a cross-cultural nursery school is at its midpoint in operation, with project nurseries having been established and presently operating in the San Francisco area. The family dwellings from which children are drawn consist of approximately equally…

This interim evaluation reports on the progress of an extensive drug education program in a St. Louis, Missouri school district. Designed to meet seven overall objectives, the project calls for comparisons between experimental and control groups at the elementary and secondary level. Far-reaching activities including staff orientation and…

Researchers and policymakers are increasingly interested in the issue of school accountability. Despite this, program standards for afterschool programs are not as fully developed as they are in other fields. This study bridges that gap and presents the results from a study that identifies benchmarks and indicators for high quality afterschool…

Describes the Families, Agencies, and Communities Together (FACT) initiative. Active in Utah, FACT is a collaborative effort within communities to assist at-risk children and their families. FACT combines values-based support with flexibility to find community-based solutions. (MKA)

Community schools come in all shapes and sizes, offering wide-ranging support and opportunities for children, families, and the greater community. Elementary principals from several rural and urban community schools explain how close-knit community partnerships created campuses that involved parents, energized teachers, and enhanced children's…

Intended for parents, teachers, school administrators, and parent and community groups, this guide lists resources and services available from 34 National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education member organizations to ensure that parents and schools are involved as equal partners in providing quality education for all children. The guide is…

This guide documents cost effective methods of providing community-based alternative court intervention services to youth. The service program was designed to assist adolescent status offenders and their families in resolving the underlying problems which bring the youths to the attention of the juvenile system. A Family Crisis Intervention Center…

Outlined are the 1973-1974 activities of the Modified Primary Program for Children with Learning Disabilities in Anchorage, Alaska. Discussed is work revolving around the project's eight objectives which include the establishment of assessment procedures to identify potential learning disabled children at an early age, the provision of in-service…