Shocked by static? Mixed up about magnets? Curious about currents? Teachers can get past memorizing all those electricity-related formulas, rules, and procedures so they can understand the subject at a level deep enough to teach it with confidence and comfort. Here to help is "Electricity and Magnetism," the fifth title in the award-winning NSTA…

This document explains the major features of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in a non-technical manner. It highlights the history and development of NAEP, how the data are collected, scored, and analyzed, and how the results are reported. This introductory guide to NAEP is designed to meet the information needs of teachers,…

This booklet was written to help parents decide what to tell their child who has cancer. It recommends that parents tell their child the truth about his disease to prevent him from feeling guilty and to increase his cooperation with treatment. A gentle, open, and honest approach is suggested. Sections discuss who should tell the child and when the…

School system leaders are discovering the power of data for promoting school improvement. This guide provides practitioners, parents, and community with insights and tools for cultivating a districtwide culture of data-driven inquiry. Chapter 1 points out that data provide quantifiable proof, taking the emotion and rancor out of the…

This special issue focuses on needs of parents of children with disabilities. In the first article, "You Are Not Alone," Patricia McGill Smith considers the emotions that many parents of exceptional children experience and offers a perspective for living and coping with the impact of disability upon the family. The second article,…

Parents need information about the range of community resources and services available to them as soon as they learn their child has a disability. Schools must take a more active role in directing parents to community resources. (Author/CB)

Those who are striving to improve schools, are educational leaders. Formal position, or what kind of school they are trying to make better does not matter, it's the effort to improve schools that puts them in a leadership position. Parents, teachers, students, administrators, graduate students, elected and appointed officials, agency staff, and…

The federal education act "No Child Left Behind" calls for accountability for school improvement. This brochure outlines how parents can determine the progress of their child's school, and where to go for additional information and/or services. The brochure answers the following questions: (1) How do I know if my child's school is in…

Articles in this special section describe programs and techniques for integrating children with special needs into the child care community, using correct terminology about disabilities, parenting special needs children, serving parents of children with differing abilities by eliciting the help of professionals, and helping teachers understand…

This guide was developed to introduce families of young children with disabilities to the early intervention system. It describes early intervention services and defines the roles and responsibilities of parents and practitioners. The guide uses a question and answer format to present information on the following topics: (1) what is early…

A guide is presented for educators, parents, and students to help students prepare for college admissions tests: American College Testing (ACT) programs, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). Information is provided on the content of the tests and the services and publications available from the ACT…

This handbook on the advisory and decision-making aspects of parent involvement provides information and skill-building activities to help parents establish, maintain, and increase the effectiveness of parent advisory councils (PAC) for bilingual education programs in Massachusetts. Chapter 1 describes the legal background and the basic structures…

Written for Canadian parents of young children with special needs, this handbook provides information on ways in which parents can work with professionals (physicians, teachers, other school staff, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists) in selecting and monitoring services for their special needs child. The first section considers the…