This article builds and explores the hypothesis that parent and community participation in school governance can have positive impacts on community development by fostering improvements in school performance and school-community relations and by acting as a catalyst for collective action around community-development issues. It does so through case…

Kentucky has sustained the most long-lasting comprehensive education reforms in the nation. Passage of the reform was based on a growing awareness of the state's inadequate education system and won broad support from citizens, business and education interest groups. The systemic package of curriculum and governance reform are tied to funding…