Policy statements of the last two decades have directed schools to enter into partnerships with parents to enhance the social, emotional, and academic growth of their children. However, in practice and scholarship, parental involvement has been constructed as attendance to school-based activities and needs. This article draws on data from an…

Parental involvement in education has long been recognized as an important indicator of student academic achievement. Teachers, administrators, policy makers, and our state and federal government continue to recognize the vital role of the parent in education. Policies and mandates, with titles such as "No Child Left Behind" and…

Under No Child Left Behind, the federal government requires school districts to use 1 percent of Title I money to fund programs that involve parents in the schools and provides another $39 million annually for 62 Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) that provide training and information for both parents and district personnel to…

Claims that rigorous standards in schools will help children in navigating in the changing economy. Explains that Goals 2000 legislation, passed in 1994, can energize and expand local efforts to strengthen schools and reach high standards. Claims that teachers are the heart of educational improvement, while parents and business partners can…

An ever growing body of research indicates that parental involvement is a key factor in the success of children in school. Studies have shown that children whose parents take an active interest in their education benefit in a number of ways. These children generally have higher academic achievement, better attendance, a sense of well-being, a…

Renewed emphasis on parent and community involvement is critical to success of Goals 2000. U.S. Department of Education is working with broad-based coalition of parent and education groups on new Family Involvement Initiative that will facilitate cooperation of parents and families with schools and communities. Schools succeed best by making…

Presents an interview with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's executive director Barbara Salisbury Wills. Discusses her interaction with the Goals 2000 Commission, development of the "National Standards for Arts Education," getting parents involved in theater education programs, working with state representatives, and…

A longitudinal study observed and analyzed a group formed within a private Catholic school community on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The 25 parents within the group were from middle-class families and had children who were in grades 1 through 8. Meetings with group members were monitored, questionnaires were given to group members,…

School, parent and community partnerships have become an educational priority at both the state and federal levels. If teacher education programs are to meet the goals of the Illinois Professional Standards, the objectives of the federal Goals 2000, and the accreditation standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education…

Provides a rationale for parent involvement in children's schooling. Considers the nation's education goals, and why parent involvement is so important to achieving those goals. (ET)

This document discusses educational reform and the implications of educational standards on students with disabilities. Topics addressed include: (1) common educational reforms; (2) new laws promoting education reform; (3) how today's reforms fit with special education; (4) the different types of standards, including content standards and…

Academics 2000 First Things First is the Texas initiative under the Goals 2000 Act. The purpose of Academics 2000 is to raise the academic achievement of all Texas students by ensuring that each child achieves grade level mastery of the foundation subjects by the end of the fourth grade. In 1996-97, three Academics 2000 grants were received by…

Every state has accepted Goals 2000 money in some form. This paper discusses what comes along with it, noting that the Goals 2000 Parents as Teachers program sounds wonderful, but many aspects have little to do with teaching and instead invade family privacy to classify students as at-risk (and thus allow the school district to receive more…

Many organizations, school districts, and state departments of education are posting useful materials on the Internet for anyone interested in Goals 2000, world-class standards, and school restructuring. This digest identifies key Internet offerings related to Goals 2000 and world-class standards. Pointers to each of these offerings can be found…

Through a series of organizational and instructional changes, comprehensive planning aims to make it possible for all children to reach the same high academic standards. Educators and parents of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, as well as other members of tribal communities, must participate in this planning to ensure that the…