Social and emotional learning (SEL) is inherently relational, shaped by the interactions children have within their homes, schools, and communities. Grounded in ecological systems theory, this chapter explores how family-school-community partnerships can serve as a powerful mechanism for promoting SEL and fostering positive developmental outcomes.…

To increase capacity for public participation and improve problem-solving practices, some public school districts have launched stakeholder-training programs. This mixed methods study examined the impact of five school district parent training programs (four in Colorado and one in Illinois) designed to increase trust and engagement. Data were…

Some researchers believe that collaboration between schools and community stakeholders--including families, educators, community organizations, and businesses--is the key to improving public education. However, broad and inclusive community-school partnerships are rare. Instead, we frequently hear about friction between communities and their…

Article suggests a model for training members of school-community councils. (GB)

Describes successful site-based parent/community involvement program at Central School District of San Bernardino County, California. (PKP)

Two PTAs sponsored events that capitalized on Halloween themes, engaged their communities in fall celebrations, and were safe, wholesome, and fun. With help from local volunteers, one school turned its gymnasium into a 19th-century British town with a fall/Halloween theme. Another PTA hosted a carnival, Spooktacular, that involved community…

The Developmental Career Guidance (DCG) project is a K-12 career guidance demonstration project operating at three high schools and 18 feeder schools in the Detroit Public School District. Directed from Wayne State University, DCG has centers at the high schools and each of the feeder schools. From the centers, students voluntarily can draw…

Described is a step by step approach involving (1) establishing responsibilities of school, parents, students, and community, (2) reviewing legal and moral issues of a potential program, (3) defining drug abuse", (4) discovering sources of available help, and (5) developing needed resources. (CJ)

An in-service workshop on parent-community involvement in the schools was conducted from October 1968 to May 1969 for all principals, educational specialists, sub-agency superintendents, and agency superintendents on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Members of the workshop set up and reported on an experimental parent-community involvement program…

Describes a school's attempt to increase local community involvement in all levels of school life through a "Community Week" format. Project goals and the daily events for the week are explained and program results are reviewed. Implications for future involvements are also discussed. (ML)

The author describes and analyzes the "dialogue workshop" as a major activity for facilitating cooperative communication and problem solving among students, teachers, and parents. This article is part of a theme issue on community education in Hawaii. (Editor/SJL)

Intended for parents and all citizens concerned about improving Chicago's 592 public schools, this handbook explains how important reading is to a decent education and future employment. Chapter one describes the school improvement campaign called "Schoolwatch," the problems in the Chicago public schools, and the components of effective…

This publication discusses the Comprehensive Educational Planning and Evaluation Project, a one-year effort by the Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools to develop an effective model for involving parents, students, community members, and school personnel in planning and evaluation of the school district's activities. This effort involved conducting a…

School-community partnership programs can help teachers reach children in the crucial years from birth to 4, thereby preventing reading difficulties and raising future test scores. Many organizations help families in starting their children on the road to lifetime reading by distributing free books and pamphlets on reading aloud to children. (SM)

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has been involved in the community-school/community-education movement since the 1935 Flint Community Schools (Michigan) experiment led to fuller use of local school facilities for learning and recreation programs. The National Center for Community Education (NCCE) was established in the 1960s as a training…