This article cites middle schools nationwide that are using various methods to partner with parents, ensuring that not only is entering middle school a smoother transition but that giving parents a better understanding of the changing curriculum is a top priority. Over 200 middle level schools are addressing No Child Left Behind requirements to…

Discusses practices of several schools in the area of parent involvement. Five types of involvement are identified: (1) basic parental obligations, (2) basic school obligations, (3) parent involvement at school, (4) parent involvement in learning at home, and (5) parent involvement in governance and advocacy. (CH)

Highlights the importance of designing integrated, coordinated social contexts to foster children's development. Summarizes effective program characteristics and guidelines for building lasting partnerships. Six types of involvement (parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaborating with the community)…

Identifies the following four types of parent involvement in schools: (1) basic obligations, (2) school-to-home communications, (3) parent involvement at school, and (4) parent involvement in learning activities at home. Describes each and discusses the principal's role in establishing and monitoring effective parent involvement programs. (LHW)

A survey of teachers, parents, and school administrators concerning the types of parent involvement in the schools and classrooms revealed five major forms of parent participation: providing for their children's basic child-rearing needs and school-related requirements for supplies and space to work; school-home communication; involvement at…

Concerns about and characteristics of family/school partnerships are the theme of this issue of a "newsletter for the on-line administrator." Because of the changing natures of students, families, and schools, school administrators must take a leadership role in facilitating parent involvement in education. The six major types of involvement for…

National and international studies have made student performance in mathematics a high priority in schools. Using longitudinal data from elementary and secondary schools, the authors examined the connections between specific family and community involvement activities and student achievement in mathematics at the school level. After the authors…

A survey of parents of 1269 students in 82 first, third, and fifth grade classrooms in Maryland was conducted to investigate the effects (on parents) of parent involvement techniques (used by teachers) for learning activities at home. Some of the teachers were recognized by their principal for their leadership in the use of parent involvement,…

Researchers established the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University's Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships to guide schools, districts, and state departments of education to create positive, permanent programs of partnership, to recognize and disseminate their efforts, and to learn from the various…

This handbook serves as a guide for state, district, and school leaders to organize and implement positive and permanent programs of school, family, and community partnerships. The book's eight chapters offer step-by-step strategies to improve school-family-community connections. Chapter 1 summarizes the theory and research on which the handbook…

Studied connections between parent involvement programs, teachers' attitudes, and teachers' practices in inner-city elementary and middle schools. Examined patterns according to academic subject, classroom organization, and level of support for parent involvement. Found that each variable has implications for the strengths of school programs and…

Despite strong agreement on the importance of parent involvement, most schools, districts, and states still need help in developing comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. This revised handbook translates lessons learned over 20 years of research and fieldwork into practical solutions for program development. The book…

Now in its third full school year of implementation, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has been drawing praise and blame. It has been praised for its goals of increasing all students' learning, requiring disaggregated data to monitor the progress of major subgroups of students, and having high-quality teachers in all schools. It has been…

Data from a survey of 1269 parents (of whom 24 percent were single parents) were used to study whether single and married parents differ in their interactions with elementary schools and teachers. Results indicate that initial differences between single and married parents' perceptions of teachers and teachers' evaluations of single and married…

Provides an overview of the types, challenges, and benefits of school, family, and community partnerships internationally. Discusses six types of involvement essential for a comprehensive program of partnerships in relation to the articles in this focused journal issue. Considers challenges and benefits of these partnerships as illustrated by the…