See how well this describes the parent involvement program at your school.

Research shows that parent involvement makes a significant difference in children's achievement, especially during elementary and middle school. Even though the school year is well underway, there is still plenty of time to make this your school's best year ever for parent involvement. Here are some of the most effective strategies I've come…

How does a principal get past the "daily survival mode" in order to create a successful learning environment? The author's quest to answer this question led her to study the principals at three high-performing schools of low socioeconomic status. The author explored the different roles of principals at the three schools, which included: assuring…

Describes a teacher-developed program to give the parents of fourth graders an opportunity to express their concerns and gain an understanding of the teaching and learning processes. As results of a recent survey show, the program's monthly topical meetings succeeded in strengthening parents' commitment to nurturing their children's academic…

Teacher or principal home visitations help schools better understand students and create a strong school-home link. Basic home interview questions are provided. (DCS)

Describes several corporation-derived client-satisfaction and customer-service standards that principals can use to strengthen relationships with their parents and community. For example, only our clients can judge the quality of our service; our first job is to understand and manage our client's expectations; no matter what we do, some people…

Principals can forge an effective home-school partnership by encouraging teachers to communicate regularly with parents, issuing a monthly principal's newsletter, writing a column in the parent organization's newsletter, hosting informal meetings with parents, issuing parent and student handbooks, and meeting regularly with the parent…

Although autism varies from one child to another, there are several common key factors to creating a successful inclusion program. In this article, the author discusses the factors in inclusion program that works for all. These factors include: (1) Appropriate Placement; (2) Teacher and Paraprofessional Selection; (3) Parental Involvement; (4)…

When working with parents of handicapped children, principals should be aware of the various grieving stages that such parents may be experiencing. This article details these stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) and advises principals to develop a supportive, nonjudgmental attitude while helping parents plan their…

Parent involvement is taking on a new dimension in early childhood education. The changing family life, parent participation, and the importance of leadership are discussed. (15 references) (SI)

A former school principal describes a dozen situations involving parents' excuses for their children's bad behavior or complaints about school procedures and supervisory practices. Suitable administrator responses are given concerning homework completion, "unreasonable" school expectations, divergent interpretations of student attitudes and…

No matter what the local district offers in the area of school-community relations, the principal can make or break a school's public relations program. Principals can win teachers over by giving them time off for brief, unplanned breaks or for attending their own children's special events. Friendliness toward students, parents, and support staff…

Often blindsided by parental anger, principals have little time to prepare for the ensuing conflict. When confronting an angry parent, principals are advised to demonstrate confidence, establish ground rules providing a nonthreatening environment conducive to discussion, keep focused, ask questions, and create pauses in the discussion for…

Report cards have become so quantitative and narrowly focused that their information potential is rarely realized. Achievement test scores do not reflect creativity, curiosity, perseverance, flexibility, imagination, or true thinking ability--qualities excluded from most report cards. Educators can regain public confidence by rethinking reporting…

Based on the premise that the principal's role is crucial in the quality of a school, the author provides 10 specifications for working to improve the quality of principals. (MD)