High levels of parent involvement in their children's education result in higher student achievement; higher attendance levels; a decline in dropout rates; fewer disciplinary problems; and better student motivation, self-esteem, and behavior. Since unacknowledged parents withdraw from the school, schools should acknowledge parent participation. To…

This book is designed to provide Montana communities with the most current research-based information available concerning drug and alcohol prevention/education program planning. It also provides a concise overview of the programs being conducted in various Montana communities. It is intended for use as a resource manual, to provide readers with…

The engine that drives the America 2000 strategy is the Community Challenge--a nationwide movement designed to help America move itself, community by community, toward the six National Education Goals. A community can do four things to become an America 2000 community: (1) adopt the six national education goals; (2) develop a communitywide…

Suggestions for helping communities achieve the first National Education Goal--by the year 2000, all children will start school ready to learn--are presented in this document. The ways in which readiness is developed and what communities can do to support families are described. Examples are provided of 13 community projects that are preparing…

One form of linkage between the two-year college and its community is a college alumni group. A review of the literature indicates that two-year college alumni organizations do not have a long history, and those which do exist are very recent creations. They can benefit the college by: (1) providing a good form of external public relations for…

This handbook offers school districts a suggested framework for planning the implementation of a sex education program with minimal funds, using existing teachers, and building on existing support among parents, students, faculty, and administrators. In the first section of the guide, the planning and implementation process is briefly described,…

The establishment of university microcomputer services for the public has at least two purposes: the promotion of the image of the institution with widely diverse groups and the maximization of the university's capital investment. The first step in planning to serve the public is to undertake a needs assessment by locating target populations…

The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, discusses special education needs in band-operated schools in Manitoba. These are local Indian reserve schools under the direction of locally elected education authorities. The paper reports on a survey of needs (indicating 31% of students suspected of needing special…

Cable television's local access option may be a way for colleges and universities to expand their media offerings. For example, some institutions are using cable capabilities to broadcast direct and inservice instruction or to provide hands-on training for broadcast students. A small private liberal arts college in Iowa successfully uses cable…

Community college foundations came into their own in the mid-1970's as a means of helping colleges achieve their missions and goals through community involvement and alternative fundraising and resource development. By 1978, 546 of 1,037 public community colleges had active or inactive foundations. The literature on these organizations suggests…

This collection of articles addresses the role of community colleges in serving the specialized interests of organized community groups. After introductory comments on the topic, Seymour Eskow discusses how societal changes necessitate a reexamination of the role of the community college and an increased orientation to community organizations.…

The Ways to Improve Schools and Education (WISE) Project sought to enhance school productivity by more effective use of community resources. WISE worked with three sites: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; and Oklahoma City, in 1983-84. In 1985, three more sites were added: Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; and New Orleans,…

The manual is designed to encourage school districts to use community resources to expand educational opportunities for gifted students. Suggestions for planning such community enrichment programs address locating and screening resources, developing community relationships, and integrating resources into the instructional program. Examples of ways…

A teacher helped her students learn how to assess a community and its health needs and how to work with community leaders to plan, carry through, and evaluate a health care program. (Author/MW)