First-generation students are more likely than non-first-generation students to depart from a postsecondary institution before a degree is attained. Factors that could impact academic persistence among first-generation students include low self-efficacy, lack of financial resources and parental support, poor college planning, and minimal school…

Describes the development of the University of South Florida as a confident, research-oriented university with strong community roots and delineates some of the conditions needed to create such a sense of identity. (EV)

Describes how the University of Wisconsin, Parkside is becoming an engaged university. Discusses regional context, steps taken toward change, linkage between committed leadership and institutionalization of change, and resulting institutional structures. Suggests that key to the process was a working team that visited every department to uncover…

The Maine Department of Education (MDOE) is at the forefront of national efforts to align high school curriculum to college and career readiness standards. Embarking on a mission it calls A Personal Journey for Next Generation Learners, Maine has employed several key strategies to ensure all of its students graduate from high school with the…

Describes the development of a new transformational vision for Albion College in Michigan, which led to a community envisioning process off campus. The result was a new city-college partnership designed to promote the development of the city of Albion as "The Smart Community." (EV)

Describes a program devised to combine efforts of a child welfare agency and a public school system in controlling truancy. (Author/SB)

Discusses common themes in the successes and challenges experienced by some of the chief models of community engagement presented at the "University as Citizen" Conference: Portland State University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of California at San Diego, University of Free State in South…

Describes a program designed to involve school and community persons in an action-oriented problem-solving process related to increased drug use in the schools. Results from three evaluative methods revealed that participants experienced personal learning, increased understanding and sensitivity to others. (Author)

The manual outlines the processes, policies, and actual program implementation of one component of a Minnesota program for emotionally disturbed adolescents (Project SAIL): the development of school-based therapy/intervention groups. The characteristics of SAIL students are described, and some considerations involved in providing group services…

This report discusses the Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Program (Ed-Flex), which authorizes 12 states to grant waivers (temporary exceptions from certain federal requirements) to their local school districts. The report focuses on the scope and limitations of the current Ed-Flex waiver authority, as well as opportunities for…

Describes the Montgomery County, Maryland Public School's model program, Project PROTECTION, an innovative approach for the detection and prevention of child abuse. It involves four phases: staff development, direct service to nonpublic schools, curriculum development, and policy revision. (Author/HMV)

Describes the Center for Engaged Scholarship at the University of South Florida, which operates from the premise that all scholarly work has potential applications beyond academia. Its activities help faculty to partner with community groups while also meeting the expectations of their departments and disciplines. (EV)

This document reports on parent and elementary pupil expectations regarding participation in a Big Brother-Big Sister type program. The parents and students included were all new to the program and experiencing the relationship with a Big Brother or Sister for the first time. In the program a community volunteer befriended a youngster at the…

Discusses eight key elements that should be included in programs (in school districts along the United States-Mexico border) designed to boost immigrant parents' participation and involvement in their children's education. (SR)

A wide variety of internal and external communication methods used by the Piqua City School District (Ohio) are described. A philosophy statement is followed by descriptions of the roles of the board of education, the community, the teachers, the superintendent, and the media in an effective communications program. Among the 41 external…