Alumni clubs and the alumni administrators on campus who help organize them have found that community work provides the added purpose that some groups have traditionally lacked. A community service goal can galvanize a diverse group, sustain loyalty, and extend the reach and reputation of even the most prominent institution. (MLW)

Describes the work of itinerant librarians in the United States who organized library collections across the country from 1887-1915. Positive results included the widespread adoption of standard classification and cataloging schemes and the training of local librarians. However, low salaries and the practice of employing untrained people were also…

Describes a Houston, Texas, school superintendent's effort to establish a shelter for homeless and unattended children. The project, depending on support from community agencies and featuring a modest budget, received board approval through June 1989. (MLH)

Planning teams trained to facilitate the Institute for Development of Educational Activities, Inc. (IDEA) school improvement program headed pilot programs at nine Oklahoma City schools. This paper summarizes a study examining the program's implementation process, its contribution to participating schools, and benefits for future participants.…

This article presents an experimental community-based prevention planning model which was established to solicit involvement of adults and youth from high risk communities in an effort to prevent substance abuse through provision of positive outreach activities. The model's components, methodology, and preliminary findings are described. (IAH)

Responding to concerns over the lack of statewide assessment, Vermont educators, with citizen support, have decided to use portfolios of student work, beginning with writing and mathematics and expanding into other curriculum areas. Standardized tests will play an important, although secondary role. Student and teacher responsibility will increase…

Only the federal government has the power and resources to address the housing crisis. National policy should extend resources to grassroots groups which will design housing programs and policies according to local conditions. Important issues are: (1) preserving existing subsidized housing; (2) providing capital; (3) constructing affordable…

Partnerships are an integral part of the core values of community education. Through partnerships, the community education process can be used to address virtually any educational problem and demonstrate an impact at the local level. The best coalitions are those in which all segments of the community are involved. (SK)

In the nation's capital, 53 schools are participating in the Comer School Development Program, which sponsors meaningful, engaging activities involving students, parents, and community members. The Comer framework comprises three school governance mechanisms (the school development team, the parent program, and the mental health team), three…

Responds to an article written regarding the maturity of educational research. Contends that, to achieve a democratic research process, the local needs and conditions of the public (including teachers, students, parents, and the community) must be the driving force in deciding what to research. (ZWH)

Describes how "Colorado's Information Literacy Guidelines" were written and implemented and provides suggestions for developing similar guidelines. Discusses drafting parameters, revisions and community participation, final editing and distribution, and three projects that are contributing to successful implementation. (AEF)

The Rindge School's innovative curriculum is based on the following principles: the importance of academic knowledge in technical training; teaching of all aspects of an industry; student participation in community development projects; and interdisciplinary courses, career pathways, and internships. (SK)

Connecting students to reading and writing means connecting them to real-world readers and writers. Writers' Day at one Pennsylvania middle school was established to bring regular working professionals (not authors or poets) from the community to school to share how writing is used in their professional and personal lives. All participants…

Presents the theoretical position that as people participate in sociocultural activities, they contribute to the development of community practices that simultaneously contribute to the individuals' own development. Illustrates this argument using observations of the developmental processes of individual Girl Scouts and of community traditions of…

A roundtable discussion with participants in the Boston (Massachusetts) Whole Village Project illustrates the complexities of urban reform efforts focusing on cooperation among school, parents, and community. Participants were three principals, a school-based parent coordinator, and three education reform project directors. (SLD)