This report summarizes some of AISD's parent and community involvement activities for the 2004-2005 school year.

A community college polled its basic skills students about their high school academic experience and study skills and habits. Most felt that too little had been expected of them, and that their remedial program experience had made them better students. An increase in academic underpreparedness is forecast. (Author/MSE)

Community residences for small groups of people and day activity programs designed to increase functional levels for severely multiply handicapped persons with visual problems, are proposed as the only viable, humane alternative to institutionalization. Sources of funding for these goup home and day activity programs, which cost the same as…

Presents an overview of the field of school social work, discusses some problems commonly encountered by teachers, administrators, and social workers attempting to work together on behalf of students, and presents some guidelines for educators to facilitate the use of school social work. (Author)

Discusses a community-based nonformal education movement in Papua New Guinea to use hundreds of the country's languages to teach initial literacy in local preschool and adult education programs. The article describes this movement, the proposed government reform of the English-only formal education system and the ensuing conflicts. (37 references)…

Discusses Navajo acculturation and language loss. Argues that Navajo parents must understand the importance of their involvement in the bilingual classroom, the services and funding available to meet their children's needs, teacher skills necessary for effective bilingual classrooms, and what schools must do to optimize parental involvement in…

Outlines criteria of distance education success established by both the state of Iowa and the Federal Star School program. Discusses progress made by Iowa toward federal goals, including infrastructure development, service to underserved learners, improved instruction, increased professional development, greater access to electronic technologies,…

Briefly discusses Alexis de Tocqueville's observation that the United States is a nation largely defined by its civic and social organizations. Contrasts this with the recent assertion that the nation is suffering a decline in social capital. Proposes a combination of character and citizenship education as a possible remedy for this. (MJP)

Describes the necessity in college developmental algebra classes for an individualized learning approach that caters to remedial students' different needs. The Mediated Learning Model, used at Brevard Community College, integrates the core elements of traditional instruction with interactive multimedia. (VWC)

Discusses core issues of remedial/developmental education, including state policies, cost, standards, effectiveness, and which sector of higher education should provide it. Describes characteristics of remediation students and provides policy recommendations. (27 citations) (YKH)

Analyzes the political arguments and special interests surrounding the recent referendum regarding the separation of Quebec from Canada. Characterizes the separatists' campaign as defined by lies, evasion, and demagoguery. Discusses the political reconfiguring occurring among the profederalists. (MJP)

Presents a fascinating comparison of the musical styles and respective theologies between an Anglican church service and a black fundamentalist service. Maintains that the Anglican service depends on a logocentric vision of the world, separating emotion from intellect. The black church exemplifies a more holistic, transcendent experience. (MJP)

Describes a method for assessing schools' performance in relation to socioeconomic indicators of their location. Such indicators include, the percentage of owner-occupied houses, car ownership, unemployment, and overcrowding. Discusses the process of indexing these indicators and their relation to school performance. (MJP)

Profiles a 16-week learning unit that led students to develop literacy in their native Spanish, as well as academic and computing skills. The reading and writing assignments incorporated grammar, geography, and local and family histories to create a sense of pride in the students' community and culture. (MJP)

A Guatemalan program teaches Indigenous working children where they work--in the streets. The teachers, who are also Mayan, accommodate student needs and involve parents. This program of popular education empowers poor children and adults to participate in public life and lead the way in the creation of a democracy. (Contains 20 references.) (TD)