Each edition of the IDRA Newsletter strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on governance efficacy and includes: (1) Tyranny of Old Ideas About School Board Responsibilities (Abelardo Villarreal and Rosana G.…

This paper focuses on family involvement in the education of teenagers at risk of dropping out from compulsory secondary school. A questionnaire was completed by 131 Spanish and Cypriot families with children at six schools--three in each country. The questionnaire investigated: (1) parental perceptions of their children's activities in their free…

In this article, the authors aim to develop a better understanding among practitioners of the issues faced by fathers of children with a learning disability, and suggest how schools can involve the parents who are regarded by many as "hard to reach". They recontextualize the roles and perceptions of fathers in the light of outcomes from the recent…

This article describes the development of a measure of adult sleep quality: the Adult Sleep-Wake Scale (ADSWS). The ADSWS is a self-report pencil-and-paper measure of sleep quality consisting of five behavioral dimensions (Going to Bed, Falling Asleep, Maintaining Sleep, Reinitiating Sleep, and Returning to Wakefulness). Data were collected from…

This book describes how school systems across the nation are seeking new ways to involve parents while strengthening efforts already in place. The introduction describes the need for strengthening the school's ties to the community, in light of increasing numbers of children living in conditions that predispose them to being at risk, such as…

Creating meaningful links between home and school is a particular concern of teachers and families. As classroom teachers, Betty Shockley and Barbara Michalove heard their students talk often about home literacy events. They wanted to find a way to learn what families valued and practiced, and they wanted to communicate to families how their…

This paper presents a theory to guide administrative practice in establishing and maintaining strong, positive school-home collaboration. It calls for the principal to take an active leadership role in developing and implementing a comprehensive parent-involvement program. It is argued that student academic achievement is more apt to improve…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored parent satisfaction with Year-Round Education (YRE) and its impact on family lives. Data were gathered through 20 interviews with parents of children who attended 2 elementary schools during the first year of a year-round pilot program in a large suburb adjacent to a midwestern city.…

Research provides insight into parent attributes that support partnerships with teachers. These attributes include warmth, sensitivity, nurturance, the ability to listen, consistency, positive self-image, personal competence, and effective interpersonal skills. Researchers have cited positive attitudes, continuous teacher training, involvement in…

This paper describes the nature of "community," provides several examples of what such a community looks like in elementary schools, builds a case for the importance of family-school relationships in the building of community, and describes the family conference as one approach for building a community of learners. Data are based on 2 years of…

The first of the National Education Goals calls for every child to be ready to learn when entering kindergarten. Noting that children are more likely to succeed when schools and families are prepared for each other, this book describes the grassroots efforts of The W.K. Kellogg Foundation School Readiness Initiatives to link families, schools, and…

Recent studies suggest that the involvement of parents and teachers with young children provides natural opportunities for modeling and nurturing positive cultural attitudes. Strategies that support children's multicultural learning within a context of family involvement are of three types. The first of these is parent education and support.…

This book explores the relationship between British parents and education in the context of education reforms and social changes in family life. The general argument is that the debates about British education reforms and corresponding parental roles have taken place without considering the various social changes that have been occurring in family…

"Learning Readiness" is a public school initiative for all 3-4 year old children and their families in Minnesota. The purpose of the Learning Readiness programs is to provide all eligible children with adequate opportunities to participate in child development programs that enable them to enter school with the necessary skills and…

This report comes from a regional seminar on Improving the Links between School, Home and Community in the Asia-Pacific Region in June 1996. Twenty-four participants from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, and Thailand took part in the meeting. Country reports comprised the first two days of…