Charter schools have developed in response to a demand for innovation in public education. Charter schools often begin with much parent and community involvement; yet, the role of parents is often unclear. This paper presents findings of a study that examined parent participation in one urban and one suburban charter school in the northeastern…

This case study of a school-based parent center in a low-income Latino community, based on action research, investigated ways in which low-income parents became involved with their child's school, and identified barriers and supports to the implementation of various parent involvement activities. Data were collected through participant…

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 presents findings of a study that investigated parent's views of their involvement with their children in Elementary and Secondary Educational Act (ESEA) Chapter 1 programs, in school activities, and at home. Chapter 1 students in the study were low achievers from economically disadvantaged family backgrounds in the Chicago Public…

These three brochures are short guides to show how parents, schools, and communities can support family involvement in education and help build a better educational environment. Noting that communities that support schools and families are better places to live, work, and learn, The "Join Together for Kids" brochure provides information…

In an era of organizational restructuring and technological change, individuals can no longer plan on spending their entire working lives with one organization. Career paths are no longer a linear rise up the ladder. Adult career counselors deal with an extremely heterogeneous population who are at vastly different stages of life. Their clients'…

This paper examines the need for educators to work from a systems approach and become more involved in understanding the culture and family of minority students if these students are to learn the skills necessary to cope in school and society. The focus of the paper is on the Black student and begins with three vignettes, examples of questions…

Noting that although the benefits of working closely with parents and families are widely recognized, many schools do not enjoy close partnerships with their communities, this document describes the Taking Stock program, which is intended to help develop more extensive, creative, and responsive strategies for collaboration. The goals of the…

The 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW) surveyed 2,877 employees regarding the relationship between workers' lives on and off the job and changes in the nature of work. The report also provides a historical perspective by comparing data from 1997 with data from the 1992 NSCW and from the U.S. Department of Labor's 1977 Quality of…

Planning for smooth transitions of young children and their families receiving educational and other services evolved out of a concern for providing continuity in the environment of young children. This document of the SouthEastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE), a consortium of educational organizations devoted to promoting and supporting…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on learning organization practices. "Learning Lenses of Leading Organizations: Best Practices Survey" (Laurel S. Jeris) shows that successful learning organizations view learning initiatives through multiple lenses with a clear, sustained focus on strategic outcomes. "Dimensions…

Guidelines and ideas for creating successful school/community projects are provided in this handbook. Organized like a cookbook, the book contains 43 chapters by individual contributors who take a community-based approach to education, in which the schools are the pivotal institutions of a community. The first section outlines the roles, or…

This document provides an overview of a family literacy demonstration project conducted to offer family literacy classes in three public schools in Philadelphia. The project was designed to help adults meet their own needs and to enable them to support their children's learning. The whole-language, learner-centered approach was used. Background…

More than 58 percent of all women working in the U.S. labor force, many of them sole supports of their families, and 67 percent of women with children under age 18 are working. Therefore, more flexible work options are being made to allow a balance of work and family. Increasingly available options include work at home, compressed workweeks,…

This bulletin describes how schools are building coalitions with parents, businesses, and social agencies as part of their restructuring efforts. Data were derived from a review of literature and interviews conducted with principals, parents, teachers, business people, social workers, and state administrators. Chapter 1 outlines the general…