This paper reviews the literature examining the lifelong challenges to family members represented by the birth of a child with severe disabilities. The paper addresses issues of family life, the systems that affect families, and current and future concerns related to having a child with severe disabilities. Studies addressing families of infants,…

This paper uses the 1997 National Survey of America's Families to examine child care patterns for young children in the United States. The paper examines three general features of children's early care and education participation: (1) primary care arrangements, classified as center-based care, family child care, relative care, nanny or babysitter,…

Many parents do not know how to become involved in their children's education, and many teachers do not receive enough training in working with families. This quarterly early childhood digest discusses ways families and schools can work together to help young children learn and grow. The digest begins by describing how a teacher's home visit…

This study examines middle school teachers', absentee students', and their parents' perceptions of factors related to excessive school absences; perceptions of the degree to which they think they can contribute a solution to the problem; and expectations regarding one another's responsibility for the problem. Data was obtained from middle school…

The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES), 1999, is a telephone survey data collection program conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Based on NCES data, this report provides an estimate of the number of home-schooled students in the United States, characteristics of home-schooled children and their…

This report announces the publication of an annotated bibliography on family literacy and family literacy programs. The bibliography summarizes writings and research on family literacy and on topics directly relevant to family literacy programs. Directed toward program staff, researchers, community leaders, and policymakers, the publication covers…

This paper asserts that early childhood teachers need to consider the families with whom they work in order to select the most effective ways to involve them in their child's education. The paper presents strategies mentioned most often in interviews with teachers and families working in effective family involvement programs. Each strategy is…

Advocating for young children is a primary focus of professionals in early childhood education (ECE). The complex nature of the EC profession requires comprehensive and multidimensional professional development opportunities. The purpose of this study was to identify current challenges faced by ECE professionals. The intent was to gather…

This report captures the essence of four schools in four different communities participating in a study on young immigrant children in U.S. schools. The schools were selected from a national network of schools implementing the Schools of the 21st Century (21C) program, which provides a range of services such as child care, health care, home…

Changing attitudes, economics, and social norms have transformed how children are cared for. This nationwide survey examined views of parents, nonparental adults, employers, and children's advocates regarding child care and some of the policy debates these changes have spawned. Data collection methods included telephone surveys of 815 parents of…

This monograph describes a professional development model that supports educators and families in learning and growing together. It offers a theoretical framework and practical guidance for renewing the capacity of schools to produce positive results for all children. It embraces principles of collegiality, inquiry, learning, and community. Part…

School improvement is a complex, multifaceted process requiring continuous planning, implementation, and monitoring over a sustained period. This skills packet provides schools with an awareness of the school- improvement process and serves as a resource to plan for school improvement. Schools are strongly encouraged to participate in a series of…

This study focused on urban public schools in an effort to: (1) gather further information about the nature and extent of parent-involvement attitudes and practices in public inner-city schools; and (2) investigate the relationships among socio-demographic factors that previously have been found to be crucial for parent participation, parent…

This paper describes the School Community Partnership Development (SCPD) and the Deaf Parent to Hearing Parent Project (DPHPP), which are sources for school improvement and parent education and for the organization and empowerment of communities for long-term change. Families involved in the SCPD engage in math and science activities throughout…

This paper considers the efficacy of utilizing the elementary school community as a therapeutic support system for children who have experienced severe stressors. Schools are in an advantageous position of recognizing the presence of pathology in children. The school setting is most demanding of all situations in which children generally are…