Describes why partnership programs are a current focus of attention for providing integrated services for children, youth, and families. Reviews some current school-community linkages and explores features of effective programs supporting families and children. Suggests building on practice of early childhood teachers and training educators to…

Describes an ethnographic dissertation that portrays how patterns of culture and history in a rural community in Maine negatively influence many rural students' academic aspirations. Consolidated schools exacerbate the effect by separating students from their parents and communities and alienating them in school. (TD)

Presents three studies examining the psychometric properties of the Community Service Self-Efficacy Scale developed for program evaluation of service learning in college. The scale was constructed to assess an individual's confidence in his or her ability to make clinically significant contributions to the community through service. Reliability,…

Journals of 30 college students of child development engaged in community-based service learning in multicultural settings revealed three themes. Students: (1) articulated their own approaches or philosophies regarding racial issues; (2) expressed concerns about specific multicultural or race-related incidents; and (3) discussed the resources they…

A Kettering Foundation survey of Newark citizens found that the only consistent supporters of public schools view them as partners in educating children and building community. Schools' standard public-relations techniques (directing messages exclusively to parents and stressing customer satisfaction) are misguided. Ameliorative strategies are…

Release of "A Nation at Risk Report" (1983) provoked citizens to embark on mission to improve schools, teaching, and learning. Evidence shows U.S. schools may not be in such dire shape as reported. Schools have shown they can prepare students for top universities but many do not graduate. To keep alive the promise of education reform and…

Efforts are needed in teacher and school development to reshape the professional culture of teaching. Knowledge of the change process is critical for both creating and sustaining radical reform. When teachers become moral-change agents, they can cultivate powerful cultures required to work with communities in making a difference in learning for…

Increasing national awareness of the importance of a holistic approach to improving postsecondary education puts Appalachian colleges and universities in a potential leadership position due to their experience in integrating student needs, community service, and professional education programs. Discusses faculty development strategies that will…

Asserts that tribal colleges play a pivotal role in both the cultural resilience and in addressing the health problems of a tribal community. Relates Oglala Lakota College (South Dakota) Department of Nursing's leadership role in the development of community resources and identification of private and federal sources of funding. (VWC)

Believes that music teachers must take responsibility and fight to secure the string programs in their school districts. Recommends different steps for action, such as stressing the interaction between the school string program and the community and making sure that the string program is highly visible. (CMK)

Describes use of community-survey research by seventh-grade social studies students to teach research techniques and survey methodology in an authentic setting and record community attitudes about the school to establish strategic school goals. Concludes that the project provided multiple positive results for students while providing a basis for…

The University of New Mexico's Institute for Social Research operates eight centers that conduct policy-related research on criminal justice, criminology, delinquency, and social problems. Projects have focused on inequities in criminal sentencing in New Mexico, juveniles' access to and use of guns, New Mexico's need for a juvenile prison, and the…

Provides a case study of how one religiously-based college attempted to address the issue of cultural diversity through revisiting its mission statement and building linkages with the surrounding communities. Observes that central to the process was collaboration with both local institutional leadership and representatives from immigrant and…

Analyzed data from a 1996 end-of-the-year survey that updated information on schools in the National Network of Partnership Schools, which was designed to build comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. Results indicated that five ingredients were crucial for partnership success: active and supportive action teams,…

Representatives from 34 local interagency coordinating councils were interviewed about interagency agreements for the legally required transition from the infant/toddler to preschool service delivery system at age 3. Results indicated that most communities included the majority of legal transition requirements in their agreements. Policy issues…