School-community partnership programs can help teachers reach children in the crucial years from birth to 4, thereby preventing reading difficulties and raising future test scores. Many organizations help families in starting their children on the road to lifetime reading by distributing free books and pamphlets on reading aloud to children. (SM)

East Tennessee State University has reshaped its education of medical, nursing, and allied health students to create a rural primary-care track curriculum that meets the needs of two medically underserved rural counties. The community-based experiential program shows students the realities of community public health and provides much-needed…

A principal recounts her year-long journey to pull a southern Oregon school community together. She used two problem- solving strategies (Situation-Target-Plan and force-field analysis) to alter cultural norms, guide the community through planned change, and integrate staff development, organization development, and action research. (MLH)

Offers suggestions for former school board members who want to stay involved in the district. They can serve as critical friends, community liaisons, or cheerleader/resource persons. (LMI)

Profiles "Civil Law Mini-Trials," an instructional activity developed by P.A.T.C.H. (Participatory Awareness Through Community Help). The Mini-Trials allow students to participate in mock civil cases including preparation, presentation of arguments, debriefing afterwards, and a discussion of the real case verdict. Discusses other P.A.T.C.H.…

Illustrates that history can be brought to life and internalized in an authentic fashion in a variety of situations. Demonstrates the step-by-step process by which teacher and class can formulate, prepare, plan, research, rehearse, and present role-playing simulations for class, school, and community. Includes a student persona worksheet.…

Parents and community members must be educated to understand nongraded primary education and how primary age children need to be schooled in order to provide the best education. The larger school community should play a significant role in developing and implementing nongraded plans. Schools must encourage parents and community volunteers to…

Campus police and other college officials believe the 16,237 alcohol arrests and 7,060 drug arrests on college campuses in 1996 reflect tougher enforcement, not increased usage among students. This is particularly true in states such as Michigan, where state law concerning underage drinking has changed, and in communities where enforcement is…

Examines general education in the context of postmodern critiques of contemporary civilization. Suggests that the fundamental crisis facing educators is the increasing marginalization of higher learning by commodity marketers, corporate trainers, and producers of "infotainment." (JDI)

Students at Clay County High School (West Virginia) get real-world work experience through the school's comprehensive School-to-Work program, now in its third year. Given the limited job availability in this poor rural area, the school supplements work-site experiences with school-based business enterprises, student construction projects, and…

Examines the discourses of educational decentralization in present educational policy development (1994-1997) in South Africa with reference to the South African Schools Act (SASA). Explores the different understandings of educational decentralization; the notions of educational decentralization embedded in the SASA; and a manifestation of…

Describes Project ARTS (Arts for Rural Teachers and Students), a 3-year community-based research and development program for students with high interest and abilities in the performing and visual arts. Focuses on the project's curriculum and assessment. Addresses the applicability of the program to other rural areas. (CMK)

Describes Staffordshire University Lichfield Centre (SULC) as a partnership program formed in response to the changing environment of UK higher education and the needs of the local economy. States that SULC aims to provide lifelong learning opportunities to local people and businesses, specializing in business, computing and information…

Recognizing its integral role in the community, Boise (Idaho) renovated its 100-year old high school instead of building a new one. The architect, contractor, principal, students, and teachers cooperated throughout the planning and construction. The city enacted a "smart code" to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings and a…

Advice on making facilities facilitate education includes: an educational vision comes first, involve all stakeholders, working smarter requires a systems approach, systems-focused planning takes time, partnerships stretch limited resources, "beautiful" is not expensive, change is tough, building a community is as important as building a…