Noting that educating children requires commitment and resources from the whole community as well as the schools, this document explores school-based collaborations with social services and family programs to improve students' performance. The document first provides a rationale for school-linked programs, then describes the School-Linked Services…

During the 1980s, school-community partnerships increased nationwide, prompted by diminishing federal and state financial support for education, increasing numbers of at-risk students, and initiatives promoting local decision-making. Numerous examples in the literature portray partnerships involving "adoption" of schools by businesses, school use…

This paper describes one effort to establish a collaborative around the issues of at-risk youth. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's New Futures Initiative was an attempt to build formal structures of collaboration among public and private organizations to address at-risk youth. Data were gathered over 5 years from the six cities in which the program…

Although most educators support the concept of integrating academic and vocational education and recognize the benefits it affords students, implementation of integrated curriculum and instruction is seen as problematical. One myth is that successful integration relies solely on teacher commitment and cooperation. The reality is that although…

The High/Scope Perry Preschool study through age 27 found that high-quality, active learning preschool programs for impoverished African American children cut their crime rate in half, significantly affected their educational performance and level of schooling, increased their earnings and commitment to marriage, and returned $7.16 for every…

This report provides an update of statewide activities in Oregon elementary-secondary education, with a focus on cooperative programs. The first part of the article describes how the College of Education at the University of Oregon acts in partnership to meet the growing needs of children, their families, schools, and communities. Public education…

In the past and present, the communities of Mount Desert Island in Maine have faced the issue of school consolidation. In 1948, the four towns of Mount Desert Island each had their own high school and several elementary schools. Despite an extensive survey and community discussion, the vote to consolidate into one high school was defeated in 1949…

This paper discusses several demographic, economic, and technological trends with implications for rural education and dropout rates in the coming decades. As the American population ages, the focus of public policy will shift from youth services to health, safety, and environmental issues. This shift is likely to result in lower levels of funding…

Designed to speak directly to classroom teachers about their roles as change agents (especially as it applies to improving the teaching of reading and writing), this book uses a combination of strategies, case studies, and a narrative style of writing to bring clarity to what has traditionally been abstract and hidden. The book is in two parts.…

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges has repeatedly identified the strengthening of communications as a key component to developing the California Community Colleges (CCC) as a system. The genesis of communications planning, activities and priorities took place in 1989 with the Burson-Marsteller Communications Action Plan,…

A statewide survey was conducted to document and analyze the variety of direct services to businesses and industry provided by Colorado's 15 community colleges. At each college, the president and the individual responsible for direct instructional services to business were surveyed using a personal interview format in addition to a survey…

This journal issue is devoted to the theme topic "Rural Education." The first article, "Science is Everywhere," by Chris Taylor, presents a project which uses local experts as an integral part of the school's science curriculum. "Better Teachers, Better Readers" by Scott Steen describes a system of strategic reading used in rural Wisconsin school…

The expansion of early childhood education for American Indians and Alaska Natives has reflected the trend in the larger society. While efforts are being made to improve early childhood care and education for all children, deeper issues must be considered by Native Americans. First among them is the long history of forced assimilation and…

This report reviews the implementation of Project Creating a New Approach to Learning (CANAL), part of a court-mandated desegregation plan in Chicago (Illinois), at the end of its first two years. CANAL's goal was to train the constituent representatives of the public schools to engage in shared decision-making and to develop organizational…

The report describes the Kansas State University Community Service Program, which reduces student indebtedness in return for involvement in community service activities. The program is administered and coordinated by students and has four major components: (1) Community Service Teams--interdisciplinary teams of four to five students who live and…