Analysis of data from the 1996 Religious Identity and Influence Survey found that certain conservative Protestant groups, especially Pentecostals and charismatics, perceived public schools as hostile to moral and spiritual values. This alienation was associated with the lower and middle classes, large families, rural residence, residential…

A professor at Middlebury College (Vermont) discusses the benefits of teaching outdoors; the development of a bioregional curriculum that interweaves the indigenous, scientific, and literary lineages of a specific place; the use of journal writing to connect students to local geographies and communities; and the value of place-based education for…

The Free School is an independent, alternative elementary school in inner-city Albany (New York) based on open democratic education dedicated to the authentic lives of children. Emotional freedom is balanced by meetings in which everyone participates in solving discipline problems. The highly flexible and individualized curriculum uses the…

Discusses the "Art Staff" program implemented by two sister Illinois high schools that consists of a hand-picked group of students chosen for artistic performance, past and present, or by teacher recommendations. States that Art Staff gives students real-world experiences along with artistic training; their responsibilities include creating…

Young people's growing commitment to contribute voluntarily to larger issues through service is well documented. National service is not a single federal program, but a national purpose beginning with service learning in school and linked with community-based youth development organizations and higher education. Resources are listed. (Contaians 27…

A study compared efforts by two rural schools and two urban schools to implement state instructional reforms in South Carolina. Obstacles to rural schools' reform efforts included insufficient human resources to undertake comprehensive reforms and too much familiarity between school and community members, possibly resulting in limited involvement…

Creates a topology of preservice teachers' responses to community-based service learning within several courses, investigating meanings they made from their community experiences. Data came from interviews and student essays and papers. The article considers the potential value of community- based service learning as an aspect of multicultural…

Describes the evolution, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation of comprehensive school-based mental health services in the Dallas, Texas public schools. A collaboration between mental health services, other health services, and the schools established 10 Youth and Family Centers to serve local schools. Benefits and challenges to coordinated…

Describes a community-based curriculum used for children (ages 12-16) with disabilities in middle school. The program uses real materials, role playing, functional academic lessons, and in-school jobs to assimilate community skills into the school and then generalize them in the community. Curriculum-lesson areas and activities are identified. (CR)

Academic service learning contributes to the renewal and satisfaction of faculty, offers new opportunities to think more consciously and creatively about relationships (faculty/student, disciplinary/interdisciplinary knowledge, campus/community), presents opportunities to contribute to the field's development, and offers a vehicle to faculty,…

Describes a study conducted by Development Strategies that analyzes the local influence of three Catholic schools in the City of St. Louis. Outlines four reasons why these schools are important neighborhood assets: active lay leadership, active pastors, outreach programs, and autonomy afforded by the archdiocese. (JDI)

Presents materials for an instructional activity where students contact and interview members of the local legal community concerning issues of civil law. Includes a series of question and situations that students can use to elicit responses. The questions concern constitutional rights of students, tort law, and family law. (MJP)

Describes challenges involved in ensuring successful transition for youth with emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) and makes recommendations for improving transition services, including: maintain linkages with community agencies and businesses, write cooperative agreements, facilitate referrals to other agencies, and link students with…

A longitudinal study investigated the effectiveness of transition best practices in the education of 30 students with emotional disturbances. Students employed while in school had higher rates of employment, and students whose parents had been involved in their education were more likely to have a successful community adjustment. (Author/CR)

Analyzes four cluster colleges located in the U.S. and Europe that have specialized in helping train the work force for local dominant industries. Argues that college and industry cluster connections can enhance the competitive advantages of clusters and improve opportunities for individuals. (JDI)