This booklet answers parents' questions about the following: Kentucky's Writing Portfolio program, the process which leads to effective writing, and the parent's role in the development of children's writing skills. The first section discusses the stages of the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) and how…

This practicum project sought to improve nutrition in a day care program serving children ages 2 through 14 years by increasing staff, student, and parent knowledge about nutrition. The primary goal was to increase knowledge and interest in nutrition and its relation to wellness of students, staff, and parents. The second goal was to provide…

Studies indicate that information provided by students may contribute to successful implementation of educational innovations, but educators seldom seek out student perspectives. In April and May 1997, over 160 high school students participated in 16 focus groups in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The students were primarily…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles parents play in students' learning of mathematics in the home setting and to examine the relationships between parental involvement and students' learning of mathematics. This study attempts to identify the kinds of parental roles which contribute to students' learning of mathematics. This…

This paper describes how one professional development elementary school in Detroit (Michigan) encouraged high levels of parent involvement. In 1993, school faculty joined with six universities to form a collaborative partnership. The group believed that all partners had an equal voice and that parents should participate in all meetings and groups.…

A study evaluated the Title 1 Reading Program that served 5,298 underachieving pupils in grades 1 through 8 in the Columbus, Ohio, public schools. The program provided service to 76 public elementary schools, 24 public middle schools, and 14 nonpublic schools. Program teachers provided small group instruction to strengthen reading skills in grades…

A study evaluated the Title 1 Reading Program that served 3,944 underachieving pupils in grades 1 through 8 in the Columbus, Ohio, public schools. The program provided service to 62 public elementary schools, 22 public middle schools, and 10 nonpublic schools. Program teachers provided small group instruction to strengthen reading skills in grades…

This guide is designed to help students understand civics and government as well as the social, organizational, and technological systems that effect citizenship. It proposes use of a multimedia curriculum intended to combine the skills, knowledge, and content of civics with the workplace. The guide provides a rationale for an interdisciplinary…

Designed for parents in Kentucky, this handbook describes the Kentucky primary program and provides information about how parents can work with schools during the transition from preschool to ensure that their children receive an appropriate education. Children with educational disabilities are served in a variety of ways in the primary program.…

The science education reform movement is difficult for parents to understand because the new constructivist paradigm is far afield from science education as parents experienced it themselves. Educators in a New England middle school developed a new science curriculum without inviting general parental input. The problem addressed by this study was…

A study examined 64 eighth-grade students' perceptions of opportunities available from participating in service learning and contrasted these with perceived learning opportunities available in school. Each student was enrolled in a 10-week required service learning course. Students visited service sites daily and had reflection periods two times…

The results of a survey of 14 Minnesota school districts on the participation of students with disabilities in the Basic Standards Exams are examined in this report. Findings indicate that all 14 districts had at least 50 percent of all eligible students with disabilities participate in the April 1996 testing cycle. Ten districts indicated they…

This report discusses the results of two surveys that investigated the participation of students with limited English proficiency (LEP) in Minnesota's Basic Requirements Exams. In the first survey, 13 school districts answered questions about the participation of students with LEP in Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests. Ten of the districts reported…

This study investigated the effects of different types of learning communities in residence halls on the learning and intellectual development of first-year students at the University of Missouri (Columbia). Information sources included existing campus data and responses to the College Student Experiences Questionnaire. Compared to 469 students…

Changes in the preschool education system are provided for by a new federal law in Portugal, Law 5/97, Law for Preschool Education. This law calls for a new role for the State that involves fewer direct services, less bureaucracy, more efficient supervision, and a greater regulating and compensating role. The law requires parents to participate in…