This report examines the contrasting views of parents and students about what goes on in and around the school building. Two focus groups and eight in-depth interviews were conducted with children in the New York City area in addition to interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 parents of children in public schools and classroom…

This conference sought to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how parents, teachers, and other concerned individuals can contribute to strengthening the educational support system, and to generate practical information on strategies to improve achievement levels of youth. A conference program prospectus by Louise M. Tomlinson offers a…

This study explores how selected course experiences at the University of Memphis (Tennessee) influenced preservice teachers' perceptions of their comfort and competence levels in planning and implementing parent involvement programs. The course required of all elementary and early childhood education students, called "School/Community…

Designed to encourage students to become involved with their school and community, this handbook presents a compilation of service and school spirit activities developed by the Meadow Park Intermediate School in Beaverton, Oregon. Information about how to organize a spirit or service club is presented, and three school spirit projects (locker…

This report describes the following four areas of compliance in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) public school Remedial Plan for Services to Asian Limited English Proficiency students: (1) vocational support services; (2) Welcome Centers; (3) communications; and (4) overage youth. Data were obtained through interviews with key program personnel,…

The English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program in the Athens (Ohio) City School District is described. The program is organized as a pull-out program and focuses on development of language arts and literature and is intended as a transitional program. The report contains the following: statements of the school district's philosophies concerning…

This document consists of a 3-year compilation (9 issues) of the RaPAL (Research and Practice in Adult Literacy) Bulletin. Typical articles are: "Student Involvement in Research" (a report of a workshop by Alex Golightly, Nick Nicola, and Marilyn Stone); part of a dialogue between Paolo Freire and Ira Shor, writer/educators of Brazil and…

This book compares small schools in various countries with large ones and offers cost effective strategies for small schools. Part I focuses on social, economic, and educational issues related to small schools. Small schools are beneficial to their communities as centers of social development. In addition, small schools have a more cooperative…

This study looks at the relationship between athletic participation among middle grade African American students and academic achievement, particularly athletics, as an instrument through which students gain academic resilience and attachment to academic goals. The data for the analysis were drawn from the base year of the National Education…

A first stage evaluation of the Even Start Program of the Newark (New Jersey) public schools is presented. Even Start is an early childhood parental involvement program in its third year of implementation. Goals are to involve parents as active partners, to help children develop cognitively and affectively, and to improve adult literacy and…

The Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development undertook a 2-year project to assess non-school programs offered by various community-based youth organizations. This project included focus group interviews with youth about their current activities and preferences for after-school activities. Sixteen focus groups were conducted in the metropolitan…

These two documents pertain to the "Parents and Schools: Success through Partnership" program. The presentation guide for school administrators and Teachers" is intended to help school personnel present the program and its associated video, which addresses common culturally-based causes of misunderstandings between Hispanic American parents and…

Research, policy, and practice in the field of school and family partnerships are reviewed; and practical ideas are offered to help educators move toward partnership. Important distinctions are drawn in approaches that avoid or promote full partnerships. Less than adequate approaches discussed are a protective model, a school-to-home transmission…

Findings are presented from studies on the use of radio for teaching primary school children mathematics in Honduras and Bolivia and English as a Second Language in Lesotho. Interactive radio instruction (IRI) is so called because of the active participation of the students. Although lessons are presented by conventional radio, scripts are written…

This sourcebook is designed to give urban educators new information and strategies for working with parents of elementary school students through grade 6. Its five workshops explore how family life, school programs, teacher practices, and district policies can help build school-family partnerships for learning. Threaded through these workshops are…