Addresses the feasibility of developing rural community transition councils to improve transition services for students with disabilities. Describes the role of local transition councils in relation to the context of rural communities and transition services. Includes suggestions for enhancing community cohesiveness and community capacity to…

Provides an overview of the Whole Village Project in Boston (Massachusetts), a two-year project that fosters partnerships among parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to bring about comprehensive reform in these urban schools. Each school identified its own most urgent problem and then developed a comprehensive approach through…

One Hawaiian school, which serves gifted and dyslexic students, created the Mentorship Program for high school students and certain students in grades 5-8. The program sends students into the community with mentors experienced in various fields, teaching them real world skills in real world environments. Evaluation shows that everyone in the…

Reports on health care and social service providers in Seattle (Washington) whose clients are mainly inner-city teens. It discusses the costs and benefits of collaboration among these organizations for adolescent service delivery and the conditions that support and threaten collaborative relationships. Special reference is made to changing…

Presents effective strategies to enhance parental support for school second-language (L2) programs, focusing on orientating parents to L2 programs, capitalizing on current international events, direct parent-teacher cooperation, and involving parents in cultural projects. Techniques for engendering support for Ukrainian L2 language programs are…

Advocates that the design and implementation of an early childhood unit in public elementary schools must be adapted to young children's unique needs. Such adaptation can occur by means of developmentally appropriate programs that require proper training for school administrators and staff, program accountability, and promotion of parent and…

Kentucky's 1990 Education Reform Act instituted new governance structure creating school-based councils composed of parent and teacher representatives who participate with principals in decisions involving eight major areas. School councils' role has remained ambiguous in personnel matters. Model presented here enhances principal's decision-making…

Explored how drug and alcohol aftercare case management service for adolescents (n=18) contributed to maintenance of drug- and alcohol-free behavior, adherence to aftercare plans, and participation of schools and families in aftercare plans. Found different patterns of outcome results for each of four identified groups of adolescents. Results…

Outlines the steps involved in constructing an art gallery in an arts magnet school for middle school students. The work in the classrooms echoes the themes selected for exhibitions. Describes how teachers, parents, and students are actively involved in the creation and maintenance of the gallery. (KM)

Describes how a small rural town in Washington complied with state legislation mandating community planning to address population growth and environmental degradation. The city planner, with the help of graduate students, involved citizens in deciding land use issues by holding open forums, developing a focus group, educating high school students…

Discusses the characteristics, origins, and evolution of Latin American "popular education," a nonformal approach that incorporates consciousness raising and activist organization in the education of economically and politically subjugated adults. Describes community participatory-investigation activities as the typical first step beyond…

School districts must address health and academic challenges homeless children bring to school by forming community-based task forces, helping homeless shelters address families' needs, increasing staff awareness, and developing strategies to encourage homeless children's academic success. The paper notes opportunities for staff involvement and…

As part of Alberta's provincial initiative, Brooks School District used administrator, teacher, and student input to develop quality indicators of responsible student behaviors and values that contribute to academic success. Baseline data were collected on homework completion, vandalism, disciplinary actions, and academic achievement. Community…

Students discover science resources in their neighborhood that help them see the relevance and long-term applications of concepts learned in the classroom. Students explore people, objects, and geographic resources beginning in the school and extending out into the community. (MDH)

Touts the advantages of experiential learning through educational games, or simulations, as provided by outdoor-learning centers. The organization of outdoor learning is discussed along with ways for integrating community groups into the activities. Included are five examples, a bibliography, and contact information for two centers that support…