This article describes an intervention program designed to remediate the school dropout problem by building student self-esteem through experiencing of success in the classroom. Although the intervention model had limited success, it is suggested that the school counselor can become a key person in combating the dropout problem. (Author/LKS)

Discusses the importance of family and community involvement to student achievement. Schools can establish an effective partnership among schools, families, and the community by providing support for families, creating family-community learning centers, supporting the community, providing opportunities for shared responsibility, facilitating the…

Describes the efforts of the Alaska Department of Education and geography educators to develop standards based on the National Geography Standards model. Discusses the statewide public consensus process and includes a chronological table of events. Provides six sample standards and performance criteria from the Alaska 2000 geography standards.…

The University of South Carolina/Columbia responded to the concerns of a small group of students by establishing a permanent office of waste reduction and recycling. Students, faculty, and staff worked together to obtain a grant and matching funds to create a recycling system that reduces waste disposal costs substantially and uses existing campus…

Proposes the home-school connection as a key solution to boost science, mathematics, and technology programs in schools. Suggests that professionals in education must find ways to make connections between school learning and children's learning outside school. Proposes appropriate strategies such as science and mathematics backpacks, minimuseums,…

A family literacy project serving Mexican immigrants taught parents how to encourage literacy development of their children aged three through five and fostered parents' critical literacy by first meeting their needs for functional literacy. Parent participants increased the time spent reading to their children, provided more reading materials at…

Describes an integrated computer-based conferencing and mail system called ICMS (Integrated Conferencing and Mail System) that was developed to encourage students to participate in class discussions more actively. The menu-driven user interface is explained, and ICMS's role in promoting self-assessment and critical thinking is discussed. (eight…

This follow-up study evaluated 2 programs for 40 preschool children with speech disorders: a home parent training program and a clinic-based, low parent involvement program. The home parent training group performed as well or better on measures of speech, language, personal/social skills, and adaptive behavior. Program costs were similar.…

Presents study results concerning the amount and quality of effort invested by Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) students in their college experience. Lists strategies used by SBCC to increase student involvement. Discusses the importance of student contacts with faculty and peers and student involvement in out-of-class activities. (DMM)

Describes a program to improve problem-solving skills of children by incorporating parents as partners in cooperative learning experiences with the children. Research results indicate that students working with parental partners displayed higher problem-solving ability on posttests than those not working with partners. (MDH)

Explores elements of the design of school choice programs, defining outcomes and technical criteria. These criteria are applied to failed choice initiatives in three states and to a proposed initiative in California, the Parents' Choice in Education Amendment. Differential effects in urban and suburban schools are considered. (SLD)

Describes the role of parent information centers in the school selection process, drawing on experiences with six Massachusetts information centers. In spite of insufficient funding and overwhelming work loads, these centers are providing valuable information to help parental school choice and to promote parent participation in school decision…

Parent participation programs that are to effectively meet the needs of all families need to give equal consideration to the needs of all families represented in the class. Teachers are offered guidelines for planning parent participation strategies for their class. (BB)

A survey of 116 elementary school and secondary school teachers in 1 school district examined the influences of different organizational and psychological factors on teachers' willingness to participate in decision making at the school level. Teachers vary in willingness to participate, but teacher-principal working relationships exert significant…

Over 100 interviews with teachers and administrators provide the base for this analysis of teacher empowerment in several highly decentralized school districts. Examined are (1) how teachers respond to opportunities for influence; (2) how such opportunities affect teaching; and (3) how opportunities affect teachers' work lives and sense of…