A significant theme in the literature on rural education is the extreme interdependence between rural schools and rural communities. Belief in this interdependence has led to a number of initiatives focused on strengthening both student learning and the local community's economic and social resources. Most of these initiatives involve some degree…

The state of Washington implemented the Readiness to Learn program as part of the state's Family Policy Initiative. The primary goal of the program is to serve as a formal link between education and human services by authorizing grants to local school-linked, community-based consortia to develop and implement strategies that ensure children arrive…

This activity guide is intended to further school-family-community partnerships to help all children succeed. The guide is based on "conversation starters" which were created during the initial phase of a Family Involvement/Community Engagement Project conducted by the Laboratory at Brown University from September 1996 through June 1997. In each…

Stating that community colleges are among the leading providers of adult education in the United States, describes college community services, needed policy changes in lifelong education, and new ways to involve adults in the services, such as community and television courses and further cooperation with industry and labor unions. (MF)

Discusses the effects of technological change and demographic shifts on the future of public libraries. Topics include displacement through disintermediation (replacing professional librarians with automated systems), the voucher movement, impact of new media on publishing, new information aggregators, cheaper computing equipment and Internet…

Offers four themes in the scaffolding of a critical education that advance grassroots activism in learning communities of praxis (scale, ownership, connection, and enterprise). Presents an example of a youth development project that affirms democracy via shared decision making, group motivation, self-esteem, and agenda setting opportunities…

Asserts the necessity of developing a U.S. audience educated to appreciate classical music. Discusses a number of innovative programs across the country designed to increase audience participation and appreciation. Proposes implementing outreach and education courses in professional music schools. (MJP)

Describes a program which draws on interagency collaboration, principles of care, needs assessment, and other components to create a community-based system of care. Presents the rationale for each of these components and how they were implemented, data on the children and families served by the program, and a case study. (RJM)

The Fundacion Social, a grassroots organization in Colombia, uses profits from its 14 companies to fund community self-help initiatives aimed at eliminating poverty. Social programs focus on community integration, microbusinesses, recycling, education, and communication. The organization seeks to eliminate structural poverty and is currently…

Two different approaches to community involvement in the schools are demonstrated by participants in the School-Community Connection initiative of the Institute for Responsive Education. The Wisconsin school district connects students to the outside environment, while the Hawaii district brings supportive networks into the school to nurture…

A middle school social studies teacher developed a community service program to help his students learn by doing and relate to the real world and its problems. Students chose issues of concern to them and performed services in those realms to benefit the community (including studying about and eliminating graffiti). (SM)

Discusses ways of reducing violence in America involving the integration of scientific approaches and youth violence intervention and community programs that address both family and social environments. The paper argues that these efforts exemplify the notion that violence is more a product of racism and poverty than of race. (GR)

Reports on the potential for the integration of environmental education in the formal education system with the recent developments in the formulation of a national curriculum in England and Wales. Presents figures depicting the national curriculum attainment target for science and levels of attainment for each age-related stage for science. (16…

The mental health resources available in American Indian communities fall far short of the demonstrated need, especially for Native American adolescents. The Indian Health Care Amendments of 1990 and 1992 are reviewed, and recommendations are made to facilitate community-based programs for American Indians. (SLD)

A survey was conducted of 193 directors of agencies providing home visits as part of early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Findings indicated limited coordination with hospitals, medical specialists, and mental health services; insufficient compensation for service coordination efforts; and state support to…