The basic socializing and nurturing institution in the United States is the family, which can be considered America's smallest school. This report assembles a variety of measures that are available to indicate what happens outside the school and within the home that is related to educational achievement. Information comes from large-scale surveys and measurement programs. The report's main focus is on the following topics: (1) the parent-pupil ratio; (2) the home library; (3) reading at home; (4) watching television; (5) homework; (6) absence from school; (7) parent involvement; and (8) family resources. Each of these topics has a section to itself and each section includes statistical graphs and charts. A concluding summary reviews all sections. As the nation strives to reach goals for education by the year 2000, the family seems to be playing a smaller role in educational improvement. However, parents can make a great difference, and education in the home can become the platform on which the school can build higher achievement. A total of 31 figures and 2 tables are contained in the text, and 4 additional tables about educational trends are appended. (SLD)