Proponents of homeownership policies often argue that homeowners participate more actively in community life and civic affairs than renters. Although research suggests higher rates of participation among homeowners, the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship are unclear. On one hand, the locally dependent financial investments homeowners…

The 1978 contract negotiations between the teachers and the school board of Philadelphia were important enough to draw in four identified types of third party: government officials (notably the mayor), neutral mediators, community interest groups (representing political, financial, parental, and general public interests), and the news media. The…

Technical capability, a resource needed by citizen groups, can usually be found. The uncertain political authority for decision-making given to citizen groups is a more serious problem. Local groups must learn where their project fits into the local political scheme. (EM)

This model, developed and tested in Vermont, involved a two-day assembly using a technique concentrating on small-group dynamics to encourage productive community assessment and decision-making. Included are exhaustive documentation of an example assembly to consider options for integrating human and environmental requirements in Vermont as a…

Questions aimed at better school-community relations through identification of problems and courses of positive action were pursued at a seminar. Positive statements were presented by a citizen, a businessman, and an educator; and discussions were launched from the propositions, problems, and points raised in these papers. This report consists of…

Methods for encouraging community involvement and training community volunteers for decision making positions in community schools are described. The functions of community schools are to provide a broad diversity of learning opportunities and to involve citizens in assessing community needs, evaluating services, and advocating…

The model, structure, program, and impacts of the Newton (Massachusetts) Community Schools are described as exemplary of community education service delivery. The Newton Community Schools have two components: education of the whole community and the involvement of citizens in program and policy decision-making. Section 1 of the report provides a…

Two longitudinal field studies of the process of information dissemination through newspapers were conducted on two different public affairs topics (regional planning and routing of a high voltage power line) in four communities to examine the role of newspapers in increasing levels of conflict and in creating greater levels of awareness and…

Community colleges should return to the philosophy of localism and team up with community agencies to play an active role in community planning and development. Rural colleges, which are governed by local boards that are more prone to receive immediate community pressure than their urban counterparts, are more suited to the achievement of this…

ASCILOS, an acronym for a symbiotic community in the land of the Sioux, is a new land settlement pattern designed by the Center for Community Organization and Area Development (CENCOAD), sponsored by Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. ASCILOS covers a 60-mile radius around Sioux Falls. ASCILOS, based on symbiosis in nature, assumes that…

The organization and implementation of a community school program is discussed under the topics of citizen participation, functions of the community school council, organizational procedures, and coalition building. Community education consists of two components: the provision of a broad diversity of learning opportunities (after-school programs,…

The Institute for Responsive Education (IRE) is a private, nonprofit organization involved in research, policy analysis, assistance to local sites, and development of a national information clearinghouse and network for citizen groups. IRE recommends an approach to community based education that encourages citizen participation in decision-making…

This bibliography features an extensive collection of articles and books on the subject of school-community relations. Topics covered include school-community relations (general); program, organization, and administration; school-community relations activities; school-community relations processes; specific publics; political aspects; research;…