The inability of the United States to narrow the achievement gap stems to a large extent from school reform initiatives that neglect the specific conditions in the lives of low-income students that contribute heavily to inadequate school performance. A new consensus is emerging that a more effective approach would be to prevent the achievement gap…

Explores communities of learning as innovative models for overcoming homeless children's immediate education obstacles while working toward long-term stability. Sheltered communities provide specialized education services for children and their parents and family support services. Profiles three model communities in New York City, Oregon, and…

In 1993, the Connecticut State Department of Education received federal support for the activities of nine existing Family Resource Centers (FRC) and for funding new FRCs. The FRCs were based on the premise that many childhood and adolescent problems can be prevented by strengthening effective family management practices and establishing a…

Considering the many problems affecting today's children, school-based family services represent a caring, comprehensive model for addressing the needs of students and their families. Examines the rationale for this evolving model, the need to streamline administrative procedures, and the leadership skills required of school administrators seeking…

Describes design and implementation of the outreach and dissemination approach used by the National Center on Education in the Inner Cities, with emphases on building on existing structures for information dissemination, training, and technical support for research utilization. Application of the Model of Outreach and Utilization was guided by two…

Full-service community schools may be the most popular examples of public school transformation. The success formula features interventionist, "wrap-around services" for individuals, children, and families. From this model and its lessons arises another model that stresses interdependence, collaboration, and enlightened self-interest.…

This guidebook was developed to offer program ideas and resource aids that can help address some major barriers to student learning and performance. Much of the focus is on early-age interventions, but some is on primary prevention and some is on addressing problems as soon after onset as feasible. The material is organized into a set of units,…

A 2-day conference was sponsored by the Department of Special Education and the Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation at Teachers College (Columbia University, New York), "Working Mother" magazine, The Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, and the U.S. Department of Education. More than 350 parents, teachers, school…

This guide presents profiles of 26 state, regional, and local programs that have been effective in meeting the needs of students with emotional/behavioral disabilities and their families. Each of the programs reflects in varying degrees the care value, principles, and framework developed by the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP).…

This final report describes accomplishments and activities of a four-year federally funded project to provide technical assistance to Colorado children and youth with deafblindness. Accomplishments are detailed for each of the following six project goals: (1) identification of children with deafblindness; (2) development and maintenance of…

This article proposes a home computing intervention program aimed at empowering children with learning disabilities and their parents. The program aims to promote children's academic performance and emotional growth, and is based on a sense of coherence construct. Two suggested strategies are viewed as representing a continuum of parent-child…

A "grassroots" model for developing a parent-school partnership to help communities achieve the national Education 2000 goals is presented in this paper. The model is based on two assumptions about parenting: (1) parents are responsible for child-rearing; and (2) professionals are responsible for educating parents. Recommendations for a…

Parents of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students often face linguistic and cultural challenges while trying to support their children's education. Parents depend on educators to help them strengthen their abilities in these areas. Language, literacy, and cultural needs may vary widely, and parent education programs should be adapted to this…

Estimates suggest that 20 to 25% of U.S. students change schools each year, and this figure is higher in school districts with a relatively large immigrant population. The guidelines in this technical assistance packet provide strategic suggestions for welcoming newcomers to a school or district, something that has become an essential facet of…

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…