The number of homeless children and youth in the United States is on the rise (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2016). Between 2016 and 2017 in the Los Angeles County Homeless Count, there was a 41% increase in the number of homeless minors (The Los Angeles Service Authority, 2017). Education is key to bringing people out of…

The university aims to form professionals through transmission and dissemination of knowledge, therefore, the Extension, as a tool of the universities, has a major role contributing to improvements in the learning and teaching process. The Extension projects are extremely important for The Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), since…

Twelve annotated bibliographies of literature in the ERIC system describe the administration, organization, concerns, and practices of current school volunteer programs. (MLF)

The author offers guidelines for utilizing volunteers in educating handicapped children. Several programs using volunteers are mentioned: the kindergarten screening project, listener program, primary classroom volunteers, and secondary school volunteers. The importance of teacher support is stressed. Steps for the teacher to follow for involving…

A travel training program in which college volunteers teach handicapped pupils to use public transportation decreases transportation costs and increases the students' independence. (CL)

This booklet is part of a series of reports on "hot topics" in education. It discusses mentoring, a strategy that has become popular over the past decade. Pairing students with adult volunteers or older students who provide friendship, guidance, and support has been shown to be helpful to students and to provide benefits to mentors.…

Discusses rewards of being a docent (unpaid teacher contributing knowledge, experience, time, or simply a vibrant dedication toward a common cause). Also discusses opportunities for docents in zoos, museums, art galleries, nature centers, and other locations and several docent-training programs. (JN)

Outcomes of Congressional hearings on P.L. 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) are mentioned; and the National School Volunteer Program, in which volunteers assist professional educators with implementation of P.L. 94-142, is described. (SBH)

An active parent describes how over 400 parent volunteers in the Carpentersville (Illinois) school district were trained to participate in their children's education through shared decision making. Each school practices a governance model focusing on trust building, collaboration, shared vision, and continuous improvement. Forging authentic…

Founded in 1977, "Communities in Schools" champions the connection of needed community resources with schools to help 300,000 youngsters annually to learn, stay in school, and prepare for life. The program brings in community-service providers, such as health-care and mental-health professionals, to work as a personalized team alongside…

Discusses five elements in the effective involvement of parents as volunteers in Catholic school communities: receptivity of faculty and staff to volunteers, school organization and structure, recruitment, training, and recognition of the parents' contributions. Offers examples from St. Pius X/St. Leo School's (Omaha, Nebraska) volunteer program.…

Preparing every student to make knowledgeable career choices through academic rigor and work-based learning experiences requires a systematic, comprehensive and community-wide effort. Schools cannot truly prepare their students for productive and rewarding careers in an academic vacuum. Engaging business and community leaders, who may someday hire…

Extending the guidance circle to include career counseling by parent volunteers can improve the counseling department's public image; make the most efficient use of counselors' time, enabling them to concentrate on more difficult problems and fulfill traditional guidance functions; and help counselors better meet students' needs. (Author)

At a suburban school near Atlanta, Georgia, three different types of tutors (adult, cross-age, and peer) helped resolve the problem of continued math failure among at-risk elementary students. Tutors filled in gaps and clarified critical misunderstandings when students were unsure of math processes. Using adult tutors as mentors motivated some…

The background and services of the New York City School Volunteer Program, which serves as a model for similar programs established in other parts of the country and abroad, are described. The volunteers serve on all grade levels, K-12, mainly in the areas of reading improvement and English as a second language. Assigned only to those schools…