ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC) has spent the past 17 years helping schools and community organizations find the right partners. This resource guide offers a guide to the strategic questions school teams might ask themselves and their potential partners to have the best outcomes for young people. The following attachment is included: School…

Parents and community members can become involved with schools in at least three ways: (1) direct involvement in an advisory capacity through school advisory councils, various parent organizations, or as individuals through involvement and shared decision making in School/Community-Based Management (S/C-BM); (2) hands-on involvement in school…

Described are characteristics of the Employer-Supported Parental Involvement in Education program (ES/PIE), designed to foster collaboration between education agencies and employers. An overview of the program details basic assumptions, core activities, and the roles of school districts and employers. Subsequent content provides a guide to program…

The educational objective of this user's guide is to provide parents, teachers, and administrators with a resource to catalyze a wide range of partnerships and projects. Schools work best when everyone is actively involved so as to demonstrate democracy first hand. This program is designed to promote the democratic process of active citizenship in…

This article, based on the experiences of the Ainsworth (Oregon) Parent Teacher Association, offers a step-by-step guide for parents who wish to bring computers into their children's schools. Ways to build public and school support, do necessary planning and research, evaluate available equipment, and implement the program are suggested. (PP)

One of a series of documents produced by a nationwide network of early childhood education specialists, teachers, parents, and Head Start staff, the handbook helps parents and teachers work together to enhance the development of basic educational skills in young children. Along with providing parent assistance in enriching home learning…

Intended for parents and all citizens concerned about improving Chicago's 592 public schools, this handbook explains how important reading is to a decent education and future employment. Chapter one describes the school improvement campaign called "Schoolwatch," the problems in the Chicago public schools, and the components of effective…

Arguing that our democratic society needs citizens with advanced language and thinking skills, this paper invites readers to take part in a Literacy Compact in their communities. It first discusses what a Literacy Compact is, describing it as a pact between students, English language arts teachers, parents, school administrators, and communities…

School-community partnership programs can help teachers reach children in the crucial years from birth to 4, thereby preventing reading difficulties and raising future test scores. Many organizations help families in starting their children on the road to lifetime reading by distributing free books and pamphlets on reading aloud to children. (SM)

Schools must systematically involve families, the community, and the private sector in education. This book provides practical, tactical, and strategic assistance to educational leaders who want to involve their constituencies in the education process. The book presents the successful techniques used by practicing administrators, including state…

This booklet contains samples of forms used to evaluate, monitor, and document activities of the 12th Cycle Norfolk Teacher Corps Project at Norfolk State College (Virginia). The forms are contained in five sections: (1) evaluating inservice teachers and teacher interns (five forms); (2) monitoring parent aides (one form); (3) evaluating community…

Afterschool programs are rich with educational opportunities. Programs can make what is learned during the traditional day vibrant and relevant to the lives of children. Comprehensive programs that are integrated into the regular school program and draw on resources within the community can yield positive outcomes for children. Key to this…

This book gathers facts about Hispanic families in the United States and describes the Intercultural Development Research Association's distilled experience involving families in their children's educations. Researchers conducted focused interviews with a variety of Hispanic parents, and asked a school administrator and a principal who have…

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…

This book suggests an approach to education that includes students' family members as valuable citizens in a community of learners which also includes students, teachers, and other members of the community at large. Part 1 examines current trends in parental involvement and the hidden assumptions on which many such programs are based. It is argued…