Urban districts throughout the nation are contending with declining enrollment, aging facilities in disrepair, persistently low student achievement, increased competition with charters, and severe fiscal constraints. Philadelphia is a case in point. Over the past year, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) was forced to borrow $304 million…

In today's world of restrictive school budgets and increasing property taxes, it is an unfortunate reality that many school districts will be faced with a budget crunch crisis that unenlightened school boards may try to solve by cutting or eliminating funds for music. At the crisis stage, it is often only the effective advocacy of an organized…

Suggests that school counselors, because of their expertise in human relations skills, may assume the role of advocate for handicapped students and their parents. The counselor can help parents prepare for the Individualized Education Program meeting and encourage parent participation. (JAC)

The author, the parent of a mentally retarded child, shares her thoughts on the issue of parent participation in the handicapped child's education. (SB)

Describes MusiCircus, developed by composer John Cage, where people play different types of music simultaneously. Presents a different version of this approach where parents and children participated in various activities at the same time. Includes guidelines for creating a MusiCircus. (CMK)

Children can suffer serious injuries in falls from standard playground equipment, especially if they land on a hard surface. Parents can: (1) form safety committees; (2) demand safer playground surfaces; (3) remove equipment deemed hazardous according to Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines; and (4) support the purchase of safer…

Because testing and the use of test results are controversial subjects, parents and advocates must exercise considerable care when working to assure that tests are appropriately used in public elementary and secondary schools. One should guard against making assumptions which may have been created by widely publicized reports about test abuse.…

In this article, parents of gifted children describe the issues that matter most to them. Parents want professional co-advocates to help them be heard; regular, clear, and open communication to promote understanding; and administrative help navigating the school system so that expressed need will be translated into identifiable improvements.…

Today's young children need people committed to making the world a more caring place that offers every child and family the opportunity to thrive. This article presents five steps that any individual can take to become an active advocate for children, letting others know that the learning and experiences of early childhood shape a child's entire…

The relationship between schools and parents is examined. The absence of parent involvement is explained by the institutional character of most schools and the lack of effort by parents and schools. Schools must create more opportunities for parent involvement in vital issues such as decision making and the evaluation of principals. (VM)

Recommendations are offered to parents who wish to ensure an appropriate school placement for a deaf or hard of hearing child. A table lists 30 recommended standards to facilitate full inclusion and the associated actions that parents can take to ensure compliance with these standards. (DB)

Two parents recount experiences in keeping their severely physically disabled daughter in regular classes within their neighborhood school against the stated policy and pressures of the school system. Stressed is the value of group action by parents and the power of individuals speaking up. (DB)

Urges early childhood professionals to build partnerships with parents and with other teachers. Points out that agencies and individuals, like children, can demonstrate different cooperative styles. Barriers to collaboration and benefits of cooperative partnerships are discussed. (GH)

This article contends that the equity and advocacy expectations embedded in the legal mandate for parent participation in the special education decision-making process directly contradict the hierarchy of professional status and knowledge on which the positivist paradigm of professionalism is based and are also in conflict with the values held by…

The monograph contains seven papers on developing and maintaining cooperation between parents of handicapped children and education professionals. B. Pattison reviews the history of parent involvement and advocacy and offers suggestions for improving school and community relations in "The Early Years and Now: The History of the Parent…