Provides overview of major initiatives in family literacy and argues for fundamental change in the way schools relate to parents and the community. Suggests that schools and communities need to develop more effective partnerships so that parents and teachers can develop a sense of shared understanding. Concludes that such initiatives will lead to…

In addition to addressing trends that are likely to have an impact on the health education profession, this article reviews recommendations that have existed largely in the literature and less in practice. Some topics discussed are: demographics and health education and care, program advocacy, community empowerment, and credentialing. (SM)

The common ground process is an ongoing effort for inviting, scrutinizing, debating, and selecting ideas or making decisions about improving schools. Superintendents should assign a full-time communications person to executive staff, create a communications team, conduct a full-scale communications audit, listen better, urge the silent majority to…

The last decade in Florida has seen an increase in reform efforts and public scrutiny, but no evidence of across-the-board achievement gains. The state's capacity for forging coalitions and funding reforms is threatened by continuing political volatility, ideological and partisan cleavages, and increasing competition for tax dollars. (38…

Describes Oyster Elementary School's award-winning two-way bilingual (Spanish-English) program. The school's success has been maintained by strong parent and community support, high academic standards, and ongoing professional development efforts. However, cultural, generational, and socioeconomic differences among staff, students, and parents…

Presents an interview with a technology teacher at a small Catholic school that manages to provide its students with technology education despite its tight budget. Describes the parents' involvement with the school through donations of money or used computers, and the positive effect of strong community and school involvement. (AJL)

The Tribal Issues Management System was adopted in 1990 by the Comanche tribe to end internal conflict and promote participative decision making by the tribal community. Such a return to community- and tribal-wide inclusive consideration of public concerns results in action, restores trust and harmonious relations, and recreates feelings of…

Qualitative study documents contributions of 21 Hispanic women who were identified as being active in the community. Theme concurs with primary components of self-in-relation theory. Because the research was exploratory, findings point to a broad range of topics for further study related to social work education, knowledge, ethics, and practice.…

Reviews the requirements of the revised Title I for parent and community involvement in schools, especially the requirement for school-parent contracts, and summarizes research on the effects of school-family partnerships on students, teachers, and parents. Two major programs for building such partnerships are described. (SLD)

A Colombian model of rural elementary education has increased student achievement. Basic characteristics are active learning, structured yet flexible and multifaceted nature, extensive training and support for teachers, and opportunities for meaningful involvement of students, teachers, and community members. A Guatemalan reform based on the model…

O'Farrell Community School, in San Diego, California, was built on the principles of restructuring, teacher and community empowerment, interagency collaboration, and interdisciplinary teaching. Supported by the Panasonic and Stuart Foundations, the school offers an enriched, untracked three-year academic program for grades six through eight. All…

The Public Library Association's 1995 survey reported that while public librarians overwhelmingly support intellectual freedom, not all of them are absolutists. Librarians do take community censorship requests seriously and engage in practical self-censorship. Other topics include censorship demographics, the role of the library board, and…

Native American educators discuss important factors to consider when developing a First Nations graduate education program: formal education as one of many ways of pursuing knowledge, the dangers of defining the "indigenous way" in scholarship, and the central role of the Native community and elders in program development. (LP)

Reviews the literature about preschool immersion education for Indigenous languages. Describes the two oldest and best known of such programs: Kohanga Reo ("language nests") in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Punana Leo in Hawaii. Looks at existing U.S. programs, particularly Arapaho preschools in Wyoming. Outlines major themes and issues in developing…

This article argues that the current school reform movement of high-stakes testing is misguided. It advocates that democratic dispositions and cultural competency be included in the major goals of schooling and proposes that the purpose of schooling should be determined through public deliberation within diverse communities. (Contains references.)…