This book originates from an international conference convened in 1998 by the Centre for International Studies in Education and Graduate School of Education at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. The theme for this conference was "Education at Reconstruction and Transformation." The papers have since been completely rewritten and are joined…

Community development-oriented service learning (CDOSL) is an approach to service learning that integrates service with the school curriculum and the local community development agenda. This study examined the positive impacts that CDOSL has on rural students and communities. Surveys and case study research were conducted with 145 students,…

The Ohio Department of Public Schools launched its Ohio Urban Schools Initiative as a commitment to systemic long-term change in the state's 24 urban districts. This report contains a framework that represents the initial phase of the Urban Schools Initiative, which developed into a collaborative effort among the school systems, state and local…

The Impact Aid program provides federal assistance to local school districts that have lost revenue due to tax-exempt federal property, or have experienced increased expenditures due to enrollment of federally connected children, including children living on Indian lands. This pamphlet explains the rights and responsibilities of schools, tribes,…

This digest presents an overview of successful urban anti-truancy strategies, including both supports and penalties for students and their families. It is generally believed that to prevent truancy a sustained, multifaceted, and personalized program for each student must be developed. Community collaboration is essential to these efforts, as the…

This qualitative study looks at the Pio Pico experience, Santa Ana (California), which includes the Santa Ana Boys' and Girls' Club, Pio Pico Elementary School, and the surrounding community associations. In each setting, community members were asked about the necessities for work in the setting and about attributes they would like to see in the…

This module, which may be used as the basis for a workshop or as a special topic unit in adult basic education or English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) courses, discusses how and why to get involved in political and community life in the United States. Topics covered include the following: local political involvement, writing letters, reading the…

The Community Learning Centre Project has been approved within the framework of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL), and supports one of APPEAL's priority areas, community participation and ownership. Community learning centers, managed by local institutions outside the formal school system, provide literacy and learning…

Managing and leading educational change entails a great degree of complexity and uncertainty and remains a pressing challenge for administrators. This work documents lessons learned from a national study on the concept and development of the Creating Communities of Continuous Inquiry and Improvement project of the Southwest Educational Development…

This document consists of the three 1999 issues of a journal highlighting the Making After-School Count Initiative, programs across the country wherein communities and schools cooperate to serve children during after-school hours. The February 1999 issue describes grassroots efforts by California parents and religious leaders to secure funding for…

This guide for policymakers at all levels illuminates common ground between education reform and service learning and encourages the inclusion of service learning as a viable partner in education reform efforts. Leading school reform models are analyzed with a focus on their compatibility with service learning. Also included is a description of…

Despite strong agreement on the importance of parent involvement, most schools, districts, and states still need help in developing comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. This revised handbook translates lessons learned over 20 years of research and fieldwork into practical solutions for program development. The book…

Even the best schools must undertake a systematic and continuous appraisal of their current condition and future directions if they are to remain valuable and viable contributors to their community's quality of life. It is clear that schools cannot undertake that appraisal unless it is done in full partnership with the communities in which they…

The Free to Grow pilot project, developed by the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and its Head Start project, operated between 1994 and 1999. Following a 2-year planning and development stage, 5 project sites went on to complete the 3-year implementation phase in California, Colorado, Kentucky, New York, and Puerto Rico; the…

As schools, families, and communities begin to come together, everyone benefits. A mother who teaches her son's class about traditional uses of native plants passes on important cultural knowledge and builds her own public speaking skills. A science class that tests the water quality at a nearby reservoir learns about local environmental issues,…