This report summarizes the 2002-2003 program evaluation results of AISD's GEAR UP program, and the program's intent is to increase the number of low-income, at-risk students who are prepared to enroll in postsecondary institutions upon high school graduation.

Contains an assessment of the inner-city literacy crisis, a critique of rationales for reading failure based on "deficit" and "difference" type ideologies, a call for the study of successful inner-city schools, an evaluation of G. Weber's study of successful inner-city schools, and the development of an urban literacy agenda. (FL)

Describes the impact of an experimental parent-group program for parents of psychiatrically hospitalized children on parents' self-esteem, attitudes toward their children, and knowledge regarding childrearing techniques. Found parents rated supportive group functions as having greater personal relevance and therapeutic impact than educative ones.…

The article explores data from the 1979 Canadian survey of public participation in education, focusing on public confidence in education, membership in school board advisory groups, public influence in running schools, school board efforts to inform the public, and public opinion of today's schools compared to those of their day. (SB)

Describes Microcomputer, Nighttime Astronomy, and Communications Technology courses designed specifically for parents and their middle school children to take together. Includes overall goals and family reactions to the courses which appear to foster scientific literacy and bring parents and children closer together while engaged in educational…

Censorship in school libraries and classroom reading materials is discussed. Views of influential groups and individuals on the reasons for censorship are outlined, and suggestions for preventing censorship battles in schools are given. (FG)

Relationships between mothers' ratings and teacher nominations for aggressive and withdrawn behavior were examined in a sample of 40 Cuban American male secondary school students. Results were consistent with the extensive concurrent and construct validity of the Behavior Problem Checklist. (CM)

The board's and superintendent's task in policy development should be clear: to recognize all members of the education community and to obtain their views before policies are set in concrete. (Author/JM)

Suggestions are given for encouraging parents to participate in their children's science studies, at home and at school. Several sample lessons illustrate the kinds of experiments that require only inexpensive supplies which parents can provide. (SA)

Describes a Title I summer program in which teachers and aides visited children's homes weekly with the objectives of (1) increasing the amount of reading done by the children during the summer and (2) involving parents in reading activities with their children. Evaluates the program, noting the benefits reported by children, parents, and…

Operation SAIL was designed to facilitate the assimilation of children who relocate from the inner city to suburban schools. The project includes faculty inservice training, parent orientation and involvement, and student cognitive and affective development. The methodology and results of the program's first year are described herein. (GC)

A program is described in which parent volunteers assist in science instruction at the kindergarten/first grade level. Examples of activities within the mini-units are given. (SA)

The authors hypothesized an improvement in parent-child communication about family life and human sexuality when parents participate in an orientation program about their adolescent child's health education unit on this topic. The results of a series of one-way analyses of variance confirmed the original hypotheses. (Author)

Documented interactions between parents and children as they read storybooks together. Participants were twelve 4-year-olds and their mothers. Results showed diverse storybook interactions within a static sample, discouraging the practice of generalizing findings about storybook reading to dissimilar populations. (MOK)

Comments on the two preceding articles that examined Chicago's complex school reform efforts. The articles present differing views, with one emphasizing democratic and social issues related to reform and the other highlighting the organization of business leaders into a political force. They also raise questions about power, social movements, and…