This report focuses on Hispanic American culture in the schools of the lower Rio Bravo Valley (Texas) through impressions and descriptions of the interrelationship of school and community. School culture is defined as reflecting the shared characteristics and uniqueness of the community cultures around the school. The school cultures of the Valley…

This paper discusses the production, nature, and consequences of oppositional behavior among 102 poor, inner-city Koori (Aboriginal Australian) boys and girls attending Greytown School, Australia. The connection between the local indigenous Australian community's history and culture and the classroom life of its primary school illustrates the…

A random selection of 700 parents and teachers representing rural central Tennessee schools was surveyed in order to make their opinions available to policy makers. Usable responses were returned by 196 parents and 224 teachers. Parents opposed increasing public school funds through a lottery; teachers approved. Both groups believed that prayer…

Exploring and working with environmental issues can be exciting and enriching for Head Start staff. The goal of the technical guide is to broaden Head Start staff members' understanding of the natural environment so they can better incorporate environmental enrichment and environmental protection into their programs. The guide is organized into…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a program for at-risk parents designed to improve family reading and thus prepare at-risk children for school. The program, "Ready for Reading," consists of three two-hour sessions conducted with parents at their children's school while the children are in pre-kindergarten classes in various…

This hearing before the Subcommittee on Select Education covers the role of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) in educational improvement and change in the United States. The "Emergency" referred to is the departure of Christopher Cross as the head of OERI. The Honorable Major R. Owens, chairman of the…

This document describes four states' approaches to increasing the involvement of families in schools. It discusses the strategies used by the states to: (1) enhance teachers' capacity to work with families; (2) encourage local school districts to develop family involvement programs; (3) encourage efforts that use family involvement as a component…

The American Association of Community Colleges' Beacon College Project (BCP) uses funds from the Kellogg Foundation to award two-year grants to "Beacon" community colleges to form consortia with at least five associate colleges, designed to improve a specific aspect of institutional life. A total of 26 projects, many involving community…

This policy paper of the Regents of the University of the State of New York describes the need for partnerships between parents and schools, principles underlying such partnerships, and obstacles to establishing such partnerships. In addition to covering these topics, the first part of the paper discusses family, community, and school…

A series of eight videoconferences was designed to help educational professionals improve schools by applying knowledge gained from research. During the videoconference programs, which are transmitted by satellite to facilities with receiving capacity, viewers can interact by telephone with the program presenters. Each program covers a specific…

This paper suggests that educational resources and opportunities currently in operation in rural Australia are brought forward during times of crisis. The paper discusses five aspects of education in rural Australia that are a response to the perceived sense of crisis and that have improved the general and comparative quality of rural education,…

This document describes research and development by the Institute for Responsive Education's national project (known as the League of Schools Reaching Out) that seeks to show how school-family-community partnerships (SFCPs) can contribute significantly to school restructuring or reform aimed at increasing the academic and social success of all…

This report presents the recommendations of the Coordination of Social Services Action Group (CSSAG) to the governor of Illinois for the improvement of social services for children and parents within the state. Because of financial constraints, ways to develop a more efficient and effective social service delivery system must be found. To this…

This book provides an overview of ways in which the psychology of child development can improve education and promote children's competence. Part 1 of the book examines individual differences in children. Chapters in this part discuss: (1) the roots of children's competence, and particularly the influences of the environment, heredity, and…

This paper discusses the evolution of the concept of public service at land grant universities, pointing out the challenges confronted by these universities today and tomorrow and current challenges experienced in the areas of leadership and volunteer development. First, the evolution of the concept of public service at land grant institutions is…