It is increasingly clear that even the best schools must engage in systematic and continuous appraisal of their performance, in partnership with the community. A joint planning process could start by engaging citizens in identifying critical issues, relevant assets, and key strategies that can move the community toward a preferred future. Chapter…

In 1995 the National Science Foundation funded the Alaska Rural System Initiative (RSI), a joint effort of the Alaska Federation of Natives and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Among its goals, the RSI aims to increase the presence of Alaska Native knowledge and perspectives in all areas of science and education in rural Alaska, develop…

This guide chronicles the ongoing work and writings of the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, a policy research center dedicated to bringing sound information, rigorous analyses, innovative ideas, and an independent, multidisciplinary perspective to bear on policies and programs affecting children. This guide, organized…

The paper addresses the impact of welfare reform on the community college and discusses how community colleges are responding to this important social and economic issue. One of the main tenants of the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill is to shift the responsibility for welfare to the states, requiring that half of all able-bodied recipients find work by…

A case study of an economically distressed rural Kentucky school district examined the theory that educational policy can enable community participation and that participation can enable policy implementation by affecting school governance and expanding the services provided. Primary data were gathered via interviews with four parent participants,…

Public education was introduced in the United States at the beginning of the 19th century to replace the informal community-based education system that had broken down as a result of immigration and war. At the beginning of the 20th century, as America changed from a largely rural agricultural society to the modern industrial economy, education…

With exceptions so few that they stand out prominently, the professional possibilities of the school principalship have not been realized. The reasons for this state of affairs are not pertinent here. It is enough to note that schools of education are studying the situation, are attempting to analyze conditions, are trying to attract promising…

The transformation of a rural Vermont preparatory school to a coeducational two-year college emphasizing work skills and education about natural resource management is described. Offerings include agriculture, land use, communications, wildlife management, an outdoor survival course, and shorter courses offered to high school students. (MSE)

Discusses instances of federal intervention in education that failed to live up to expectations (support of curriculum reform in the 1960s, civil rights legislation, and equity policy). Suggests that the success of such interventions depends on (1) understanding of the causes underlying the problem under consideration, and (2) relevance of…

Suggests that community colleges need specially trained adult learning specialists (ALS) to meet the needs of increasing numbers of adult students. Proposes the ALS would facilitate on-campus adjustment and coordinate community based outreach programs. Describes training and qualifications. (JAC)

Varied reactions within Richmond, California, to efforts to achieve racially balanced schools were analyzed in this article. The authors state their intention was to unravel the complexities of a policy problem in one community--not to pronounce unequivocal judgment on resolutions achieved. (Author/DB)

In this series of eight articles, the authors address several different ways of developing community-based programs in various educational settings. (LRA)

Teachers, parents, and students on the White Mountain Apache reservation perceive school activities quite differently, indicating parental isolation and a lack of communication among the groups. Although students tend to agree with teachers more than with parents, teachers alone feel students are inadequately prepared for postsecondary school…

Examines outreach and cultural exchange in the design and delivery of social work courses offered in Canada's Aboriginal communities. Discusses the contract between the educational institution and the Aboriginal community, issues encountered by instructors in outreach programs, the appropriateness of distance education, and efforts to incorporate…

Surveys of directors of Schools of the 21st Century, an educational model that provides integrated services to children and families, examined the availability of school health services. Results found that the services varied greatly in availability and comprehensiveness. Most schools provided basic preventive screenings, health education, and…