Encopresis affects a small percentage of children, but most parents are unaware of the condition and react punitively. The lengthy, complex management program usually includes physiological and behavioral approaches. The collaborative management protocol focuses on medical clinicians, families, children, school nurses, and teachers, and can help…

Describes language use in parent-child interactions in the homes of three Puerto Rican kindergartners. Micro-ethnographic techniques were used to gather contextual data and audio tape recordings of adult-child interactions in the classroom and homes. It is suggested that teachers must identify the skills parents possess that are relevant to their…

Illustrates how early childhood professionals can and do play an important role in providing secure and developmentally appropriate educational environments for young children by facilitating and improving teacher-family interactions. Provides strategies for improving family involvement. (BB)

A survey of 100 rural school administrators in the Southwest identified assessment skills, teaching methods, and parent involvement as the most important competencies for teaching bilingual children with disabilities. Respondents also stressed the importance of understanding the cultural and linguistic background of minority students. Discusses…

Surveys of parent-infant programing at 81 schools for deaf children in 1982 and then in 1990 reflected increased parent-infant programing and a doubling of enrollment, especially in numbers of students receiving part-time instruction and home instruction. Additional data on student characteristics, program funding, and respondent concerns are…

The implementation of a parent training session with 15 culturally diverse parents in Hawaii preceding a parent-professional conference on transition planning for high school students with disabilities resulted in increased knowledge about transition by participating parents but no significant differences in transition meeting participation…

Daniel Webster Accelerated School in San Francisco (California) is one of two schools adopting the process of school change developed by H. M. Levin. An interview with Levin explains his philosophy of accelerated schools characterized by (1) unity of purpose; (2) school site responsibility; and (3) building on strengths. (SLD)

Illustrates the ways in which a teacher served as an ally for abused preschool children. The teacher interacted with the children to make their views of the inner self constructive rather than destructive. Parenting classes were incorporated. (BB)

South Korean students scored better than students from 18 other countries on math and science achievement tests. In South Korea, economic social status for oneself and one's family are directly related to educational level. This, plus intense pressure from parents and authoritarian teachers, motivates students to score well on competitive national…

Although every school must develop its own dropout prevention programs, the framework for multifaceted solutions can be similar, involving a systemic approach consisting of the following: (1) identification and intervention policies; (2) interventions by educational leaders, teachers, and parents; (3) academic and support programs; and (4)…

The ASPIRA Association in the District of Columbia conducted a longitudinal multimethod study with 1,152 students based on school records, interviews, the High School and Beyond study, and 1-year followup to study dropouts among Hispanic-American students in 5 cities: Chicago, Miami, Newark, Milwaukee, and San Antonio. Findings represent an…

Suggests new directions in parent involvement emerging in school districts across the country, identifying and analyzing 18 recently developed programs or reforms emphasizing effective parental involvement. Ten programs help parents support children's development, and eight define parent involvement as a central focus of school improvement or…

Describes a year-long study in second and fourth grades examining how teachers' school-to-home communications influence parent perceptions about school and their effects on children's motivation. Results from 25 classrooms (15 controls) confirm the importance of school-to-home communications and the positive relationship between parents' comfort…

Describes "Family Computers," an educational program developed by EQUALS that brings families together weekly to have fun with mathematics while using computers. Discusses software selection, provides a lesson plan for grades 4-8, and presents 7 tips for instructors. (MDH)

A study was done to investigate the impact of public school building conditions on student achievement. An analysis of District of Columbia public schools showed that the size of an individual school's Parent-Teacher Association budget is positively related to the school building's condition and to student academic achievement. (JB)