This report examines the cost effectiveness of the Marchus School's 599/1261 Project, one of two programs funded by the State of California, that established an inclusive education program for 17 students with serious emotional disturbances at risk for nonpublic school placements. The project teaches academic, social, and conflict resolution…

"America Goes Back to School" is a nationwide initiative of parents, educators, and community leaders who have become actively involved in improving education in their communities. This "partners' activity kit" is intended to raise public awareness about what students in the schools need, and describes ways that everyone in the…

This paper explores the challenges facing educators to incorporate "informatics"--computer education in the broad context of information technology--into the curriculum for K-12 students, and "capacitation" for teachers, the continuing professional education which enables and empowers teachers to face these demands. The…

This report discusses policies and practices for family-directed child evaluation and assessment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The scope of the report includes practices across the early childhood spectrum, from birth through 5 years. Commonly used terminology is defined. Issues discussed include: the primacy of…

The Families Matter series of papers from the Harvard Family Research Project advances the concept of family-centered child care, advocating an approach to early childhood education that addresses the development of the child and family together. Grounded in family support principles, which build on family strengths and work from a community's…

The Families Matter series of papers from the Harvard Family Research Project advances the concept of family-centered child care, advocating an approach to early childhood education that addresses the development of the child and family together. Grounded in family support principles, which build on family strengths and work from a community's…

Are you curious about the Reggio Emilia approach but not quite sure where to begin? "Working in the Reggio Way" helps early childhood teachers bring the reflective, high-quality practices of Reggio Emilia to American programs. Based on an American teacher's experience observing and working in the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, this…

The study reviews what is known from research about school-family-community involvement programs. Collectively, recent studies and earlier research indicate a strong relationship between family involvement and improved academic performance. Family involvement is also associated with other key outcomes such as attendance and behavior, which are…

Describes BRIDGE (Being Responsive to Individual Differences in General Education), a partnership between university faculty and two elementary schools that focuses on the collaborative practices and programs in general and special education. The program centers on four initiatives: teacher collaboration, family liaisons, teacher research and…

Describes a program to facilitate contextual learning for school-aged students with disabilities by developing individualized, community-based leisure education programming in concert with students' families. Emphasis is on transfer of new skills to home and community and on self-determination in leisure interests and community involvement. (DB)

The quality of life of 188 young adults with moderate or severe mental retardation was examined. Young adults who had exited high school had significantly higher overall quality of life scores than did those still attending school. Individuals with community jobs also had significantly higher levels of quality of life. (Contains references.)…

Describes On Board Early, a Baltimore program designed to increase family-school experiences that support children's success. Discusses such program features as specialized family involvement staff, a parents-as-teachers program, a family-centered approach to supporting the transition to school, and planning for long-term family involvement.…

Describes an initiative that engages a teacher education program with an innovative urban "full-service" elementary school in a joint effort to serve children and families and provide a deeper and broader experience with urban education for suburban preservice teachers. Education students complete traditional and nontraditional fieldwork in the…

Describes the efforts of a Baltimore (Maryland) County Public Schools task force to initiate values education in the schools through a representative grassroots effort that involved many community groups. Twenty-four core values were identified that could be infused throughout the curriculum. Each school within the district formed an advisory…

Participation of 18 parents of young children with disabilities in field-site experiences for graduate school interns was examined. Parents indicated support for their involvement in such training programs. Implications for using families in personnel training in early intervention are addressed. (Author/SW)