Describes current action which emphasizes the need to match the resources of people in neighborhoods with those provided by social agencies. (Author/MP)

Large numbers of people--parents, politicians and journalists--are in a negative, highly critical mood toward the schools. Public confidence in the educational system has never been lower. Suggests developing more effective public information programs with one of the top priorities being a concerted effort to report education's numerous success…

Presents a model that was used for 36 community forums designed to bring together diverse community members to learn about and collaborate on early childhood inclusion. The history and critical features of community forums are described, along with basic principles of community change supporting the model. (Author/CR)

Describes how a library in the state of Washington was floated on a barge across the Hood Canal (part of Puget Sound) to its new site. Discusses property costs, the mechanics of moving the building, community support, obstacles, media coverage of the move, and renovations at the new site. (AEF)

A survey of 411 agriculture teachers in 13 western states received 344 responses indicating that teachers perceive their teacher education program as the most significant factor associated with teacher effectiveness. Local community setting, the school environment, and teaching environment were other important factors. (SK)

Presents a statement on the nature of childhood, the basic needs of the child of one to six years, and ways to meet those needs. (BB)

The combined effect of the "Serrano" decision and Proposition 13 left California school districts with aging, overcrowded facilities. Chico schools won a $18.5 million general obligation bond election for facilities construction. With $11 billion needed for new school construction, California will need to tap local sources. A sidebar…

Describes a survey of 51 graduate students/full-time teachers at schools implementing full inclusion programs. Participants expressed their views concerning implementation methods, effects on instructional practices, community reactions, and advantages and disadvantages. Schools need to do a better job of explaining the rationale for full…

Elements of a home-school-community relationship model are goals (academic achievement, institutional legitimacy, support, and effective relations), programs, and processes (communication, involvement, participation, and resolution). The model can be applied to contemporary issues: diversity, varied stakeholders, school-business partnerships,…

Describes the Family Advocacy Program's social services, including its focus on clients' strengths. Lists the program's guiding principles, which stress the caregivers' role. Establishes the framework of values in which the program operates and discusses practice implications of the services for social service practice. (BC)

States that administrators must be innovative and responsive during the strategic-planning process, and draw upon a wide range of knowledge and expertise. Describes the Future Search conference, which brings together individuals from a variety of backgrounds to collect information and design a "road map" for the future, as a recommended…

Describes how two school districts--one in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the other in Yorktown, Virginia--involved their communities in a school building and renovation planning process called discovery through viewpoint and diagram (DVD). (PKP)

Effective superintendents recognize three key management precepts and their hidden rules. Administrators should avoid mixing emotion and logic, attending to detractors' emotional needs before presenting a differing viewpoint. They should be graceful under pressure, expect the unexpected, and build coalitions gradually, mindful of all community…

Strategies to help garner community support in school technology growth or maintenance include the following: (1) consider a "current state of technology" report; (2) forget five-year plans; (3) develop annual technology reports; (4) look to your website; (5) seek constructive opportunities to share technology, and (6) show off best examples at…

In school construction projects a great deal of work and planning needs to happen before ground breaking starts. Lists consistent factors that should always be considered when setting up a facility-design timeline. (MLF)