This report includes proceedings from the Family as Educators Conference which aimed (1) to clarify the roles parents have in supporting their children's achievement in literacy and motivation for school learning (i.e., attitudes affecting school work and attendance), and (2) to assess the viability of parents' educative roles in light of current knowledge about American families. The report is divided into two sections. The first section includes an overview of the conference objectives and structure, a report from the conference chair which summarizes four themes identified at the conference as important for future research in the area of families as educators, and a list of research topics identified by participants in three working groups which met during the conference. The second section includes four experts' papers which provide background information on the conference topics, and which were presented during the opening sessions of the conference. The first paper provides a summary, with recommendations, of the research literature dealing with the effects families have on their children's reading abilities. The second paper examines how parents might better serve as motivators for their children's school performance. The third paper first reviews the origins, current forms, and emerging directions of some of the major legislated roles of parent involvement. Next, the paper examines some state and local governmental influences on parent involvement practices, and surveys current school practices of involving parents in school programs. Finally, the fourth paper reviews past educational and social service program attempts to encourage parents to take educative roles. A partial list of conference participants, their affiliations and research areas are attached. (Author/MP)