This comparison of standards-based reform with rural school improvement efforts that emphasize locally responsive, place-based curricula reveals differences and similarities in the two movements. The standards-based movement is focused on setting state and national standards that all students must meet, suggesting a common curricular focus. Most…

This packet contains resources on five topics relevant to rural school administrators. "Assessing Parent Involvement: A Checklist for Rural Schools": discusses educator beliefs that support successful parent engagement programs, challenges and advantages of rural schools attempting to involve parents and community, and aspects of…

This study examined the types of activities offered through Girl Neighborhood Power (GNP) and the extent to which low-income girls reported positive experiences and outcomes related to psychological, social, behavioral, and academic adjustment. Four communities implemented federally funded GNP programs, which provided various activities and…

This document comprises three papers related to the implementation of early childhood education, health care, and support programs. The first paper is a brief reflection on the nature of implementation, based on the contributions of Boudewijn Bekkers. The second is a proceedings chapter by Marian Hanrahan titled "Community Based Innovative…

This guide addresses provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), including rights, roles, and responsibilities that offer parents and community leaders voice in public education. The guide highlights ways to use the NCLB to strengthen public voice and increase community and parental involvement in school- and district-level…

The conference, Communities Working for Better Schools, brought together more than 120 parents, community organizers, and educators from a dozen cities nationwide who shared their stories about efforts to get better schools for their children, and as a consequence, better neighborhoods for their families. This publication presents information from…

This guide is designed to provide practical information for community leaders, local Workforce Investment Boards, Youth Councils, staff, and others committed to effective youth and workforce development. Its four sections provide technical assistance and training materials for Youth Councils. Chapter 1, "Planning the Menu," defines youth…

This report analyzes four programs administered by the Corporation for National Service (CNS): AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), AmeriCorps*State/National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and AmeriCorps*Education Awards. AmeriCorps allows participants to earn education awards to help pay for their postsecondary education in exchange for…

This social studies curriculum unit for grades 10-12 provides activities designed to focus students on actual case studies of sustainable community initiatives. The first activity guides the students in a discussion about the terms "civil society" and "sustainable community" to understand how the two terms are related. In the second activity two…

Faith communities can play an important role in communities by encouraging families to be involved in their children's learning and by forming partnerships that enhance the potential for family and community involvement in children's education. To support these efforts, this publication provides faith community leaders and members with ideas,…

Pueblo communities want local research to be linked to community needs. To address this requirement, university research must shift from a set agenda that addresses personal or professional goals to a flexible design that moves toward a community-based goal. This can be achieved through collaboration with the Pueblo community. Key to developing…

In less than five years, the California State Library-sponsored InFoPeople project connected 46% of California's public libraries to the Internet and established a highly regarded, sustained training program to assist librarians in taking advantage of the new networked resources and services. The primary objective of this Stage II report was to…

Since 1992, through the Upcountry Writing Project, upstate South Carolina teachers have helped students in K-12 classrooms write for and about their communities. These teachers and students have learned much about what it takes to actually craft a genuine sense of place. By publishing, they have not only crafted pieces about their locales but have…

The Indian Education Program in the Osseo School District (Minnesota) serves approximately 200 American Indian students in grades K-12 from 27 schools and a variety of tribes. The Program's intergenerational approach reflects tribal traditions in that generations learn together and grandparents, parents, and students are involved in the…

A study examined the process of evaluating family-oriented substance abuse prevention efforts in three Native American communities. In general, the Native communities exhibited a lack of commitment to academic evaluation research due to concerns over who would gain from such research, how much value was placed on Indian opinions, the level of…