This study examines the Study Circles program on education that was conducted in Arkansas and Oklahoma in the fall of 1998. Study Circles are a community involvement strategy for collaborative problem solving. They are small, highly participatory groups led by trained facilitators using materials provided by the Study Circles Resource Center. The…

Investigates school board receptivity, defined as an attitude set that favors greater communication and participation by the public, using data derived from interviews with 492 board members from 82 school boards distributed across the continental United States. (JM)

Events in the 10-year debate over school closings in Seattle, Washington, are chronicled. The Seattle Board of Education attempted to close 18 schools but had to reshape its policies in the face of massive community opposition. The need for efficient property management is stressed. (PP)

Participant observation and intensive interviews of fifty people from a rural midwestern community provided information on the importance of women in women's organizations and in behind-the-scenes arenas of local politics and economics. Bringing women into community studies expands the concept of community into private, familial arenas where…

The continuing public interest in community use of school facilities was affirmed by the North Carolina Court of Appeals' unanimous decision in the case of "Kiddie Korner et. al. v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg" in favor of the school board's involvement in enrichment programs after the regular school day. (MLF)

Education North project, begun in 1978, is a strategy designed to change the nature of school-community relationships in selected northern Alberta communities by improving the quality of school experience of children and young people. The implementation of the project is described. (ERB)

Describes the school desegregation process in Cambridge, Massachussetts, in 1979-80 in terms of sociopolitical context, public attitudes, and strategy adopted. Compares desegregation conditions in Boston and Cambridge. Contrasts racial desegregation of schools in the United States with religious desegregation of Protestant and Catholic schools in…

All educators, legislators, and citizens must engage in self-examination to resolve some of the value conflicts in our society that contribute to today's crisis in education. Suggestions are offered to school board members, administrators, teachers, public officials, and citizens for ways they can help improve the educational system. (Author/WD)

A comprehensive community approach to the problem of spouse assault involves education of a grassroots community organization, legal incorporation, establishing organizational goals and plans, publicity, state coalition of all such community groups, and new legislation. Such an approach led to the establishment of Michigan's Domestic Violence…

Because of the complexity of large-scale projects, teams of experts have become the new designers of the built environment, with clients, decision makers, and buildings' users demanding inclusion in these teams. The Grand Frame Game is described as a technique for including people in decision making. (MLW)

Describes a volunteer tutoring program coordinated by associates of the Exxon Corporation to help middle and high school students with math and science homework. Enumerates the successes of the tutoring program and highlights other outreach activities of the company in Baton Rouge. Stresses that the future of high-technology companies depends on…

Describes a partnership project between a school and the local community that aimed at transforming the school campus into a beautiful multipurpose area that serves the entire community. Provides students with an in-depth integrated study of plants and gardening and increases awareness of ecological conservation and environmental interactions.…

Describes the Cooperative Alternative Program (CAP), Coleman (Texas), an example of the way a rural high school for at-risk students has established a sense of community while improving the achievement of its rural students. This case study shows how CAP faced its economic and collaborative challenges. (SLD)

Reports on the design and implementation of a successful health promotion intervention for older, low-income African Americans in three Georgia communities. The program included culturally sensitive health promotion training to increase participation, a grassroots network to disseminate health education materials, and indigenous older lay…

Research on teaching and learning emphasizes the need for school-family partnerships, student engagement, opportunities for relevant and authentic learning, and community involvement in the learning process. The case of a gifted but bored "problem student" shows how a school counselor encouraged collaborative problem solving among…