Developing positive school climates and improving school discipline policies and practices are critical steps to raising academic achievement and supporting student success. However, there is no single formula for doing so. Rather, the growing body of research and best practices in the field should inform locally developed approaches to improving…

Few studies have examined the link between children's early school achievement and parents' at-home practices exclusively among Latino groups. This study examined the relation between Latina mothers' reported at-home practices regarding school preparation and their children's literacy skills. Participants included 56 kindergarten children and…

A growing body of evidence suggests that family engagement matters for student success. Research shows that family engagement improves school readiness, student achievement, and social skills. Furthermore, an increasing number of innovative approaches to education leverage and connect the many settings and times in which children learn and grow to…

Over the past decade, schools, districts, and states have become increasingly savvy with data collection and analysis to drive student outcomes. The development and use of Early Warning Indicator and Intervention Systems (EWS) are at the cutting edge of the data- driven, outcomes-focused, high-impact education movement. These systems can increase…

This conference sought to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how parents, teachers, and other concerned individuals can contribute to strengthening the educational support system, and sought to generate practical information on strategies to improve achievement levels of youth. A conference program prospectus by Louise M. Tomlinson…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 helps to ensure that all children receive a high-quality education and holds schools responsible for making sure that all children are learning. The information in this brochure is consistent with this important law. The early school years are the foundation for school success, the time when children will learn…

Teachers who have been recognized as outstanding share advice on how parents can work with teachers, encourage responsibility, reinforce learning, assist in adjustment to junior high school, and generally stay alert to a child's needs. (MT)

Written by teachers who are also parents, this guide provides proven and practical advice to help parents of children from kindergarten through middle school be active supporters of their children's educational experiences. Issues covered include transition to school, latchkey issues, and talking with teachers. The tips are categorized as follows:…

The changing demographics of students in public schools have been a catalyst for reexamining the role of school counselors in the 21st century. Many writers have acknowledged that in order to effectively attend to the needs of students of color, school counselors need to be culturally competent and culturally responsive (e.g., Evans & Carter,…

This collection of 29 articles is devoted to the question of "what works" in regard to parental involvement. The two main objectives in compiling this volume were: (1) to provide general information about successful strategies and programs to interested educators and parents; and (2) to offer context-specific, "tailored"…

Schools can be the optimal place for the coordination of the efforts of educators, families and mental health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. Mental health services are an important resource that schools provide to help students benefit from education. By removing social/emotional…

Noting that the single best way to improve elementary education is to strengthen parents' role in it, this book describes aspects of parent-school interaction that could be used to improve the quality of children's education and academic success. The first chapter defines the ineffective ways in which most parents respond to public education and…

Through interaction with their children and experiences they provide for them, parents can influence and guide children's growth, development, and learning process. This paper, in English- and Spanish-language versions, lists several ways parents can support their children's learning. The paper first notes that parents can establish a support…

Meeting a crucial need, this book provides clear recommendations for authentic developmental assessment of children from infancy to age 6, including those with developmental delays and disabilities. It describes principles and strategies for collecting information about children's everyday activities in the home, preschool, and community, which…

This booklet contains suggestions about the essential roles parents play in their children's learning and ideas about learning from New Jersey educators that enhance the parental role. The connection between parent involvement and children's success in school is a resource that needs to be expanded in many, or most, New Jersey schools. After a…