This guide for parents of gifted children answers frequently asked questions, identifies resources, and text of relevant California laws and regulations. Preliminary material includes an introduction and a "Declaration of the Educational Rights of the Gifted Child" by Barbara Clark. Part 1 provides answers to parents' questions…

This Spanish language information brief describes the Parent to Parent Program, which provides information and one-to-one emotional support to parents of children with special needs. The program trains experienced parents in the program and matches them with similar parents new to the program. Benefits of the program include: (1) providing parents…

Practical and well-defined solutions are presented to build effective and long-lasting partnerships among parents, educators, and community members for the improvement of schools. A step-by-step model is presented, with an outline to guide anyone attempting to involve parents in their children's schools. Chapter 1, "My Journey to Parent…

Discusses sources for private funding to obtain computers for schools and suggests methods for submitting proposals, approaching various organizations, and maintaining good relationships with funders. Potential donors that are described include parent groups, alumni, local service organizations, businesses, and private foundations and charitable…

Designed to help members of Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I Migrant Parents Advisory Councils in Washington to organize themselves into effective groups to assist the schools in providing good compensatory education for migrant children, this manual provides information about the two types of councils (target school and school…

Parents and community members who want to improve their schools are often told that things "must" be done a certain way because of rules and regulations. Often union contracts are blamed for why certain changes cannot be made. Union contracts may not be the barrier to change, however; management inaction may be the real culprit. This…

This article discusses the affective needs of gifted students and provides information about what counselors can offer to gifted adolescents and their teachers, including affective curriculum, training in active listening, and co-facilitation of discussion groups. Other strategies for addressing social and emotional concerns in programs are also…

This handbook for the nonprofessional provides basic information, organizational suggestions,and program ideas for operating child care programs which do not require advance registration or regular attendance. The focus is on child care provided in conjunction with "family-centered programs" (such as parent discussion groups) where…

This article reviews resources that offer personal insights and lessons from families of children with disabilities. Five books are reviewed that offer perspectives from fathers and mothers on raising and coping with a child with a disability, along with three Web sites for families of children with disabilities or premature infants. (CR)

Many factors make it difficult for establishment institutions to recruit adoptive minority families. Minority adoptive parent groups have begun to have an impact on removal of obstacles to recruitment of families and placement of minority children in permanent homes. Because parent groups have organized to educate both their communities and the…

This handbook provides activities and methods that educators can use to encourage Indian and Metis parents to become more involved in the education of their children and in the provincial school system as a whole. Chapter 1 includes exercises and quizzes to help teachers understand their own views on cultural awareness, racism, and values. Chapter…

This information brief describes the Parent to Parent Program, which provides information and one-to-one emotional support to parents of children who have special needs. In the program, trained and experienced parents are carefully matched in one-to-one relationships with parents who are new to the program. The matches are based upon similarities…

Designed for Spanish-speaking parents of students with disabilities living in Oregon, this brochure describes the general mediation process that parents can use to resolve special education services disputes with schools. It begins by discussing what mediation is and the characteristics of a trained mediator. It addresses the requirement for…

This guidebook for parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders includes descriptions of common diagnoses and therapies, information on programs and services, and a description of the roles of various mental health professionals. Introductory sections note the extent of the problem and the importance of parents not blaming…

Written from a conservative perspective, this handbook provides practical advice to "parent activists" who wish to organize groups to influence or oppose school policies. Each of the six "steps" is presented in a question-and-answer format, followed in certain instances by "example cases" and attachments. Step one,…