Although many parents remain unfamiliar with the testing programs offered in their children's schools, recent surveys show that parent groups are becoming increasingly interested in the critical issues surrounding testing. Parents should assume responsiblity for monitoring the progress of their children and learn the facts about standardized…

Argues that it has not been fashionable to value literacy stories from parents as a source of knowledge for interpreting the home literacy environment. Compares teacher descriptions of several at-risk children to their parents' literacy stories. Concludes that understanding multiple home literacy environments can help teachers think critically…

Provides overview of major initiatives in family literacy and argues for fundamental change in the way schools relate to parents and the community. Suggests that schools and communities need to develop more effective partnerships so that parents and teachers can develop a sense of shared understanding. Concludes that such initiatives will lead to…

Describes the development of a resource program for Catholic schools in Florida to help disabled students. Argues that a triad formation, in which responsibilities are divided among the parents, teachers, and students, is important to help them reach their goals. Presents strategies to teach students to work independently. (AJL)

Examines the possibilities of creating family-care centers. Suggests that in addition to focusing on the child's security, healthy development, and high quality of life, a family center focuses on the family's economical and psychological security, and the relationships that promote the psychological well-being of family members. Discusses the…

Considers the public's growing recognition that early childhood education is good for young children. Addresses misconceptions that education and care are different and that the purpose of early childhood programs is to prepare children for school. (BG)

Incorporating oral history and oral tradition into the curriculum helps students connect with people different from themselves and with the larger community. The article describes oral history and tradition, and discusses ways for parents and teachers to work together for greater understanding and acceptance of diversity through oral history and…

Presents a definition of empowerment based on research and school-based programing. Discusses ways in which schools can involve parents, teachers, and administrators in an empowerment process that leads to improved student achievement. Offers questions that can be used to focus initiatives in home-school partnerships. (BC)

Describes Family Builders, a school counseling program initiated by the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, to help teachers and parents correct undesirable behavior in students. Discusses the program's recognition of parents as children's primary educators in supporting home/school/community partnerships. (VWC)

Discusses the use of authentic assessment during creative learning activities in kindergarten classrooms to document growth and support further learning. Provides an example of how authentic assessment was used to document the social progress of one child during kindergarten. Concludes that authentic assessment of children's activities and…

Presents four initiatives to make Canadian teacher unions more customer-centered and competitive: (1) make union membership optional; (2) sell union services to members and nonmembers; (3) lobby for school-level concerns and conduct controversial political lobbying through arms-length organizations; and (4) take more supportive stances toward…

This paper examined each of the eight major recommendations of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development's 1989 report entitled "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century." That report called for the transformation of early adolescent education by: (1) creating a community for learning in the schools through…

This brochure discusses parents' involvement in their children's education. It is maintained that parent involvement in education is one of the most promising movements to have come out of the school reforms of the 1980s. Recent history of parent involvement in American schools; several American educators' ideas about parent involvement; and…

Blacksmiths and their craft have changed with the times, and as times change for teachers, they too should be forgers of links. Teacher-to-teacher links should extend beyond the faculty lounge to support systems and active groups of individuals concerned about each other. Another personal link can be made by developing a grade level, system-wide…

These proceedings consist of: a brief opening address by Ms. Val Emerson, Director of the Virginia Division for Children and Youth; a keynote address, "Perspectives on the Family," by Dr. Earl S. Schaefer of the University of North Carolina; and a dialogue on "Programs and Practices for Professionals Working With Parents" by Dr. Ann O'Keefe,…