In this interview, Seokee Cho, the Director of the Research Center on the Education of the Gifted and Talented, discusses the implementation of gifted education in Korea, key issues in gifted education, the role personality plays in giftedness, the importance of mentors, parental involvement, ability identification, and fostering giftedness. (CR)

This article describes a family-centered assessment and intervention approach that empowers and enables families of young children with disabilities in the selection and use of assistive technology. Included in the discussion are key characteristics of parent/professional partnerships and effective, helpful practices that facilitate the level of…

When parents are involved with their children's schools, increased learning takes place. For parent involvement programs to be successful, physical educators must play the key role in the link between home and school. Home activities should build basic physical skills without duplicating the teachers' efforts. (JD)

Discusses the goals of Project Family Initiative for English Literacy (FIEL) and the rationale for the model on which it is based. Describes the curriculum and the content of the five-step lessons. Provides an example of one family's literacy growth within the project. (MG)

Describes the National Urban Coalition's "Say YES to a Youngster's Future" project that is being tested in public schools in Washington, D.C., and Houston (Texas). This program is an activities-based, early intervention, family learning program in math and science that targets minority students in grades K-six and their parents. (JS)

Presents text from the vision statement for family friendly libraries to help citizens who are experiencing difficulties with public library system policies of the American Library Association. Describes five articles from the statement: traditional family emphasis, parental library rights, respect for standards and laws, respect for minors, and…

Specific suggestions are offered to promote the participation of Asian families of young, special-needs children in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process. Suggestions address: enhancing one's own cultural awareness, overcoming language differences, holding effective family conferences, and developing family outcomes in the IFSP.…

On Head Start's 30th anniversary, highlights its components of parent involvement and family support, commitment to meeting local needs, training and technical assistance support, and collaborative approach. Also discusses the Head Start Reauthorization Act and the special advisory committee's recommendations for the improvement of the Head Start…

Presents lessons for family-school-community cooperation drawn from the work of schools in the League of Schools Reaching Out and from policy analyses by the Institute for Responsive Education. The most important policies are those that provide flexibility and respect diversity while evaluating and changing as they operate. (SLD)

This paper discusses the need for child care for infants and toddlers with disabilities and chronic illnesses; types of child care; shortage of and need for specially trained caregivers; influence of federal programs; the importance of family involvement; and a program providing preservice training to caregivers in public and private child care…

A study was designed to determine psychological complexity and reinforcement characteristics of popular arcade video games, including sex differences in game content, clientele social structure, human-to-human interaction contingencies, and value content. Results suggest a need for public control of children's access to the games and the video…

This article describes the history of New York's efforts to create partnerships with families with children with emotional disturbances, articulates the stages of parent involvement in policymaking, and summarizes lessons learned and recommendations for effective and enduring families as policy allies. A case study is presented. (Contains…

Outlines lessons learned during many missions undertaken in countries of the former Soviet Union and former Yugoslavia that were designed to set up psychosocial assistance programs to teach coping skills to children adversely affected by armed conflicts and the socioeconomic transition process from a planned to a market economy. (SM)

Describes the history of community schools, which link schools, families, and communities via family-support initiatives and school-linked services. Discusses family involvement in schools; partnerships for improvement that emphasize families without creating dependency; and new citizenship (building communities and promoting competence), which…

Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) child caregivers represent a significant proportion of caregivers for young children. Yet, these caregivers receive little support for their services. In 2003, the First 5 California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California) began a study to determine the work-related needs of FFN caregivers in…