In the broader context of school decentralization, two school-community groups in Toronto were studied in order to determine the establishment and developmental stages of such groups, and the processes whereby inputs are exchanged between school and community. One of the groups was Chinese and predominantly working class, the other was largely…

Each of these four papers highlights findings of a National Institute of Education-sponsored project entitled "Citizen Organizations: A Study of Citizen Participation in Educational Decisionmaking." The first paper, "Class, Power, and Networking: Implications of Existing Network Patterns Among Groups," discusses the effect of inter-organizational…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a study that investigated the involvement of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-American Indian/Alaska Native parents of children with disabilities in the general educational and Individualized Education Program (IEP) processes, and the specific needs of parents that would…

In April 1992 the Louisiana Department of Education sent individualized school-level profiles and district composite reports to all 66 district offices in the state. To measure the effectiveness of this program and identify areas of improvement for subsequent profiles, a survey was conducted. This report considers the responses of 363 parent…

This report describes a national survey of organizations of and for parents of children and adolescents with serious emotional disabilities. The telephone survey located 207 parent organizations of which 26.7 percent were publicly affiliated and 72.9 percent were either private, non-profit, or informally organized. About 54 percent were part of…

This study examines the ways in which parents and other community members, especially urban minorities and the poor, participate in decisions that bear on the education of their children. Information concerning the role and effectiveness of community organizations in Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles over a 15 month period is summarized. The…

The paper examines parent involvement in the governance of schools. Five structures that incorporate elected parent representatives in consultative and decision-making committees established by law are discussed: (1) School Improvement Councils (Massachusetts); (2) Boards of Governors (England and Wales); (3) Counseils d'etablissement (France);…

A study utilized survey and case-study techniques supplemented by examination of documents to facilitate a sociopolitical investigation of the concept and role of ethnic teacher aides in state schools in Victoria, Australia. A theoretical framework was developed, combining an historical sociology of knowledge with a systems management perspective.…

The Asian Newcomer Parent Program (ANPP), an experimental project initiated by the Education Center for Chinese (ECC) in 1971, was intended to provide newly immigrated parents some of the same opportunities as their children to learn English, to understand American mores and lifestyles, and to transcent some of the cultural and communication…

This article is a report of an investigation into what practicing leaders in Florida believe they must know and be capable of in order to effectively perform their role. The focus is relevant to the preparation of principals and to best practices that can advance the profession of educational administration. Reflecting an unusual approach to…

This book presents an ethnography of community efforts in Carpinteria, California, to bridge ethnic differences, empower parents, and improve education for the town's diverse student population. Located on the central California coast south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria has been home to generations of Mexican immigrants and their children. Over…

The Asian Newcomer Parent Program (ANPP), was intended to provide newly immigrated parents some of the same opportunities as their children to learn English, to understand American mores and lifestyles, and to transcend some of the cultural and communication barriers within the family unit. The project is described in the second-year report, which…

This document summarizes research into early childhood education programs for 3- to 8-year-old children in Ontario. The document focuses upon the problems, priorities, and practices which characterize these programs. Two factors in Ontario prompted research into its early childhood education programs: public concern over rising educational costs;…

The Asian Newcomer Parent Program (ANPP), an experimental project initiated by the Education Center for Chinese (ECC) in 1971, was intended to provide newly immigrated parents some of the same opportunities as their children to learn English, to understand American mores and lifestyles, and to transcend some of the cultural and communication…

High parental involvement has been linked to increases in student achievement and engagement in school (Moore, 1992; Swap, 1993; Henderson and Berla, 1994; Fuller and Olsen, 1998). Schools with large populations of low-income students or students of color often have difficulties in engaging a majority of parents due to a variety of social and…