This collection of 9 papers presented at a conference on parent involvement in the schools focuses on topics such as communication among teachers, children, and parents; actual parent participation in the educational program; and parental control of the educational program. Papers included were: (1) "Establishing Effective Communications between…

This document describes the planning and implementation of the 1979 Basic Educational Skills (BES) Project in the Palmdale and King schools of South Phoenix, Arizona. The program description includes some background information on the community, the school and the staff. This is followed by detailed analyses of the four program components: parent…

This Child Development Associate (CDA) training module is designed to help the CDA intern establish a positive type of relationship with parents which will lead to effective communication and cooperation between home and school. Objectives are presented along with suggested activities for achieving each objective and an assessment checklist. Also…

Parent-run free schools (parent coops) differ markedly from public schools in size and organizational structure, but this paper shows that these new institutions share the problem of teacher supervision. Conclusions are based on intensive study of three parent coops using both participant observation and interviewing. Parent coops must deal with a…

This report presents the results of an inquiry conducted to determine whether the Saskatoon schools were providing the kind of school services the community really wanted. The information was obtained by soliciting written briefs from citizens and students, by conducting a random survey, and by holding public meetings throughout the city. The…

Suggests that parents who are aware of the differences between home play and school play more fully understand and value the role of play in the early childhood curriculum. Discusses benefits of school play along several dimensions, including interaction with peers and adults, group size, materials, planning, and guidance. Suggests ways for…

Describes a pilot program designed to strengthen children's transition from preschool programs to kindergarten. Discusses three major components: kindergarten registration drive for parents; a series of parent information nights; and kindergarten school visits over the course of the school year. Offers sample format for an hour-long kindergarten…

Analyzes the views of parents and teachers in an urban elementary school serving low-income, primarily white families. Interview data highlight themes of separation between home and school, the function of parent volunteers, structural barriers to more family involvement, friendship between teachers and parents, service to the school, teacher…

A survey of 984 mothers in Bavaria of young children with disabilities investigated their views regarding cooperation and what they expect to achieve from parent-expert partnerships. Results indicate dialoguing with professionals and model learning during intervention is the most helpful way for parents to learn how to cope with their child.…

Having a child with autism can severely disrupt family life. Parents may experience emotional stress, anxiety, fear, and guilt. Understanding parental efforts in learning about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their experiences with a variety of therapeutic interventions and educational strategies is an important component of building…

This study used an open-ended structured interview to investigate seven parents' of students with disabilities perceptions of charter schools and why they chose this type of school to educate their child. Findings showed a general theme of parents believing that the traditional area public school did not meet their child's needs in terms of size,…

Part of the series "Early Childhood Development: Practice and Reflections," this report details the Kushanda Project, an early childhood education program in Zimbabwe. The Kushanda Project is a 16-person organization that has helped parents in rural Zimbabwe communities to understand the value of early childhood education and…

This paper presents an analysis of current education services for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the perspectives of children, parents, and educators. It presents results from several pilot surveys that asked parents and educators to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current educational services for students. Guidelines for…

This practicum was designed to improve communication between the mostly low-income, Hispanic parents and the non-Hispanic staff of a school-based preschool program. Parents of the program's 20 children were surveyed to determine what factors might encourage their participation in school functions. Parents were also interviewed by telephone and in…

Sources of variations in parents' assessment of helpgiving practices and perceived control appraisals were investigated in this study. Participants included 69 parents of children, birth to age five, with disabilities or at-risk for poor developmental outcomes. Results indicated that parent and family characteristics showed no relationship to…