This handbook was designed for parents and school staff and administrators to provide information about organizing Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Parent Advisory Councils on the local school and school district levels. The handbook presents discussions on the history of Title I, funding, access to information, council organization,…

The Early Reading Assistance Program was developed and implemented by a nonprofit citizens organization (Programs for Action by Citizens in Education) funded by a Jennings Foundation Grant to provide tutorial reading assistance for children in 17 suburban Cleveland Public Schools. The volunteer tutors were mainly middle-aged, middle-class…

Describes the development of a parents' support group in Augusta, Georgia which offers parents of hyperactive and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) children an opportunity to share experiences and explore problem-solving strategies for coping with and managing their children. (Author/BB)

Examines the evolution in England, France, and the United States of organizations concerned with the wishes of parents in regard to secondary schooling. Concludes that despite significantly different educational systems there is similarity regarding parent involvement: the wishes of the vast majority of parents remain unexpressed, unsolicited, or…

This final report summarizes a six-year project, the Northern California Coalition, which sought to provide information and training to families within their communities and to increase the capacity of community-based parent groups. The coalition was a collaboration of three parent-directed agencies serving families of children with disabilities…

A teacher in a day school for students with hearing impairments recounts development of a parent support group, including special problems and evidence of effectiveness. The article offers guidelines for other schools regarding preparation for meetings, conducting meetings, and possible meeting topics. (DB)

A practicum was designed to increase parents' participation in the education of their children by involving parents and teachers in a concentrated program of experiences and activities. The setting for the practicum was an elementary school for kindergarten through third grade, where teacher surveys, parent meetings, workshop attendance, and…

This resource packet presents some of the arguments for, and research about, parents playing an active role in the education of their children--not just by being supportive at home, but also by being involved in the school. The issues covered include: (1) the need for parent involvement; (2) goals of parent involvement; (3) types of parent…

The author describes the Parent Advisory Council for Exceptional Children of Baltimore City, an urban center program designed to increase active parental participation through formal and informal training which emphasizes Black student/parent rights and due process. Parents participate in a 6 week intensive training program with activities…

There are a number of reasons for the lack of parent interest in Title I Parent Advisory Councils (PAC). There are too many officials charged with implementing Title I who do not want to be bothered with an effective PAC. In addition, many officials do not seriously consider the experiences parents bring to their membership and do not have the…

This easy-to-read booklet for parents of handicapped children, contains information on how to organize parent groups to move bureaucracies toward providing better services for handicapped children. Included are suggestions for choosing effective leaders, lobbying for results, using various media, setting up classes in public schools or starting a…

This handbook is written to give groups of parents and citizens the insight and basic tools they need to develop their leadership potential. The four chapters focus on leadership styles, strategies of a leader, group functions, and motivation. Because the development of leadership is so closely related to organizing for action, this handbook…

Data from a study of 113 elementary school principals in the Chicago metropolitan area support the proposition that non-socioeconomic characteristics of the parental community (assertiveness, responsiveness, homogeneity, and eagerness to participate) account for variations in principals' perceptions of parents. Makes recommendations for effective…

Activities of Special Education Parent Teacher Associations (SEPTAs) and issues which concern their membership are reported, based on information from a survey of some of these organizations in 12 states. (PP)

A parent and the music supervisor from the Ridgewood Public Schools in New Jersey describe how parents formed the Friends of Music association to provide moral and some financial support to the district's music education program. (Part of a theme issue on the crisis in music education.) (SJL)