Tragic events in recent years underscore the need for school to be a safe and positive learning environment for every student. In the absence of a safe and positive learning environment, a student may feel disconnected, disregard consequences, and engage in bullying or other destructive behaviors. These conditions can foreshadow acts of violence…

Problem behavior at school "interferes with the educational process and places a burden on teachers" (U.S. Department of Education 2002, p. III-17). Disciplinary problems have long been linked to negative outcomes for students with disabilities, such as course failure and dropping out of school (Wagner et al. 1991). Parents, administrators,…

This document presents guidelines developed by the Los Angeles Unified School District to help strengthen support from parents, the community, and community leaders for the school district's programs. It provides a statement regarding school and parent responsibilities and suggestions for how the school staff and parents, working together, may…

This handbook presents policies and procedures that affect three schools operated by the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services to serve students with disabilities: the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt, Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. The handbook includes…

This bilingual handbook, in English and Spanish on facing pages, is intended to provide general information to Chicago (Illinois) public school parents about school discipline. After two brief introductory chapters that set forth the scope of the issue, the third chapter provides the following general guidelines for discipline programs in…

Presents 10 major issues parents need to address effectively in order to advocate for their children's education (safety, discipline, practices and policies, grading, labels, bias, curriculum and schedules, standardized tests, homework, and subject anxiety). The article suggests appropriate questions to ask the schools. (SM)

Written to help migrant parents with day-to-day concerns about their children and their children's schooling, this handbook provides a variety of reference information. A definition of migrant education services is followed by a directory of individuals responsible for migrant education in Delaware at state and local levels. Telephone numbers are…

Parents of children in public elementary schools in New York City are given basic information about school policies and practices in this English/Spanish guide. Topics covered include: (1) ancillary school services such as transportation, breakfast and lunch programs, and school health services; (2) Board of Education policy on homework, tests,…