Objective: The authors conduct a within intervention group analysis to test whether caregiver engagement (e.g., participation, homework completion, openness to ideas, apparent satisfaction) in a group-based intervention moderates risk factors for foster child outcomes in a state-supported randomized trial of caregiver parent training. Methods: The…

This article presents an analysis of a Latino parent group and an African American parent group in California who struggled to engage with a contentious urban school reform. Using Bourdieu's cultural capital framework, the study focuses on the institutional responses to parent involvement, and the inequality in access that occurs as capital from…

Background: Research suggests that schools' capacity to successfully implement and sustain reform programs may rest, in part, with district-level facilitation. The importance of district leadership has been established for a variety of educational reforms, including school, family, and community partnerships. However, few studies have been…

Education is a powerful tool to improve lives and enhance the prospect of innovation and development of nations. While primary school enrollment has increased considerably over the past few decades in Sub-Saharan Africa, learning and the retention rate have remained low. The first two chapters of this dissertation analyze two dimensions in a bid…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Online Testing, Version 1.0: Oregon's Adaptive Computer-Based Accountability Test Offers a Peek at a Brave New Future (Robert Rothman); (2) Beyond…

Each edition of the IDRA Newsletter strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on Parent and Community Engagement and includes: (1) Principles of Family Leadership in Education--Putting Principles into Action…

When asked to explain why so many urban schools show unsatisfactory results on academic or social measures, principals routinely and quickly turn to descriptions of parents. In other words, when seeking to explain why work within a school is so difficult or why reform initiatives have been unsuccessful, many principals point outside the school.…

Background: Controlling, uninvolved, and rejecting parenting in early childhood are strong predictors of later disruptive behavior disorders. However, there have been no evaluations of non-targeted groups for parents of very young children, despite their potential advantages. Methods: We randomly assigned 79 mothers of 12- to 36-month-olds to an…

This handbook is designed to aid parent associations in the New York City schools to better manage their financial responsibilities. After discussing the nature of Budget and Audit Committees, the handbook stresses the need for a budget and the items to be included in it. The areas of management, recordkeeping, and auditing are delineated. (WP)

Intended for parents of mentally retarded children, the booklet describes the organization of a parent support program in Canada. Sections outline seven steps involved in the development of a Pilot Parents Program: (1) one or two parents in a local association for the mentally retarded chapter decide to start Pilot Parents; (2) a Pilot Parents…

The primary role of any library is to provide resources and services for its patrons, and school library media centers are no exception. Most of the time, library media specialists think of patrons only in terms of students and faculty. However, there are a variety of ways library media specialists can expand influence and increase support from…

The directory lists approximately 70 parent training and information centers funded via P.L. 98-199 by the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (U.S. Department of Education). Drawn from telephone interviews with directors and/or staff members, the information for each listing includes name, address, telephone, director,…

Promotes the contention that, in many instances, voluntary childlessness for married couples is an acceptable, and perhaps even a desirable, variant form of family life. Examines current trends in the incidence of childlessness and the impact of these trends on fertility rates. Presents alternative social policies. (EB)

The purpose and objectives, services, and membership of the International Association of Parents of the Deaf are outlined. (SBH)

The Kalamazoo (Michigan) Parent Respite Care Co-op enables parents of handicapped children to take a break from the daily care their child requires. (SW)