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America Goes Back to School: An Initiative of thePartnership for Family Involvement in Education andthe U.S. Department of Education. Partners' ActivityKit, 1996-97.Family Involvement Partnership for Learning,Washington, DC.Department of Education, Washington, DC.9652p.; For a related document, see ED 383 483.Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, 600Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202.Guides Non-Classroom Use (055)

MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.*Community Involvement; Community Organizations;*Community Role; *Educational Improvement; ElementarySecondary Education; Family Involvement; FamilySchool Relationship; *Parent Participation;*Partnerships in Education; School BusinessRelationship; *School Community Relationship; StudentNeeds

Noting the improvement in schools and education thatoccurs when parents, educators, and the community get involved, this"partners' activity kit" is intended to raise public awareness aboutwhat students in the schools need, and describes ways that anyone inthe community can fill a role in improving education. Following aninvitation from the U.S. Secretary of Education for communitysupport, the kit lists seven goals identified by the public asimportant to improving education: (1) making schools safe,disciplined, and drug-free; (2) supporting parent and familyinvolvement; (3) becoming a reading, literate society; (4) reachingfor new levels of excellence with high standards and realaccountability; (5) making technoloy available so all children willsucceed in the 2Ist century; (6) preparing young people for careers;and (7) making college more accessible. The remainder of the kitprovides ideas for getting involved in each of those seven actionareas. Included with the activities are real-life examples of howvarious community groups work to improve learning. Activities forgetting involved are categorized for the following groups: families;schools involving families and the community; community and culturalgroups, colleges, libraries, the armed forces, and religiousorganizations; and employers. Innovative activities from America GoesBack to School events are described, and a directory of selectedresources are listed. (HTH)

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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.

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1. "The World Needs a Hug"Lauren Elizabeth Gregory. Oak Ridge, TN

2. "Sharing a Book"Jarnie King, Meridian, MS

3. "I Would Give the World Fresh Air,Puppies and Love"Mikey Stevens, Germantown, TN

4. "Just Open Your Eyes and See, We Can AllLive In Unity"Eddie Smith III, Montgomery, Al

5. "Dare to Discover Your Imagination"Zachary Schelp, Kansas City, MO

6. "Dare to Discover the Glow u, a Book"Chris Mills, Montgomery, AL

7. "A Clean Up Club"Katherine Leda Norton, Rochester, MN

8. "Kid Peace"Justin Taylor, Parkersburg, WV

9. "Autumn Rain"Katherine Mertens, Cranford, NJ

10. "I'd Give the World Another Picasso"Jenny Dumproff, Germantown, WI

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CO-CHAIRI Joan Dykstra

President, The National PTA

CO-CHAIRVincent E."Bo" JacksonActor, Businessmanand 1985 HeismanTrophy winner

"Just Open Your Eyes and See that People areLike Flowers. They are All Beautiful"

CO-CHAIRDr. Ted SandersPresident, SouthernIllinois University

1JN t 444*.

CHAIRRichard W. RildyU.S. Secretary of EdUcation

CO-CHAIRTiriper GoreFamily/Child Adv&ite

An Initiative of the Partnership forFamily Involvement in Education and the U.S. Department of Education

PARTNERSHIP

for FamilyInvolvementin Education

Partners' Activity Kit 1996-97

GET INVOLVED!"Better Education Is

Everybody's Business."U.S. Secretary ofEducation Richard W. Riley

asor

Better education is everybody's business. That is why we invite you to get involved and join the second annual national

back-to-school campaign to help students in your community learn. The U.S. Secretary ofEducation, with the

sponsorship of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, will launch America Goes Back to School: Get Involved!

in August. The goal is to let the students of America know that their entire community cares about their

education and wants to make it better.

It is well known that when families, educators, and communities work together, schools get better and students get the

high quality education they need to lead productive lives. Over 700 family, school, community, religious, and business

organizations have come together, through the Partnership's leadership, to improve schools and colleges and support

family involvement in learning.

Education is about discovering the special skills and talents of students and guiding their learning according to high

standards. Education is also about teaching our children and young people basic American values and uncorking that

world-renowned American ingenuity that has characterized our country. For America to move forward and continue as a

world leader, and for all of our communities to become prosperous and strong, more individuals need to become

involved in improving our schools and colleges.

America Goes Back to School encourages everyone--families, schools, colleges, community and religious groups,

concerned adults, and employersto make a commitment to make education better in their community.

This publication provides information about how everyone can get involved in vitally important areas of education and

let their community know how to get involved too. There are plenty of activities in which you can participate to make a

difference in students' learning. Everyone has a role, and a stake, in improving education. When families, communities

and schools work together--for students kindergarten through college--schools work better and students learn more.

Inv-,lvement is simple--volunteer to do what you know.

Come on, AMERICA ... let's go BACK TO SCHOOL!

404-c-AfieuTipper GoreFamily/Child

Advocate

Richard W. RileyU.S. Secretary of Education

Bo JacksonActor/BusinessmanHeisman Trophy

Winner, 1985

OS.Ted Sanders

President, SouthernIllinois University

6

RAHMp gthiCaltlan it Everybody* Business

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Joan DykstraPresident, National PTA

GETTING STARTED

"If we are going to seize thepromise of our times and educateour children so they can keeptheir dreams alive, we must allwork together. Not governmentalone, not individuals alone, butas parents and children, asemployers and employees,teachers and students, communityleaders and community members,as government and citizens. Wemust renew our schools so everyAmerican child has theopportunity to get the bestpossible education for the twenty-first century."

President Bill Clinton

"The World Needs a Hug"Lauren Elizabeth Gregory, Oak Ridge,

This kit is designed to help youraise public awareness about whatstudents in your school andcommunity need to help themreach their maximum potential.The American public has identifiedseven important actions tO improveeducation. These are:

Making schools safe, disciplined anddrug-free: A precondition for learning

Encouraging parent and familyinvolvement

Helping America become a reading,literate society

Reaching for new levels of excellence:

Achieve high standards and realaccountability

Making technology available so allchildren will succeed in the 21stcentury

Preparing young people for careers:A strong transition from school towork

Making college more accessible: Keepthe promise of the American dream

Activities for Improving Education

What follows are ideas for gettinginvolved in each of these seven actionareas for parents, schools, communitymembers, and employers. Includedwith the activities are real-life examplesof how each of these groups 'ork toimprove learning. The guide is dividedinto sections depicted by the hands andcolors on the right. You can flip tothe section that most represents you byfollowing the color chart.

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Parents and Families:

Community Groups:

Schools:

Employers:

In the pocket of this kit are an America Goes Back to School poster listing thePartnership for Family Involvement in Education members as ofMay 23, 1996, a bookmark, and other materials for your local use.

Planning a Back-to-School EventThe activities are followed by some examples from last year's America Goes Back to

School initiative. You will also find samples of official proclamations for your use.

Selected ResourcesResources have been included in the back of the book to help you gather more

information on each of the seven action areas.

Becoming a PartnerThe Partnership for Family Involvement in Education encourages you to sign up

your school, college, community organization, business, or place of worship as amember of the Partnership. Pledge sheets are included in this kit--just fill out theappropriate sheet for your group and mail or fax it in!

For more information about the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education,or to obtain print and video materials on family and community involvement,

call 1-800-USA-LEARN, your one-stop shop at the U.S. Department of

Education.

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"Open Your Eyes and See the Setting Sun"Taylor Marie Fidel, Murray, UT

82 Better Education is Everybody's Business

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1/400r11 6oNos 3NVCLVED INMAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, DISCIPLINED AND DRUG-FREEIn order for students to learn well at school. they must be disciplined and safe.While most schools are already safe and drug-free. a growing number of schools inall types of communities--urban, suburban, and rural--are experiencing problemswith violence and with alcohol and drug use. With creative solutions, from schooluniforms to strict discipline codes, from training teachers to deal with violence toafter-school programs that keep kids productive and safe, schools, parents, andcommunities are providing children the safe, disciplined and drug-free conditionsthey need and should expect to find in school.

SUPPORTING PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENTAny effort to improve education should focus especially on increased familyinvolvement; 3t; years of research clearly shows that family involvement iscritical for children's success in school and in the rest of their life. However,families in which both parents work and those which are headed by single parentsoften face a time crunch that can affect their ability to develop strong relationshipswith their children's teachers. Help will need to come from everyone within localcommunities, schools, employers, community organizations and religious groupsto ensure that our society is family friendly for children's learning.

BECOMING A READING, LITERATE SOCIETYReading is the key that unlocks learning in all subjects. While schools must takethe lead in making literacy and the basics a top priority, reading reinforcementmust be provided outside of school as well. If students do not read over thesummer, for example, they can lose three to four months of the reading gains theymade the previous school year. If families, schools, community groups, employersand religious groups make improving the reading skills of children and adults atop priority, then America can attain the goal of being a reading, literate society.

REACHING FOR NEW LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE WITH HIGHSTANDARDS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITYHigh expectations and high standards bring out the best in students and schools.Although progress is being made, academic standards are often too low and manystudents still suffer from the tyranny of low expectations. The 1996 NationalEducation Summit of business leaders, governors, and President Clintonreinforced the need for high standards and better accountability. "We arecompelled, "they said, "by the urgent need for schools to improve and for student academic

peiformance to rise." The commitment of these leaders to educational excellence isvery important, but a first step; turning the promise of higher standards into betterteaching and learning will take our sustained efforts, school by school andcommunity by community, with parent, educator, business and collegeinvolvement.

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"Pd Give the World Another Picasso"Jenny Domproff Germantown. WI

"All across America there arecommunities which are pullingtogether to strengthen education.Parents, teachers, communityleaders, business leaders, andeducators in every part of ourcountry are starting to worktogether to improve teaching andlearning and to improve studentachievement."

Richard IV Riley1:.S. Secretary of Education

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MAKING TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE SO ALL CHILDREN WILL

SUCCEED IN THE 21st CENTURYComputers help students learn at their own pace, provide unlimited sources of

information, offer access to other learners and mentors, and help develop

workplace skills. Computers can also open up a whole new world to children with

disabilities. But access is critical. Working together, we need to ensure that all

teachers have the training and support they need to help students learn through

computers; effective and engaging software is developed and made an integral part

of the curriculum; all teachers and students have access to modern computers; and

every school and classroom in America is connected to the growing international

network of information.

PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS

When challenging academics are combined with practical on-the-job experience,

students get hands-on, rigorous preparation for careers and college. Some

businesses, cultural and community organizations are joining forces with schools to

offer worksite learning experiences, mentors, and exposure to careers. In some

high schools, school-to-work programs are organized around broad career themes,

with links to business and postsecondary training after high school. However,

these and other exciting school-to-career initiatives are still not available to all

students. Expanding these opportunities is fundamental to preparing young

people for careers and the future.

MAKING COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLEHigher education in America is the jewel of education worldwide and one of our

richest resources. Education beyond high school is also becoming more of a

necessity to make a living and ensure our well being in a highly technological

society. Workers with bachelor's degrees earn, on average, almost $15,000 more a

year than workers with high school diplomas. Graduates of community colleges

with a two-year associate degree earn almost $12,000 more per year than high

school dropouts. We must make it a national priority to open the doors to college

to all deserving and qualified students. With adequate academic and financial

preparation, more students can have the opportunity to attend technical,

community, or four-year colleges and universities.

"Dare to Discover Your Imagination"Zachary Schell), Kansas Oh, MO

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WAYS FOR FAMILIESTO GET INVOLVED

IN CHILDREN'SLEARNING

"Give your community and itschildren a valuable gift yourtime and talents. By supportingyour schools through the gift ofyourself and your resources, youstrengthen your community, leadby example and send a strongmessage to children that theireducatioNal success isimportant."

Tipp, r GoreFamily/Child Advocate

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Families across America are pitching in to make their schools betterand help students achieve high standards. In their own way, theyare facing the various issues that concern Americans about theirschools. What follows are some ways families are tackling the sevenimportant issues.

MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE, DISCIPLINED AND DRUG-FREE:A PRECONDITION FOR LEARNING

Talk to children about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and drug use. Theseconversations could literally save their lives.

Join the PTA and work to form a community association, such as 'parent patrols,"that will work in and around schools to discourage alcohol and drug abuse andward off unwanted intruders. Build partnerships with local law enforcement.

Security Dads, Beech Grove Qty, Indiana

Fathers at Beech Grove City Schools in Indiana provide a visible male parentalpresence at school-sponsored sporting events, dances, skating parties, and otherstudent-based activities. The "Security Dads"ensure proper behavior, evicttroublemakers when necessary, and generally keep the peace. Fathers wererecruited through a Jariety of means including requests made at parent meetings,student referrals, and home visits. As a result of this effort, parental involvementin school and children's activities has increased and student behavior at eventshas improved.

1 Mount Vernon High School PTAReinvents Itself, Alexandria,Virginia

When Coleman Harris becamepresident of the Mount VernonHigh School PTA in 1994, the same8 to 20 people attended the monthlymeetings. To increase interest inchildren's learning at the school,Harris worked with the schooladministration and the community.They developed mission statementsboth for the school and theParent-Teacher-Student Association(FTSA). And the PTSA succeededin enlisting 100 percent of theteachers, who then brought studentsand parents on board.

Perhaps the most effective action forincreasing involvement at the schoolwas to change the structure of thePTSA itself. "Parents want to beinvolved in the area of the school where

their son or daughter is most active ordirectly involved...so we reorganized to

establish one Parent Council for eachgrade. We also organized CommunityResource Teams, composed of parents and

non-parent citizens, to support allacademic programs at the schooL" Withso many community supporters, theVISA now sends its newsletter tolocal community members as wellas to parents.

To keep the community aware ofthe importance of educationalaccomplishments, the localMcDonald's, in partnership with theschool, exhibits photos of theschool's honor roll students, varsityteam athletes and successfulgraduates in display cases in therestaurant.

ENCOURAGE PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Get involved with your child's school and teachers. Find out whether theschool is setting high enough academic standards for your child, and ss hetherthe school is offering your child the educational opportunities he or she needsto meet the highest standards available in other schools and states. Gettogether with other families, teachers, community groups, school district staff.and the school's principal to begin to make improvements in s our child'sschool.

Studies show that academic achievement drops sharply for children who w au hmore than two hours of TV a day. Help children select the right program foitheir age. Contact your TV manufacturer to determine the as-ailabilits ()I aV-chip which can block out certain programming.

Television Guide for Parents, Michigan.

Parents in MiChigan are encouraged to monitor tlnir children's TVviewing Continental Cablevision's "Better Viewing," afamily guide:to television. The guide provides entertaining activitiesand informitiVeiiiicIei ozi how to use TV to stiMulate learning. It alsorecommends ows to reeord on VCRs so parents may deirelop.ahome lib

:-programs!

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HELP AMERICA BECOME A READING, LITERATE SOCIETY

Set 30 minutes aside every night to read to or with children. Read withchildren or grandchildren in a way that actively involves them. Be sure yourchildren or grandchildren see you read and write. Dads and granddads can beespecially important reading role models for their bovs.

Take children to the library to get a library card. Visit the libran at least oncea week and allow children time to select their own books. Share a good bookwith a teenager.

Begin reading to your child early. Not only can you help establish the readinghabit, but research shows early reading helps reduce the negative effects oflearning disabilities.

BEST cm AVAILARLE

REACH FOR NEW LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE: ACHIEVE HIGHSTANDARDS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Student Assignment Book

To support students in their learning outside of school, the National CatholicEducationa 1 Association developed a student assignment book with helpful hintson how to study and do homework. Parents check and sign their child'shomework each day and keep a record of it in the book. Another feature of thisbook is space for a weekly written dialogue between the parent and teacher aboutthe child's progress.

Teachers and principals encourage the parents to use this space as soon as theyhave any question about their child's work or anticipate a potential difficulty thatimpedes learning. Most often, these written dialogues lead to three-wayconferences among parents, student and teachers to help the child. In the1995-96 school year, 30,000 students and parents nationwide used the book.

Make sure your children enroll in challenging courses. Encourage high schoolstudents to take advanced placement courses or advanced technology andtech-prep courses. Be as involved as vou can in your children's educationeach and every day.

Set high standards for your children's course work; encourage them to studyhard and participate in enrichment activities beyond the regular school day.

MAKE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE SO ALL CHILDREN WILL As.SUCCEED IN THE 21st CENTURY

Explore options for the use of technology in the schools and in thehome, such as take-home personal computers from schools and libraries.Encourage your school to provide access to the computer lab after schooland on weekends.

Develop a technology plan for your school that explores how technology cansupport students, teachers, and administrators. Talk with local cable,telecommunications, and wireless companies about ways to improve technicalfacilities at your local school, including telephones in the classrooms, e-maillinkages across the building, and free or low cost modem access betweenschool and home.

PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS: A STRONGTRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

Encourage your child to explore potential career fields, and learn about theskills and education needed to enter those fields. Expose yo,ir children toa wide variety of career possibilities through contacts with teachers, friends,employers, and career counselors. Take your children to work. Participatein your child's learning and urge them to take advantage of school-to-workopportunities in your area.

13

"A Clean up Club"Katherine Leila Norton. Rochester. MN

Oakland Health and Bioscience Academy Magnet School

Parents and students participate in decision making at the Oakland Health andBioscience Academy where the emerging needs of health- and science-relatedindustries and current local job market trends structure the curriculum. TheAcademy is a school-within-a-school magnet program that is open to all

students in the district. During their intensive three or four years of study,Academy students spend up to 80 percent of their day in integrated academic

and lab classes. In related worksite learning experiences, they volunteer and do

job shadowing, career exploration, clinical rotations, summer and aenior yearinternships, and career portfolios. Recent evaluations showed that the Academystudents achieve substantially higher grade point averages and rates ofgraduation, attendance, and college admission than other students at Oaklandhigh schools. Business partners of the Academy, which also collaborate withteachers on the curriculum, include Kaiser Permanente, all the local hospitals,Johnson and Johnson, IBM, and the Berkeley Repertory.

"Ey. yone Could Have the Freedomto be Themselves"Unique R. Dant)), Akron, OH

MAKE COLLEGE MOREACCESSIBLE: KEEP THEPROMISE OF THE AMERICANDREAM

Find out whether the high schoolsin your district offer challengingciasses that are recommended forcollege-bound students andtech-prep or school-to-workprograms. If the schools do notoffer challenging courses in allcore subject areas and criticaloccupational areas or advancedplacement courses, contact theschool board and ask for suchcourses.

Think ahead about preparing yourchildren and grandchildren forcollege academically and financially.Work with colleges and universitiesto run family and school workshopson topics such as the coursesrecommended for college-boundstudents and new financial aidproposals to make college moreaccessible.

4

A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS

TO PLAN FOR COLLEGE

The U.S. Department of

Education recently released

the 1996-97 edition of

Preparing Your Child for

College: A Resource Book for

Parents. This edition of the

workbook provides up-to-date

information on college costs

and student financial aid, as

well as expanded sections on

the academic preparation

recommended for college-

bound students, strategies for

keeping college costs down,

and information on other

sources of college planning

information. It is especially

suited for parents and

grandparents with children in

middle and high school, and

even in the late elementary

grades. Free copies can be

requested by calling

1-800-USA-LEARN.

WAYS FOR SCHOOLSTO INVOLVEFAMILIES AND THE

COMMUNITY INCHILDREN'S

LEARNING

Schools in community after community are aggressively working tomeet the challenges in and around them. They are reaching out tofamilies, businesses, colleges and the community and usingeffective innovations to meet these challenges. Listed below areexamples of how schools can and are addressing the seven actionareas Americans have defined as important.

MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE, DISCIPLINED AND DRUG-FREE: APRECONDITION FOR LEARNING

Work with families, community members, and law enforcement to takeaggressive actions, when necessary, to ensure an orderly and safe environment.Some schools are adopting the use of uniforms to encourage school spirit andstem assaults over expensive clothing or gang apparel. Others are trainingtheir staff to prevent violence through family and community engagementand conflict resolution. Still others are bringing diverse student populationstogether through participation in the arts and teaching character educationand citizenship.

Set standards of behavior and clear expectations for children and students.Talk about how school rules support the rights of all students to attend schoolsthat are free of violence and substance abuse. Respond clearly and consistentlyto people who are intoxicated, abusive, aggressive, or hostile. Develop anhonor code for behavior in school. Make sure all families have a copy of theschool's discipline code and urge them to read it.

Help plan and participate in school and community alcohol-and drug-freeactivities, including weekend dances and social events, holiday celebrations,proms, and graduation parties. Work with community organizations and youthgroups to sponsor after-school and summer learning activities, sports andcultural events.

I 5

Btter Education is Everybody's Business

"Parents are partners in theirchildren's success at school andin life. Children with concernedparents learn more quickly, enjoyschool more and achieve morethan children who lack thatsupport and care."

9

Joan DykstraPresident, National PTA

"Kid Peace"Justin Taylor, Parkersburg PA.

School Uniform Policy, Long Beach, California

In 1994, the Long Beach, California, School District implemented amandatory school uniform policy for nearly 60,000 elementary and middleschool students. District officials found that in the year followingimplementation of the policy, overall crime decreased 36 percent, fightsdecreased 51 percent, sex offenses decreased 74 percent, weapons offensesdecreased 50 percent, assault and battery offenses decreased 34 percent,and vandalism decreased 18 percent.

ENCOURAGE PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Be family-friendly! Review school policies, newsletters, and correspondencefor education jargon that parents might not readily understand. Openyour doors to parents, community members and businesses as part of

America Goes Back To School: Get Involved!

Reach out to families and talk regularly before any problems happen. Usenewsletters, voice mail, cable TV, home visits, and new technologies tokeep parents and teachers informed of school activities of mutual interest.

Encourage family involvement in teaching and learning the basics and raisingstandards. Let families know what they can do at home to help. Useinteresting, real-life, community settings to stimulate learning.

Travis Middle School, McAllen, Texas

Travis Middle School, a Texas and National Blue Ribbon school and a

Working Mothers Magazine 1996 Golden Apple Award winner, is a

predominantly low-income and Mexican-American community, with more

than half of the students considered limited English proficient. Thanks to a

group of dedicated teachers and parents and a lot of help from the

community, such as a grant from Southwestern Bell, Travis has made great

strides in improving parental involvement in the school. The Texas

Education Agency for Campus Deregulation and Restructuring has helped

train teachers and parents on ways they can work better with each other.

Along with three elementary schools that feed into Travis, the school has

formed an Alliance School Network with Valley Interfaith and St. Joseph's

Catholic Church. This alliance helps schools and parents communicatebetter, has coordinated curriculum and helps make the transition from

elementary to middle school easier for students.

1.610 Batter Education Is Evarybody's Businass

"Harmony"Mary-Hall H. Dale, Columbus, MS

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Camp LeJeune Marine BaseElementary Turns Off the TV,Turns On to Reading

The teachers and principal ofBerkeley Manor Elementary Schoolat the Camp LeJeune Marine CorpsBase mail families a letter each yearto encourage them to unplug the TVand turn on to family literacy:

Dear Parents,

Please help us celebrate Berkeley

Unplugged for National Family Reading

Week. Instead of watching reruns on

television or playing Nintendo, let's pull

the plug and sit down and read together!

In honor of National Family Reading

Week there will be a display featuring our

students' favorite books outside the library.

In addition, Dr. Brooks and Ms. Ellen

will have a list of recommended titles and

authors available for interested parents.

Please remember that parents may borrow

books from the Berkeley Manor library

throughout the school year.

Ws also invite you to come to school to

share the joy of reading with your child.

Bring an old favorite or surprise us withsomething new and settle down to end the

school week by reading together. If you

can participate, please sign the slip below

and return it to your child's classroom

teacher.

HELP AMERICA BECOME A READING, LITERATE SOCIETY

Rigorously teach reading and writing skills and the core academic subjects.Compare your reading curriculum and materials to those of the mostsuccessful schools and best state standards. Give families ideas of things theycan do at home to help children become better readers.

Encourage educators to work together to teach reading and writing across allthe subjects, teach new vocabulary words and use technology to engage studentsin challenging reading and writing activities. Offer extended learning-timeopportunities for students after school and in the summer to learn reading andother basic skills.

Recruit and organize reading tutors from community groups. Offer areading challenge to students to read at least 30 minutes each day or aspecific number of books in one month. Sponsor a sign-up day for publiclibrary cards at the school. Join the READ*WRITE*NOW! campaigncall1-800-USA-LEARN.

REACH FOR NEW LEVELS OF EXCFLI ENCE: ACHIEVE HIGHSTANDARDS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Work with parents, teachers, businesses and local colleges to identify the typesof skills and knowledge needed by your students. Compare your standardsagainst the best schools, your state's standards and voluntary nationalstandards. Involve the whole community in the attempt to raise standardsof promotion, graduation, and improved content in core subjects. Reporton progress to the parents and community.

Bring in employers and college personnel to give students a first handunderstanding of the high-level skills and work habits needed and take smallgroups of students to work sites and colleges.

"Helping Hands"Damn Hauck, Wauwatosa, WI

17Bono' Education la Ewnybody's Business 11

1-

Developing Local Standards In Windsor, Colorado

As part of its local reform plan, Windsor, Coloiado, is using a Goals 2000 grant to develop standards and assessmentswith maximum community involvement so that teachers, administrators, parents and community members will

understand and be able to implement new academic standards. In order to ensure that parents and communitymembers were as involved in the development of academic standards as educators, the community created a standardsdevelopment committee made up of parents and community representatives who worked independently to develop a

set of priorities for academic standards. Teachers were then able to draw upon the work of parents and communitymembers throughout their entire standards and implementation process. All of the district's staff and 100 communitymembers (of this town of 6,000) participated in developing final academic standards in language arts, math, science and

social studies.

MAKE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE SO ALL CHILDREN WILLSUCCEED IN THE 21st CENTURY

Lynndale Elementary Links School, Families, and the Community,Seattle, Washington

Lynndale Elementary School takes advantage of technology to link the school tofamilies and the community. Each staff member has an individual voice mailnumber. Parents may call a teacher's voice mail to learn about homeworkassignments and classroom events, or to leave a message for the teacher. AParent/Staff Technology Planning Team generates ideas for networking, fundraising, software and equipment purchases, and possible home-schoolconnections. Family Computer Lab invites parents and students to explorecomputers together during late afternoon or evening hours. This lab is designedto provide opportunities to families of Title I funded students or students who donot have computers at home. Volunteers assist students in developingpresentations and in producing student-designed books and videos using

-computers, CD-ROM, and video cameras.

Allow time for technology-literate teachers to help colleagues. Invite families tovisit classrooms while students are using the computers. Offer Saturday family

ani_' senior citizen computer classes taught by students and teachers.

Set up a school-based communications network to share information aboutuseful software for teachers, and send home ideas for family-student learningthrough school-to-home modem access. Set up a computer lending library sofamilies can borrow computers and software. Ask parents who arecomputer literate to work with families and students who want to learn more

about technology.

Get Your school, district, or state involved in NetDay96. a nationwide effort toconnect all classrooms to the Internet. Modeled on the successful California

NetDav, during every weekend in October volunteers from the community willhelp hard-wire classrooms around the country. You can become a part of thiseffort by contacting the following address: 2601 Mariposa St., San Francisco,CA 94110-1400, (415) 553-2311, netdav@kqed.org, http://www.netday96.com/

Build bridges with State Public Utility Commissioners to make sure schools andlibraries have free access to telecommunications.

1812 Bettor Education Is Everybody's Business

"I Would Give the World Fresh Air,Puppies and Love"Mikey Stevens, Germantown, TN

b1i

Technology Unlocks the

World of Learning in West

Virginia

Michael Smith is a first grader

at T.A. Lowery Elementary

School in Charles Town, West

Virginia. Due to oxygen

deprivation at birth, Michael is

unable to sit, stand, or walk.

However, with the help of

assistive technology, Michael is

the first child with multiple

disabilities to be fully included

in a regular first grade

classroom in his school system.

He participates with his peers

_in class by using an "Intellikeys"

keyboard to access a personal

computer, and uses an adapted

chair to sit with his classmates

at the reading table. According

to Michael's mother, "Assistive

technology has unlocked my son's

intellect. It has allowed him to

express himselfnot only to me,

but to the rest of the world. I can

only imagine the possibilities for

his future."

PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS: A STRONGTRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

Integrate hands-on learning with rigorous academics. join forces withemployers and cultural and community organizations and discover how you canwork together. Encourage teachers to do an internship with a business duringthe summer. Relate what you are teaching to today's and tomorrow's world ofwork.

Develop and maintain ways to keep students informed about a wide range ofcareer and educational opportunities. Link with employers and communitycolleges to provide student work-study opportunities and apprenticeships tiedto rigorous academic and occupational skills. Assist students, including studentswith disabilities, in developing personalized plans to reach their goals.

MAKE COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE: KEEP THE PROMISE OFTHE AMERICAN DREAM

Offer college-prep, technical classes, and challenging course work to allstudents. Be sure all students and their families know about these courses intime to plan their academic programs, and build local partnerships withcolleges, community colleges, universities, and businesses.

Provide new opportunities for students and families, starting in middle school,to learn about the connection between taking rigorous academic, advancedplacement and Tech Prep courses with college acceptance and career options.

19

Bttr Education Is Everybody's Business

"Harmony"Daniel Brouillette, Sioux City, IA

13

WAYS FOR COMMUNITYAND CULTURALGROUPS, COLLEGES,

LIBRARIES,THE ARMED FORCES,

AND RELIGIOUSORGANIZATIONS

TO GET INVOLVED

"If schools are operating atmaximum efficiency, they areresponsible for about 40 to 50percent of what a child learns.The other 50 to 60 percent oflearning comes from the familyand the community. Withoutclose articulation of andinvolvement with the familyand larger community, schoolswill ultimately fail."

Ted SandersPresident. Southern Illinois Universuy

Community, cultural, and religious groups, libraries, members of

law enforcement and the armed services, and colleges and

universities offer a wealth of talent and support for better schools.

These community assets can be instrumental in addressing issues

facing educators. On the following pages are some ideas of how

groups can solve the seven issues most troublesome to our

education system.

"Just Open Your Eyes And Seethat People are Like Flowers.They Are all Afferent and Theyare all Beautiful"Kestral Leigh Grapes Michaud.Irwin, PA.

20

MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE, DISCIPLINED AND DRUG-FREE: APRECONDITION FOR LEARNING

TWO COMMUNITIES FIGHT VIOLENCE

Squash It Campaign Targets Youth Violence in Kansas CityThe Squash It! Campaign is focused on decreasing youth violence bypromoting a social norm that says "it's cool and smart to walk away" frompotentially violent confrontations. Part of a larger national movement,the Kansas City campaign uses a combinadon of approaches to addressthis goal: public awareness, youth ownership, and positive alternatives.

Public awareness of this anti-violence campaign develops throughvisibility: Billboards, newspaper boxes, media, youth-generated publicservice announcements, presentations, bus signs, and posters are all usedto get the message out. Local youth also become familiar with the SquashIt! message through their favorite television programs such as BeverlyHills 90210, Family Matters, ER, MTV, and others, where the nationalcampaign focuses its outreach efforts.

To develop youth ownership for Squash It!, local youth tailor the messageand deliver it to their peers at a Squash It! dance, a one-week roll-out ofthe message at schools, and at a citywide anti-violence march. Youth havealso gained a voice in the adult community through a citywide musiccontest, essay contest, and summer celebration.

Squash It! brings to Kansas City a tool that enables youth to becomestakeholders in the solutions to youth violence. To be effective, thecampaign must work in conjunction with other efforts, for example,creating safe places to go, involving caring adults in the lives of youth,and making employment opportunities more accessible to youth. This isa whole community effort.

Los Cezuontles. San Pablo. CALos Cenzontles, a vibrant teen folk chorus in San Pablo, CA was formedin response to the rape and stabbing of a 15-year-old girl who was taking ashortcut home through a schoolyard. The tragedy spurred twocommunity members, Eugene Rodriguez and Alicia Marines, to establishan arts community center and performing group to "give teenagersalternative activities and to create a safe environment in the heart of thecommunity." Los Cenzontles, a group of 12- to 19-year-old musicianshave released their first solo CD following on the heels of a 1996 Grammynomination for a children's music recording the group made with the rockgroup Los Lobos.

Los Cenzontles chorus is just one of the activities at the arts center, whichopened as an after-school program in the San Pablo Civic Center.Operating costs are covered largely by proceeds from benefits,performances and small grants. Some 230 students now take classes inMexican music, dance, cooking and painting. The community recognizesthat in an environment permeated by gangs, you just can't tell a youngperson, "Don't join a gang." You have to create an attractivealternative.

41

Conduct conflict resolution

workshops that teach children how to

respond without violence when

someone is bothering them. Work

with students on an anti-violence

campaign.

Help create safe corridors for

children on their way to and fror,,

school by extending your place of

business beyond your doors. The

police can work with businesses,

community organizations, cultural

institutions, parents, and schools to

design and implement patrols that

bring trained safety officers into and

around schools when necessary and

create safe spaces.

Encourage your local paper to cover

positive stories about youth activities

and accomplishments. Highlight

youth, school, and community efforts

that have taken on violence, drug,

alcohol, and gang issues. Create

alternative activities to gangs such as

performing arts opportunities in

music, dance and theater, and sports

and community service

opportunities.

School-Family-CommunityPartnership Takes the Army's Lead

The Killeen, Texas, IndependentSchool District, in partnership with thelocal Chamber of Commerce and theU.S. Army, offers regularly scheduledparent/teacher conferences. Localemployers, including commanders atFt. Hood and the school district itself,give parents leave time to visit theirchild's school and meet with theirchild's teacher.

Initially, Ft. Hood and the KilleenDistrict piloted a parent involvementprogram in one school on the militarypoit. The Post Commander considered

: it a soldier's duty to ittenitparent/teacher contei:eriCetWiceevery di weeks. hi the COthmandingGeneral's directive heiroted, *ParentalinVolvement does make a difference in

- 4

a child's educafion 'and has lastingeffects on his or her future.!! Parentslearn al:otit their child'aprogreis, share

- . .

ccincerris with their child's teacher, d 3all

heir positive comments about thewchild during these -9-30. nfinute -1

conferences.

Data from the .1§94pilik yeer indicatedgreat gaini in student' achiement.As:a result, the local Chamber ofCOmmerCe endored the plan toexpand the program 'beyond Armyfamilies. Today, thePr.ogram isdistrictwide, benefiting both military

and non-military families.

111111111111111111111 18

ENCOURAGE PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Sponsor "Family Math" or "Family Science" programs or events wherecommunity members and business people talk about math and science in theircareers and lead hands-on activities.

Provide tutors or mentors for students during the school day and after school.Start or expand adult literacy training in core subjects. Donate telephones,voice-mail systems, and personnel to begin a community homework hotline tokeep parents informed and help children with homework.

Offer leave time to employees to volunteer in schools, encourage parentsto participate in parent-teacher conferences, join the PTA, and provideparent resource centers.

HELP AMERICA BECOME A READING, LITERATE SOCIETY

Help set a summer reading and literacy goal for your community to read andwrite 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Reward participants for meetingreading goals with special books from the library, a favorite kid's magazine,or a paperback book for work well done.

Start community READ*WRITE*NOW! programs. Obtain volunteers whocan meet with children at least once a week for one-half hour to read and writetogether. Provide tutors or mentors for students during the school day and afterschool. Start or expand adult literacy training and family literacy programs.

Parent Reading Program, Houston Public Library, Texas

The Parent Reading Program of the Houston Public Library is acommunity-based family literacy program which was developed and refinedby the Houston Public Library with federal library and Title I grant monies.The program is an eight week course for parents and preschool children.Classes meet twice a week, for one hour at a time. Adults meet in one classwith the teachers, while children meet in a story hour with children'slibrarians. Presently supported by the Houston Area Booksellers Associationand the Houston Chronicle, the Parent Reading Program changes families'attitudes about libraries.

REACH FOR NEW LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE: ACHIEVE HIGHSTANDARDS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Sponsor community discussion groups to talk about high standards for studentachievement to enter college and be employed in today's and tomorrow's jobs.Work with schools to develop clear, high standards of achievement for allstudents - those going directly to college and those in occupational ortech-prep courses preparing for careers. Make sure students have access tohigh-level instruction in all the core subjects English, math, science, the arts,civics, geography, history, economics, and foreign languages and in keyoccupational areas.

9 BEST GOPN MAILABLE..

01 t.r Education I. Etorybodys lu.In.ó -

Art for Science's Sake,Fairbanks, Alaska

Denali Elementary School inFairbanks, Alaska, is involved in aunique collaboration where the artsand science merge to enhancelearning. With support from theAlaska State Council for the Arts,the Fairbanks Arts Association, theFairbanks School District, and theParent Teacher Association, EllenHarney and Vivian Ursula--artistsfrom Visual Enterprises--work withteachers to support Denali's science-oriented curriculum in the third andfifth grades. The artists and schoolstaff design an arts project thatenhances the curriculum currentlyplanned for students. One year, -

when the curriculum was devotedto dinosaurs, the artists helpedstudents create a dinosaur sculpturethat the students could test overtime for its ability to withstand theeffects of harsh weather. Studentsare now documenting thestructure's integrity to identify thestrengths and weaknesses of thedesign.

Convene an assembly, discussion group or after school program to tell personalstories to students about how "Going the Extra Mile Made a Difference in .ilv Lift."

These stories should reinforce the real benefits of having high standards thatrequire discipline, extra effort, dedicated study, and persistence.

Academic Boosters, Fredericksburg, Texas

The Fredericksburg Academic Boosters grew out of a Goals 2000 townmeeting where the community discussed ways to improve education. TheBoosters, mostly parents and community members, hold monthly meetings todiscuss ways to motivate students toward academic excellence. Somemembers assist in classrooms, and some help with special activities such as ahistory display, an art show, geography and spelling bees, math contests,writers' contests, citizenship of the month, scholarships and mentoring forstudents at risk. The Boosters also work with the Chamber of Commerceand other community groups.

MAKE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE SO ALL CHILDRENWILL SUCCEED IN THE 21st CENTURY

Establish computer labs in neighborhood centers. Work with local communitycolleges or technical schools to offer professional development opportunities forteachers using online materials and online discussions. Offer famiiy classes oncomputing. Encourage students, families and teachers to access the WorldWide Web through the local library or via online services at home, and buildrelationships with pen pals in other communities or countries.

Explore ways that technology can be used to enhance learning for students withdisabilities, limited English proficiency, and other special needs.

The Arts On-Line with Arts Edge, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Arts Edge is the national arts information network. This site (http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org) set up by the

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation's capital with support from the U.S. Department of Education

and the National Endowment for the Arts, provides teachers throughout the nation with a broad base of tools and

resources that help them ensure that the arts are central to every child's education. Arts Edge provides primary source

materials to students and teachers who otherwise would have limited access to the performing arts. The network

provides a commum( ions hub for educators to share information on teaching the arts, as well as ways to use art as

an enhancement in pre:, nting other subjects.

PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS: A STRONGTRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

Organize a wide range of work-study, internship and apprenticeshipopportunities available to high school and college students in your community.Offer a career resource directory of extracurricular programs, internships, andactivities available for youth and college students.

Inform high school students about the wide range of occupational and technicalprograms that are available in your community's schools and colleges.Establish programs in which work-based learning and service learning countsis credits for graduation.

MAKE COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE: KEEP THE PROMISE OFTHE AMERICAN DREAM

Learn and Serve America, Harcum College, Pennsylvania

Learn and Serve America, a grants program administered by the Corporation forNational Service, supports school- and community-based service-learningprograms. One grant has gone to Harcum College to train inner-city parents tobevolunteer tutors in their children's classrooms. These nontraditional studentsmatriculate into Harcum College's Early Childhood Education Program andreceive 12 college credits in exchange for volunteering. The tutors have alreadyprovided 480 at-risk children with more than 6,000 hours of individual tutoring,with a primary focus on improving children's reading skills.

Inform middle- and high-school students, teachers, and parents whichcourses are needed to get into college and which are needed for the variousassociate degrees and four-year college majors. Be sure all students, includingthose with disabilities, realize college is an attainable goal. Help parents andgrandparents learn about financial aid and show them how they can save

for college.

Share with teachers, parents, and students the types of skills and work habitsneeded to be successful in college. Explain how taking advanced placementcourses and/or tech-prep in high school is a great advantage when entering

college.

Sponsor college visits for students and their families. Many students andparents have never been exposed to the academic side of a college'campus and

are not familiar with college programs.

Volunteer to help local high school students learn about different collegeprograms and the college application process; help them to fill out applications

and financial aid forms. Counselors in many high schools do not have the timeto provide one-on-one college counseling and guidance to each student.

The Community Club,Washington, D.C.

To help students graduatefrom high school, TheCommunity Club, anall-volunteer program housedat the New York AvenuePresbyterian Church inWashington, D.C., offers aweekly, one-hourindividualized study hall.Students are matched withvolunteer tutors who helpwith homework, remedialeducation work, and collegepreparation work. TheCommunity Club sponsorsworkshops on the collegeapplication process, includingthe financial aid applicationprocess. In addition, highschool studenb who maintaina 2.5 grade point average andwho attend 80 percent of thestudy hall sessions, are eligiblefor the Stay-hi-SchoolScholarship, a small stipendto help with current expenses.The scholarship wasestablished so that studentscould make their studies ahigh priority instead of takingpart-time jobs after school.When students graduate fromthe Community Club theyreeeive a small scholarshipfor each year they attendcollege.

WAYS FOR EMPLOYERSTO GET INVOLVED

IN CHILDREN'SLEARNING

Business involvement in improving education at all levels is veryimportant. As current employers of parents and community members, asa future source of employment for current students, and as good corporatecitizens in their community, businesses can help make education better.The following are examples of how employers can work on the sevenissues cited as concerns of the American public.

MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE, DISCIPLINED AND DRUG-FREE:A PRECONDITION FOR LEARNING

Support performing arts, athletics, academic clubs, museum outings and otherpositive activities for children both in and beyond the traditional school day.Ensure that children with disabilities, limited English proficiency and otherspecial needs can access your programs.

Share team building, negotiation and communication strategies that deal withconflict resolution.

John Hancock Financial Services Sponsors Kids-to-Go, Boston,Massachusetts

What happens to children when school is closed but the workplace isn't? Since

1990, John Hancock's Kids-to-Go program has provided day-long supervised

activities for employees' school-aged children (6-14) during school holidays. The

daily cost per child is $20, although scholarships of $10 per day are available toemployees' whose income does not exceed $30,000. Children bring their lunch.

With enrollment based on a first come, first served basis, as many as 50 children

can participate each day. The children's activities are staffed by child careprofessionals, and vary by season and by the ages of the children. Activities have

included roller skating and bowling, harbor cruises, visits to local museums and

zoos, Red Sox games, and movies and shows. Children who participate in theprogram are covered under the company's umbrella insurance policy.

2 5

OAf'na.

"::4

.et:#111,

-

"Children are our future and toassure a solid future for them itis imperative that we, as parentsand members of our respectivecommunities, become activelyinvolved in our children'seducation. By doing this, wewill prepare the children ofAmerica to be successful andcGmpetitive in a growinginternational marketplace."

BojacksonActor/Businessman/

Heisman Trophy Winner 1985

ENCOURAGE PARENT AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Southern California Edison Helps East Los Angeles Parents

Southern California Edison (SCE) is making an investment in its local

community. SCE understands that children's first teachers are their

parents. And if they reach into the family with help and support, they

will help to increase student success in school. The company supports

the Parent Institute for Quality Education, which has helped to train

more than 7500 parents from the East Los Angeles community to

participate actively in their children's education.

Sign the Employers' Promise for Learning. Small and large employers are

pledging to help improve education and be family-friendly for learning.

Call 1-800-USA-LEARN for more information. Businesses are offering leave

and/or flex time for employees and family members to volunteer in school or

participate in school activities.

Help a school establish a parent resource center or provide information

through the workplace.

Support programs in the community that help educate parents and other caring

adults on how they can participate in helping children learn. The 1996 National

Education Summit policy statement crafted by CEOs and governors pledges the

support of employers to "adopt policies to support parental involvement in their

children's education and in improving their schools."

'lust Open Your Eyes and See . . . Through an Ant's Eyes"Sloan Schmidtke, Birmingham, AL

Parents, Industry, EducatorsCooperating for EducationalSuccess in Catawba County,North Carolina

Helping parents meet theirchildren's education needs has beenthe business of Project PIECES"Parents, Industry, EducatorsCooperating for EducationalSuccess" since 1987. Thisinnovative program takes schoolcounselors to the worksite whereparents can review report cards.teachers' comments, and learn aboutfinancial planning for college andtech prep.

Albert Gaither, president ofRidgeview, Inc. which runs theproject, observed that the programis good business for his company:"Happier parents make betteremployees." One counselorobserved, "Fathers love it!Participation among fathers hassoared! For divorced fathers whodon't have custody, these counselingvisits might be the first time thefather has seen a child's reportcard." Another result of theparent/counselor relationships is thedisappearance of truancy amongthose students whose parentsparticipate.

Ridgeview, Inc., and NeuvilleIndustries won the 1996 WorkingMothers Magazine Golden AppleAward for employer practices thatenhance family involvement inchildren's learning.

"I support the United StatesDepartment of Education'sefforts, America Goes Back toSchool. I encourage all parentsto get involved with theirchildren's education."

Cal Ripkin, Jr., 1995Baltimore Orioles

American League

OMAHA 2000, Nebraska

OMAHA 2000 is a local voluntaryorganization established in 1991whose mission is to serve as a catalystto facilitate the changes necessary tomeet the national education goals ina planned and purposeful way withmeasured results. Each December,OMAHA 2000 issues a CommunityProgress Report. Each of the goalareas is evaluated and assigned agrade based on the progress or lackof progress in that area. The entirereport is printed in a full page ad inthe Omaha World-Herald anddistributed to over 225,000households. According to JohnGottschalk, chairman of OMAHA2000 and publisher of the OmahaWorld-Herald, "the ProgressReport...gives the community theopportunity to reflect on the progressand on the work yet to be done."

HELP AMERICA BECOME A READING, LITERATE SOCIETY

Encourage your employees to read and write with their children and

grandchildren every night or volunteer to be a tutor. Provide copies ofREAD*WRITE*NOW! kits ibr employees, by obtaining them from the U.S.Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN or co-publishing them withyour business's logo on them. The READ*WRITE*NOW! program enhanceschildren's basic skills as well as their enjoyment of reading by encouraging

children to read daily and providing activities that can be completed with anolder reading partner.

Identify schools and community organizations that can provide extra helpbefore and after school in reading for employees' children and grandchildren,

and for adults to learn to read and write better. Help promote adult and familyliteracy.

RE.AD*WRITE*NOW! in Fox Cities, Wisconsin

Children read all summer long and beyond thanks to the Fox CitiesAlliance for Education, an initiative of the Fox Cities Chamber ofCommerce and Industry located in Appleton, Wisconsin. Local employersrallied around local schools to promote READ*WRITE*NOW!, a readingand writing program of the Partnership for Family Involvement inEducation. Fox Cities employers and employees developed a plan forpartners to read to students during the summer and to extend the program

into the school year. Employers also donated paper and supplies andreproduced the printed materials for the program at no cost.

More than 1500 reading kits were distributed to students in the Fox Citiesarea last summer. Fox Cities is participating in READ*WRITE*NOW!again in summer 1996. This year they plan to undertake an evaluation ofthe effects of the program on children's reading.

REACH FOR NEW LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE: ACHIEVE HIGHSTANDARDS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Assist in school improvement efforts. Provide apprenticeship and internship

opportunities for students geared to high academic and occupational standards.

Encourage part-time student employees to attend school every day and to study

hard. Ask to see transcripts and diplomas when high school graduates apply forjobs, and call teachers or principals to get job references. This will send

students the message that achievement in school counts in the working world.

Work with other employers and local schools and parents to help define whatskills, knmvledge, and work habits are needed and help schools and parents

make the needed changes in their schools to keep up to date with changingeducation and workforce demands.

2 7

"Sharing a Book"Jamie King, Meridian, AIS

MAKE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE SO ALL CHILDREN WILLSUCCEED IN THE 21st CENTURY

Launching into Cyberspace: NetDay96

Everybody from construction workers to President Clinton and Vice President

Gore drilled holes and pulled cables to launch California schools into cyberspace.

Over 17,000 volunteers turned out for NetDay96, a grass-roots technology effort

to link a minimum of five classrooms to the Internet. Juan Herrera, an engineer at

San Diego-based Qualcomm Incorporated, found out about Net Day through an

e-mail. Herrera focused his company's efforts on National City Middle School, an

inner city school in San Diego County. Many of the parents of the children who

attend the school cannot afford computers at home, and the students depend on

schools to learn the new technology that will give their futures a boost. Herrera

was able to convince Qualcomm management that they should wire not 5

classrooms but 50 classrooms, effectively wiring the entire school. Qualcomm

supplied fiber optic cable, engineers and technical know-how in the preparation of

wiring schematics. President Clinton described Net Day "a modern version of an

old-fashioned barn raising" because of the event's many volunteers. "All of us are

here today because we know, purely and simply, that every single child must have

access to a computer, must understand it, must have access to good software and

good teachers and, yes, to the Internet," Clinton told a cheering crowd of students,

teachers and NetDay volunteers in Northern California.

Establish computer donation and computer upgrading programs for schools

and families. Assist schools directly bv supplying used, no-cost, or low-cost

computers and software, modems, and training and support to help teachers

use technology in the classroom.

Act as an on-line mentor to students. parents. teachers, and community

members who are exploring the best ways to use new technology for learning.

If You use the Internet. help teachers learn how they and their students can

also use it. Contact the National Tech Corps for volunteers in Your community

who are working with schools.

Assist V our school in becoming wired for the 2 st century.

The Department of Defense Helps Give Schools a Free Ride on the Information Highway

Department of Defense agencies mav donate excess computer hardware and software to state-accredited public and

private elementary and secondary schools. These kinds of gifts make principals very happy. "We're very excited about it

because our goal is to make our students computer literate." exclaimed Principal Brenda Bowden of Fort Belvoir's

Cheney Elementary School. A donation of more than a dozen used computers from the Virginia-based Defense Mapping

School and Defense System Management College helped put at least one computer in every ciassroom at Cheney.

The U.S. Army Center for Public Works, a partner with Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria. Virginia, also

transferred almost 25 pallets of computer equipment. including printers. "This equipment allows us to work toward

meeting our goal of giving students daily access to technology." noted Robert Sanders, technology coordinator at Mount

Vernon.

Schools interested in finding out what equipment is available should start with the Property Book Officer PBO1 of a

military installation in the same state as the school.

. 4 2 8F A :$4 " " 22-; Better Education is Everybody's Business;

PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS: A STRONGTRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

Share with the school and community the skills that are needed for today'sand tomorrow's jobs, and work with schools to help students learn those skills.Offer work-study opportunities for students and summer internshipopportunities for teachers.

Contact the high schools in your area to see if there is a school-to-work or techprep program available. If a program exists, offer to participate by providingwork-based learning experiences, apprenticeships, internships, work study,training and mentoring for students. If no program exists, start one by workingwith other employers, high schools, and community colleges.

Encourage your employees to volunteer at school to demonstrate what they do.Set up a program where students can shadow employees to learn about theirjobs. Employees can help teachers through guest lectures and interestingclassroom activities.

MAKE COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE: KEEP THE PROMISE OFTHE AMERICAN DREAM

Volunteer to visit a school and talk to students about the importance oflife-long learning. Discuss the connection between the skills andknowledge you gained in high school and college, and the skills and knowledgethat you use each day at work. Sponsor shadowing programs, internships, andapprenticeships in your businesses for middle school, high school, and collegestudents so they can learn about careers firsthand.

If you have expertise in financial planning and are familiar with the ways thatfamilies can save money for college, volunteer to talk about various savingsstrategies to students and parents at an elementary school or middle school inyour area. Businesses can help sponsor scholarships for those most in need.

"Now, more than ever, is the time for companies to makeinvestments supporting the development of an educatedworkforce. Finances alone will not get the job done. We needto work side by side with local community organizations toprovide hands-on tutoring and mentoring, which are key to achild's learning process ."

Kent C. "Oz" NelsonUPS Chairman and CEO

2 9

GTE Corporation HelpsFamilies Plan for College

Communications giant GTECorporation admits tokeeping its workers busy.That is why the companyheld a teleconferencerecently to teach employeesand their children theABC's of college planning.The college planningseminar gives workingparents the informationthey might not have thetime or resources toresearch on their own.Asking everything fromhow to pay for college towhere to send applications,1400 employees and theirchildren attended thecollege planning seminar.GTE originated theinteractive teleconferencefrom four major plants andbroadcast it live to 18 of thecompany's buildings acrossthe country. The day-longseminar featured panels andexperts who answeredquestions and gavepresentations on collegeadmissions, financial aid,and student life. Selectinga college will be easier formany families because theseminar walked themstep-by-step through theprocess.

INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIESFROM AMERICA

GOES BACK TOSCHOOL 1995

'As Secretary of the Navy, Ihave made education--andprograms for expanded familyparticipation in education--oneof my top priorities. One of myfavorite programs is AmericaGoes Back to School: GetInvolved!' I've participated inthis wonderful program, and Ithink it's a great opportunityfor Navy leaders to getpersonally involved in ourschools. The Back To Schoolinitiative provides a chance forall of us to give an importantcontribution to the system thatAmerica counts on for ourfuture leaders."

John H. DaltonSecretary of the Navy

You will want to bring recognition to your local community for Your America

Goes Back to School: Get Involved! event. Last Year many well-known

participants were involved:

Both President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore traveled to classrooms

and college campuses across America.

Sesame Street's Celina and the Cookie Monster visited P.S. 166 in Queens,

New York where they told storieS and held a dance/movement session.

R.L. Stine, author of the "Goose Bumps Mysteries" series, participated in

an on-line event.

Astronaut Charles Bolden, a brigadier general in the Marine Corps, went back

to school with U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley in Greemille, South

Carolina. Other astronauts who participated in the back-to-school effort

included Vance Brand, Blane Hammond, Gregory Harbraugh, Jim Lovell,

and Carl Meade.

Actor Edward James Olmos visited Claremont College in California, and actress

Barbara Bain read to children with U.S. Chief Economic Advisor Joe Stiglitz at

Grape Elementary in Watts.

Spiderman, his creator Stan Lee, and artist John Romita visited an elementary

school in Encinitas, California to encourage students to read more.

The National Reclaim Our Youth Crusade, an initiative of the Rev. Jesse L.

Jackson. encouraged parents in 50 cities nationwide to sign a pledge promising

to support their children's efforts to learn.

Sports greats Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, Keith Alias of the New

York Giants, Olympic medalists Jeff Blatnick and Anita DeFrance, and Billy

Ray Hobley of the Harlem Globetrotters supported America Goes Back to

School.

30

Last year's effort also included many effective grassroots efforts:

Proclamations by mayors in Birmingham, Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; Tempe,Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; Buffalo, New York; Boise,Idaho; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Akron, Ohio; Pt.rtland,Oregon; Portsmouth, Virginia; Detroit, Michigan; and Seattle; Washingtondesignating America Goes Back to School: A Place for Families and theCommunity Week in their cities.

An ice cream social thank You party for community volunteers in TerreHaute, Indiana.

A parade, picnic, and "back to school" night at the ballpark in New Orleans.

Performances and workshops with the Texas Institute for Arts in Education, a

collaborative representing Houston's Ballet, Symphony, Grand Opera, TheaterUnder the Stars\ Hey Theater, and International Festival.

Governors, mayors, and other elected officials around the country signedresolutions and proclamations in support of America Goes Back to School.

State ResolutionsAsk your state superintendent, state legislature, or governor to encourage familyand community involvement in America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! events by

issuing a resolution and, thereby, recognizing the importance of families, schools,communities, and employers developing partnerships to help children learn.

Local ProclamationsAsk a local official to issue a proclamation declaring an America Goes Back to Schoolmonth in your city or community. A sample proclamation from last year'scampaign follows, as well as a school board resolution. By displaying yourproclamation at America Goes Back to School events, you'll encourage othercommunity members to get involved.

MEL

Nt. "Autumn Rain" 3Katherine Mertens, Granjhrd, NI

PROCLAMATION

TO THE PEOPLE OF AKRON:

Whereas: September11, 1995, will kick off America

Goes Back to School: A

Place for Families and the Community.This effort is to encourage

all Americans

to support family and communityinvolvement in

learning; and

Whereas: America Goes Back to School. is sponsored by The (Partnership for

FamilyInvolvement in

Education], a coalition of more than 17001 family.

community,religious and education organizations

dedicated to improving children's

learning through the developmentof family-school-community

partnerships, in

conjunctionwith the U.S. Department

of Education; and

Whereas:Designed to foster grassroots

support for schools by inviting

individuals parents, grandparents,community leaders, professionals,

people skilled

in vocational trades, members of the arts community, religious leaders...all

Americans--torally around

their local schools and make a commitment to

supporteducation improvementthroughout the year; and

Whereas: 1 urge the citizens of Akron to use this week as a beginning in supporting

children's learning,which can make a positive

difference: a win/win situation for

families,schools and communities

across the nation.

Now, Therefore: I, Donald L. Plusquellic,Mayor ofth.. City of Akron. Ohio, do

hereby proclaim the week of September 11, 1995, as:

"AMERICAGOES BACK TO SCHOOL

A PLACE FOR FAMILIESAND THE COMMUNITY

WEEK"

In the City of Akron.

IN WITNESSWHERE OF:

I havehereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Akron, Ohio, to be affixed

hereto this 10th day of August, 1995.

1.1k e.

C..

Sea\Mayor, Cityof Akron

Sample Resolution for a Local Board of Education

WHEREAS,

The board of education of the school district, for its own part, rededicates itselfto the engagement of families and the community in the life of our schools to enhance children's learning andpositively influence each child.

Involving families and communities directly results in better student achievement and lower levels of safetyand discipline infractions;

Involving families and schools in children's learning includes a broad range of activities and concerns to beaddressed; and

Involving families and schools can enhance the morale and quality of the school environment; and it is thestated objective of the public school to prepare children for a productive role in our society; and

America Goes Back to School focuses on the theme Get Involved.1; now,

be it resolved, that the board of education of endorses the observance of AmericaGoes Back to School Month as an opportunity to support the purposes and practices of family and communityinvolvement in children's learning and encourages parents, students, teachers, employers, and all citizens toparticipate.

untitledAlison R. Trump, Pittsburgh, PA

Nader =

SELECTED RESOURCES

"America Goes Back to School isdesigned to foster grassrootssupport for schools by invitingindividuals, parents,grandparents, communityleaders, professionals, peopleskilled in vocational trades,artists, religion leaders, and allAmericans to rally around theirlocal schools and create awin/win situation for families,schools and communities acrossthe nation."

H. Brent ColesMayor, Boise ID

Last Year's Partners' Activity Guide, "America Goes Back to School: A Place for

Families and the Community," includes many innovative ideas in addition to

those presented here. Call 1-800-USA-LEARN for free copies.

1. Help Make Schools Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free: You can seek help

from local sources such as your local PTA, school board, community

agencies, and police department. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and

Communities Act provides funding through the U.S. Department of

Education to help schools build local partnerships to reduce violence and

drug use, install metal detectors and hire security pards, and train teachers

to prevent problems. The Act offers school districts the flexibility to design

their own comprehensive school safety programs and coordinate them with

community agencies. For information, call 202-260-3954. The following

organizations also provide assistance and information:

Partnership for a Drug Free America405 Lexington Ave.

New York, NY 10174

212-922-15601-800-624-0700

National Clearinghouse on Alcoholand Drug InformationP.O. Box 2345Rockville, MD 20852

1-800-SAY-NO-TO

Office of National Drug Control PolicyExecutive Office of the President

Washington, DC 20500

202-467-9800

The following are available free of charge from the U.S. Department of

Education by calling 1-800-624-0100:

"Creating Safe Schools: A Resource Collection for Planning and Action"

"Manual on School Uniforms""Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention""READY SET GO""School Administrators' Violence Prevention Resource Anthology""Success Stories '94: A Guide to Safe, Disciplined, & Drug-Free Schools"

"Art of Prevention: A Drug Prevention Resource for All Teachers"

"Murals Reflecting Prevention"

2. Help Support Parent and Family Involvement: You can go to your localschool. PTA, community group, or house of worship for more help. In addition,28 Parental Information and Resource Centers have been funded through theGoals 2000: Educate America Act. For more information on these parentcenters, call 202-401-0039. Title I of the Improving America's Schools Act,which provides resources to schools needing extra help to strengthen programsin the basics and core academics, encourages the creation of school-parentcompacts in half of the nation's schools. For more information on school-parentcompacts, call 202-260-0965. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Actfunds 70 Parent Training and Information Projects across the 50 states to helpparents of children with disabilities. To get a copy of "A Directory of ParentTraining and Information Projects" and for more information call the NationalInformation Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities at 1-800-695-0285.The U.S. Department of Education supplies two-thirds of all student financial aidtbr college ,,loans and grants). Call 1-800-4-FED-AID for more information onstudent aid. The following national organizations can also provide you with moreinformation.

Partnership for Family Involvementin Education600 Independence Avenue, SWWashington. DC 20202-81731-800-USA-LEARN

The National Coalition for ParentInvolvement in EducationInstitute for Educational Leadership1001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 310Washington, DC 20036202-822-8405

For additional information anda free catalog of parent andfamily involvement resourcesfor parents and educators,contact:

The National PTA135 South La SalleDepartment 1860Chicago, IL 60674-1860312-549-3253312-477-5818 fax

To order: "Catch the Spirit: AStudent's Guide to CommunityService" write to:

The Consumer InformationCenterDepartment 593CPueblo, CO 81009

Parents as Teachers9374 Olive BoulevardSt. Louis, MO 63132374-432-4330

HIPPY USATeachers College

Box 113525 West 10th St.New York, NY 10027212-678-3500

"To increase the commitmentto and involvement in ourchildren's learning experiencesmakes a significant differencein the prosperity and future ofour city as well as othercommunities across thecountry."

Anthony MasielloMayor, Buffalo, NY

The folldWing publications can be ordered free of charge from the U.S.Department of Education by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN.

"Strong Families, Strong Schools: Building Community Partnerships forLearning""America Goes Back to School Partners' Activity Guide""Reaching All Families and Creating Family Friendly Schools""Employers, Families and Education: Promoting Family Involvement inLearning"

"Get Involved! How Parents and Families Can Help Their Children DoBetter In School""Team up for Kids! How Schools Can Support Family Involvement inEducation""Be Family-Friendly: It's Good Business!""Join Together for Kids! How Communities Can Support FamilyInvolvement in Education""Summer Home Learning Recipes"Helping Your Child Learn Series (Reading, Math and others)

3. Selected Resources To Help America Become a Reading, Literate Society:

Tutors and reading partners can be obtained by asking your local school. PTA,library, community group, or house of worship for help. Many Girl Scoutcadette troops. Boys and Girls Clubs, AmeriCorps volunteers, retired teachers.librarians, and college sororities and fraternities have tutor volunteers.READ*WRITE*NOW! kits, developed by reading and writing specialists tohelp children increase their reading and writing skills, can be obtained throughlocal libraries, the U. S. Department of Education's toll-free number1-800-USA-LEARN, the U. S. Department of Education's homepage on theWorld-Wide Web, and through the ERIC documentation system at your locallibrary. Schools can use funds from the U.S. Department of Education's TitleI-basic skills program to extend learning time after school and in the summer for

children, and to redesign the reading and basic skills programs to bemore effective in order to reach for higher standards.

Organizations that can immediately get you started to help children read andwork for a more literate America include:

American Library Association50 East Huron StreetChicago, IL 60611312-944-6780

Learning Disabilities Associationof America4156 Library RoadPittsburgh, PA 15234412-341-1515

National Center for Family LiteracyWaterfront Plaza, Suite 200325 W. Main StreetLouisville, KY 40202-4251502-584-1133

AmeriCorps1201 New York Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20525

Reading Is Fundamental600 Maryland Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20024

National Institute for Literacy800 Connecticut Ave., Suite 200Washington, DC 20006202-632-1500

Pizza Hut's Book It! Program9171 East DouglasWichita, KS 67201

Books and Beyond309 North RiosSolano Beach, CA 92075619-755-3823

International Reading Association800 Barksdale Road, P.O. Box 8139Newark, DE19714-8139302-731-1600 ext. 220

Extra help in the basics -- Title IContact your State Departmentof Education or theU.S. Department of Education at202-260-0826

Extra help for students with disabilitiesSpecial Education

Contact your State Department ofEducation or theOffice of Special Education at the U.S.Department of Education at202-205-5507

The following publications are available from the National Library ofEducation, U.S. Department of Education, by calling 1-800-424-1616:

"State of the Art: Transforming Ideas for Teaching and Learning to Read""Helping Your Child Learn to Read""Helping Your Child Learn to Use the Library"

36

"Wild Thing"Kevin Perinejr., Akron, OH

I.

-,1

"If 1 Could Give the World a Gift"Adrienne Shoen, Georgetown, KY

Vrel:ws

diorojtaSS,6,1,,

4

.,.;

4. Selected Resources To Reach New Levels of Excellence with HighStandards and Real Accountability: Contact your local school district orstate department of education to find out what's going on in your communityand state to develop and set higher educational and occupational standards.The Goals 2000: Educate America Act provides funding to help schools raisestandards and improve their accountability. It encourages communities tocreate their own locally developed school improvement plans. Forinformation, call your state education department or call 202-401-0039.

The following are other sources of information on standards.

Council of Chief State School OfficersOne Massachusetts AvenueVW/Suite 700

Washington, DC 20001-1431

202-408-5505

Council for Basic Education1319 E Street. NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-347-4171

National Alliance of Business1201 New York Avenue, NW

Suite 700

Washington, DC 20005

202-289-2800

The Business Roundtable1615 L Street, NW

Suite 1100

Washington. DC 20036

(202) 872-1260

The following publications can be ordered free of charge from the U.S.Department of Education by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN.

tit "An Invitation to Your Community: Building Community Partnerships

"Dare to Discover the Glow of a Book" for Learning"

C'hris Mills, Montgomery, AL "Moving America to the Head of the Class""Teachers and GOALS 2000: Leading the Journey Toward HighStandards for All Students"

"State Content Standards Directory of state projects funded bv the U.S.Department of Education""Eloquent Evidence: Arts at the Core of Learning"

'gust Open Your Eyes and See . . .The Light"Leandro Hicks, Evansville, IN

5. Selected Resources To Make Technology Available So All Children WillSucceed in the 21st Century: Check with the technology coordinator inyour local school district or state education agency, your local library, andlocal Computer Users Groups for further help. Check vour local telephonedirectory for the number of the Computer Users Groups. At the U.S.Department of Education, Challenge Grants for Technology in Educationprovide funding to school consortia to support the development andinnovative use of technology to enhance learning. Challenge grants helpcommunities turn their schools into information age learning centers.President Clinton recently proposed a S2 billion initiative to build and supportstate and local partnerships promoting technological literacy for all students.For information, call 202-708-6001.

In addition, there are national organizations such as:

Educational ResourcesInformation Clearinghouses(ERIC)ACCESS ERIC1600 Research Blvd.Rockville, MD 20850-31721-800-LET-ERICAskERIC (askeric@ericir.syr.edu)

KickStart Initiative: ConnectingAmerica's Communities to theInformation Highway NationalInformation InfrastructureAdvisory CouncilNTIA Openness CenterDepartment of Commerce,Room 1609Washington, DC 20230202-482-3999http://www.benton.org/kickstart/kick.home.html

Telephone Pioneers ofAmericaP.O. Box 13888Denver, CO 80201-38881-800-872-5995

38

32 Isttes Education Is Evstybodys Business

The National ParentInformation Network ERICClearinghouse on Elementaryand Early ChildhoodEducationUniversity of Illinois805 W. Pennsylvania Ave.Urbana, IL 61801-48971-800-583-4135 or 217-333-1386

National Tech CorpsP.O. Box 65332Washington, DC 2003,5508-620-7749http://www.ustc.org

NetDay962601 Mariposa St.San Francisco, CA 94110-1400415-553-2311 netday@kqed.orghttp://www.netday96.com/

If You have access to any online service or to the Internet, You can reach ourWorld Wide Web site at http://www.ed.gov; our gopher server is atgopher.ed.gov (or select North America>USA>General>U.S.Department of Education from the All/Other Gophers menu on Yoursystem.) FTP users can ftp to ftp.ed.gov and log on as anonymous. E-mailusers can get our catalog and instructions on how to use our mail server bvsending e-mail to almanac@inet.ed.gov; in the body of the message, typesend catalog. You may also contact your Regional Technology Consortium:

Northwest Regonal TechnologyConsortium505-275-9624

North Central Regional TechnologyConsordum708-218-1272

Net Tech-Northeast RegionalTechnology Consortium212-541-0972

South Central Regional TechnologyConsortium913-864-4954

Southeast & Islands RegionalTechnology Consortium910-334-3211

Southwest & Pacific RegionaiTechnology Consortium310-985-1570

6. Selected Resources To Prepare Young People for Careers: Funds areavailable from the U.S. Department of Education to underwrite the initialcosts of planning and establishing school-to-career systems at the state andlocal level. For more information on funding and development assistance,contact your state department of education or the School-to-WorkOpportunities Learning & Information Center at 1-800-251-7236.

The National School-to-Work Learning & Information Center providesinformation, assistance and training to build school-to-work opportunitiesthroughout the country. The Center uses the latest information technology tohelp increase the capacity of professionals and to develop and implementSchool-to-Work systems across the nation. Its services are available to stateand local school-to-work offices, employers, schools, labor, parents, students,and the general public.

The Center, jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Education and theU.S. Department of Labor, offers access through six distinct services:

The 800-number "Answer Line" (1-800-251-723(i)Internet Home Page/Information Network (http://www.stw.ed.gov)Relevant publicationsA resource bank of selected technical assistance providersDatabases On key School-to-Work contacts, organizations, and practicesMeetings, conferences, and training sessions

Service learning opportunities can also be important to help prepare youthfor a career. For information about the AmeriCorps program and servicelearning, call 1-800-ACORPS.

"AMERICA GOES BACK TOSCHOOL is sponsored by thePartnership for FamilyInvolvement in Education, acoalition of family,community, religious andeducation organizationsdedicated to improvingchildren's learning throughthe development offamily-school-communitypartnerships. I urge allresidents to use this as abeginning in supportingchildren's learning, whichcan make a positive differencein their lives and future."

Richard RiordanMayor, Los Angeles, California

Selected Resources To Make College More Accessible: Preparing yourchild for college includes both academic and financial preparation. You canseek information from your local school guidance counselor, local community'college or university, and some community and service organizations. Youcan also obtain financial aid information from the U.S. Department ofEducation. The Department supplies 70 percent of the financial aid tocollege students in the United States. For the facts about financial aid,including the Direct Loan Program, call 1-800-4-FED-AID. Here are someother resources that you can use to find out more about planning for careersand college:

The ACT and the National CareerDevelopment Association havedeveloped a career explorationand guidance kit called, "Realizingthe Dream." Ask your child'spidance counselor if Realizingthe Dream is being used in yourchild's school or district. To findmit more about the kit, you cancall 319-337-1379 or write to thefollowing address:

Heidi Hallberg, ProgramCoordinatorACT2201 North Dodge St.P.O. Box 168Iowa City. IA 52243-0168

The U.S. Department of Educationoffers a free PC-based software packagethat helps Young people choose acollege and learn about studentfinancial aid. The package is called.the "AWARE Early AwarenessSoftware." You can obtain a copy' bycalling 1-800-4FED-AID, or by writingto the following address:

Federal Student Aid InformationCenterP.O. Box 84Washington. DC 20044

'The College Guide for Parents," Third Edition.Charles Shields. The College Board, 1994.

'The Multicultural Student'.. Guide to the Colleges,"Robert Mitchell. Noonday Press, 1996.

For a free copy of the following publications, call the U.S. Department ofEducation at 1-800-USA-LEARN:

"Preparing Your Child for College: A Resource Book for Parents""America Goes Back to School: How Colleges Can Get Involved!"

For a free copy of the following publication, call the U.S. Department ofEducation at 1-800-4-FED-AID:

'The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department ofEducation"

40

"eye opener"Colin Nagel, Hope, RI

America Goes Back to School: Get Involved!

The National PTA Reflections Program

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program forstudents in preschool through grade 12, in the areas of literature, musical composition,photography and visual arts. Each year more than 600,000 students participate in theReflections Program through local PTA units around the country. We would like toacknowledge the following students who provided artwork and photography for theAmerica Goes Back to School poster, bookmark, guide and folder:

1993-94 "If I Could Give the World a Gift ..."

Daniel Brouillette, Sioux City, IA, "Harmony"

Mary-Hall H. Dale, Columbus, MS, "Harmony"

Unique R. Dancy, Akron, OH, "Everyone Could Have the Freedom to be Themselves"

Jenny Dumproff, Germantown, WI, "I'd Give the World Another Picasso"

Lauren Elizabeth Gregory, Oak Ridge, TN, "The World Needs a Hug"

Darren Hauck, Wauwatosa, WI, "Helping Hands"

Katherine Leila Norton, Rochester, MN, "A Clean up Club"

Adrienne Shoen, Georgetown, KY, "If I Could Give the World a Gift"

Mikey Stevens, Germantown, TN, "1 Would Give the World Fresh Air, Puppies and Love"

1994-95 "Dare to Discover ..."

Jamie King, Meridian, MS, "Sharing a Book"

Katherine Mertens, Cranford, NJ, "Autumn Rain"

Chris Mills, Montgomery, AL, " ... the Glow of a Book"

Kevin Perine, Jr., Akron, OH, "Wild Thing"

Zachary Schelp, Kansas City, MO, " Your Imagination"

1995-96 "Just Open Your Eyes and See ..."

Taylor Marie Fidel, Murray, UT, " ... the Setting Sun"

Leandra Hicks, Evansville, IN, " ... The Light"

Kestral Leigh Grapes Michaud, Irwin, PA, " ... People are Like Flowers. They are all

Different and They are All Beautiful"

Cohn Nagel, Hope, RI, "eye opener"

Sloan Schmidtke, Birmingham, AL, " ... Through an Ant's Eyes"

Eddie Smith III, Montgomery, AL, " ... We Can All Live in Unity"

Alison R. Trump, Pittsburgh, PA, untitled

Justin Taylor, Parkersburg, WV, "Kid Peace"

Andy Zabko, Novato, CA, " . Reflections Upside Down or Are They"

Thanks also to Martha Waterson of the National PTA who coordinated with the

U.S. Department of Education to provide the artwork.

The design work for the kit was created and produced by ZGS Communications, Inc., inArlington, VA (Project Manager: Jacqueline M. Burns and Designers: Patricia Rivera andKoranjali Alfonseca).

4 I

'gust Open Your Eyes and See, We CanAll Live in Unity"Eddie Smith III, Montgomery, AL

.;.4CTIN-1

I

AMERICA GOES BACK TO SCHOOL: GET INVOLVED!is published by the U.S. Department of Education

as an initiative of The Partnership for Family Involvement in Education

Richard W. Riley

U.S. Secretary of Education

Marshall Smith

U.S. Under Secretary of Education

Terry Petirson

Counselor to the Secretary

Alan Ginsburg

Director of the Planning and Evaluation Service

Teny Peterson, Nancy Ozeas, Diane Jones, Margarita Colmenares and Adriana de Kanter were leaders in

developing the conceptual framework for America Goes Back to School: Get Involved!

Adriaria de Kanter wrote the "1996-97 Partners' Activity Kit." -t;i-

Jacquelyn Zimmermann and Jennifer Ballen edited the kit. ,14

Terry Peterson, Nancy Ozeas and Jennifer Ballen were team leaders for America GA Back to School.

Other Back-to-School team members included:

Sonja Atkinson

Effie Ayers

Jennifer Ba lien

Anne Barrett

Don Barrett

Gale Belton

Joy Be lin

John Bertak

Beverly Blonde II

Margarita Colmenares

Joan Cooper

Michelle David

Adriana de Kanter

Paulette Dent

Joann Di Carlo

David Downey

Michelle Doyle

Fritz Edelstein

Rosemary Fennell

Terri Ferinde

Scott Fleming

David Frank

Robert Glenn

Billy Gioia

Wilson Goode

Pat Gore

Kelley Hart

Menahem Herman

Susan Thompson-Hoffman

Sarah Howes

Jeanne Jehl

Diane Jones

Julie Kaminkow

Jim Kohlmoos

Catherine Lippert

Brenda Long

Lisa Lowe

Kenneth Luttrell

Tom Lyon

John McGrath

Paul McKnight

Rick Miller

Marlon Millhouse

Mario Moreno

Dan Morrissey

Linda Mount

Ann Nawaz

Calvin Nophlin

Angela Parker

Barbara Patterson

Terry Peterson

Christian Pinto

Valena Plisko

Unda Roberts

Paula Roberts

Kim Ross

George Samuelson

Azalea Saunders

Anya Smith

Paul Smolarcik

Donna Taylor

Traki Taylor

Monique Waddell

Michelle Walther

Adrian Walls

Frances Watson

Gregg Wiggins

42Better Edunstion Is Everybody's Business

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

We would like to acknowledge outside contributors to the text who sent to us theirAmerica Goes Back to School vignettes.

ALABAMA

John S. Jahera, Jr., Dean Road School PTAALASKA

Ellen Harney and Vivian Ursula, DenaliElementary School and Visual EnterprisesARIZONA

Karen Butterfield. 1993 Arizona Teacher of theYear

CALIFORNIA

Lynda Baker, Southern California Edison; BrentE. Heath, De Anza Middle School; ArleneSilverman, San Francisco School Volunteers;Juan Miguel Herrera. Clualcomm Inc.; EugeneGarcia, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center; PatDingsdale, National PTA; Mary J. Brennan, De LaSalle Christian Brothers; Marguerite Lukes,California State University; Joe Sweet, NFLRetired Players Alliance/Foundation

COLORADO

Pete Denzin, Windsor School DistrictCONNECTICUT

Randy MacDonald, GTE Corporation; LolaNathan: Davis Street SchoolDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Craig Berkowitch: National Center on Educationand the Economy; Derek Gordon, KennedyCenter; Julia Howell-Barros, ASPIRA Association,Inc.; Dorothy Rich, Home and School Institute;Susan E. Goewey, National University ContinuingEducation Association; Linda Moore, Institute forEducational Leadership; Rob Merrill, VerySpecial Arts; Sister Catherine McNamee,National Catholic Educational Association; JunLee, The George Washington UniversityDELAWARE

James H. Vansciver, Lake Forest School District;Mike Lombardo, PIN-6

FLORIDA

Blanche Wells, Martin County High School;Frances Yeo, PTA Florida Congress of Parentsand Teachers; Agatha La Perla, VeniceTelephone Pioneers; Eleanor Kuperschmid, Readto Me; Scott Kramer, Youth Crime Watch ofAmerica; Dick Hohan, Venice TelephonePioneers; Rosemarie Fontana, Venice TelephonePioneers

GEORGIA

Denise Saunders, Several Dancers Core; IOWARip Marston, University of Northern IowaILLINOIS

Jennifer glitz, Chicago Academy of Sciences;Mary Jane Cipic, National PTA; Michelle Adler-Morrison, Youth Guidance; Steve Inge Is,University of Chicago; Martha Waterson,National PTA; Dreama Love, National PTAINDIANA

Sandra C. Lawrence, South Grove ElementarySchool; Carol Kett ler Sharp, Ft.WayneCommunity Schools; Sandra Kelley, Sarah ScottMiddle School; Barbara Bishop, Beech GroveCity Schools

LOUISIANA

Nancy Smith, Central Elementary School: Ray E.Bratton, Lincoln Center School

MASSACHUSEITS

Les Hemmings, John Hancock FinancialServices; Karen Spil ler, The Efficacy Institute,Inc.; Tony Wagner, Institute for ResponsiveEducation; Carroll T. Miller, EducationalPublishing Group, Inc.; Daniel Margolis, Bureauof Jewish Education of Greater Boston; ChristosZahopoulos, Project Re-Seed; Bettina Werman,The Werman Group, Inc.

MARYLAND

Susan Garin, National AsSociation of SchoolPsychologists; Susan Sparks, Advocates forChildren and Youth, Inc.; Joyce Epstein, Centeron Families, Communities, Schools & Children'sLearning; Adrienne Watts, National SchoolSupply and Equipment Association; Maria Harris,Fox Chapel Elementary School

MICHIGAN

Rena Richtig, Rankin Elementary School; Dr.Janice Pemberton, Clara B. Ford School;Suzanne Meenahan, Continental Cablevision;Willard S. Stawski, II, TBSC Learning

Systems, Inc.

MINNESOTA

Lynette Eck, Nonviolent ActivitiesMISSOURI

Catherine Stark-Corn, Squash Iti; DarleneRobinett, Missouri Department of Elementaryand Secondary Education; Mildred M. Winter,Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc.NEBRASKA

Connie Spellman, Omaha Chamber of CommerceNORTH CAROLINA

Wendy Woodworth, Berkeley Manor ElementarySchool; Julia H. Davis, Winter Park ElementarySchool; Elena Azzarita, Neuville Industries, Inc.;Karen DeBord, North Carolina CooperativeExtension Service

NORTH DAKOTA

Richard J. Olthoff, Minot Public SchoolsNEW JERSEY

Rabbi Mordechai Weiss, Trocki Hebrew AcademyNEW MEXICO

Ida S. Carrillo, University of New Mexico; MaryGervase, Mountain Elementary SchoolNEW YORK

Jeannine Cronkhite, Livonia Central SchoolDistrict; Ofra Fisher, B'nai B'rith, Center forJewish Family Life; C. Warren Moses, TheChildren's Aid Society; Beth Hurwitz, Women'sAmerican ORT; Anne McElroy, Madison OneidaBoard of Cooperative Educational Services;Jessica Peas lee, Literacy Volunteers of NewYork City; Barbara Fisher, The WaterwaysProject; Carol A. Pickel, Family Prayer Ministry;Helen Kapelman, Operation Pie; Linda Colon,Educational Equity Concepts, Inc.; Sandra Rifkin,Effective Parenting Information for Children;

4 3Bttr Education is Everybody's Business

Catherine A. Doherty, Albany Citizens Council on

Alcoholism; Sheila Lewis, Girl Scouts, USA; NeilHarvey, Avery Publishing Group; KathrynGreenburg, Home Instruction Program forPreschool Youngsters; John S. Sullivan,Cedarhurst Elementary School; Donald J.Brunswick, Windsor Central High SchoolOHIO

Joseph A. Rochod, The Education EnhancementPartnership, Inc.PENNSYLVANIA

Olin C. Johnson, Charles R. Drew School;Marjorie Klein, Harcum College; Mary LouiseDe Nicola, Fairhill Elementary School; DianeWagenhals, Parents, Inc.TENNESSEE

La Gina Osbourne, Buena Vista/Jones PaideiaMagnet School; Sheila Rapp, Oak ElementarySchool; Virginia Schmidt, Webster'sInternational; Jerold P. Bauch, The Betty PhillipsCenter for Parenthood Education; DebbieMorrison, Oak Elementary SchoolTEXAS

Nancy Dickson Stiles, Katy Elementary School:David Guel, Travis Middle School; CharlesPatterson, Killeen Independent School District;Pat Wright, Ft. Worth Independent SchoolDistrict; Emmie West, ECS Learning Systems;Evelyn Farmer, Fredericksburg IndependentSchool District; Robert de Kanter, Robert E. LeeHigh School; Richard R. Arduengo, HoustonPublic LibraryUTAH

Kathleen B. Peterson, Ferran Elementary SchoolVERMONT

Ruth Ann Barker, Leicester Central SchoolVIRGINIA

Rabbi Bruce Aft, Congregation Adat Reyim;Leslie Collins, National Engineers Week; SusanHlesciak Hall, Association for Supervision andCurriculum Development; Coleman Harris, MountVernon High School PTSA; John J. Mahlmann,Music Educators National Conference; JuneMillion, National Association of ElementarySchool Principals; Gwendolyn J. Cooke, NationalAssociation of Secondary School Principals;Maggie Holmes, National Head Start Association;WASHINGTON

Harriet Green, Lynndale Elementary School;Shirley Scott, Edmonds Community College;WEST VIRGINIA

Michael Valentine, West Virginia Department ofEducationWISCONSIN

Anita Zipperer, Green Bay Area Public Schools;Jeff Glover, Demco, Inc.; Karen Helgerson andChris Perket, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce;

Ruth Ann Landsverk, Department of PublicInstruction; Daniel 0. Magnuson, Family Serviceof America

These materials are in the public domain, as are allU.S. Department of Education publications.

Feel free to photocopy or reprint.

The U.S. Department of Education

PARTNERSHIP

for Familyin% Oivementin Education

How are vou getting involved? Tell us about your event(s):

( ...

TO--SCHOOL

NAME OF INDIVIDUAL/SCHOOLJORGANIZATION/EMPLOYER:

ADDRESS:

CONTACT:

CONTACT NUMBERS:

FAX NUMBER: (

INTERNET ADDRESS:

ACTIVITY:

(add more sheets if necessary)

DATE:

LOCATION:

PARTICIPANTS:

_ . TIME:

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO:JENNIFER BALLEN AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

600 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SWFB 10, ROOM 2302

WASHINGTON, DC 20202Fax: 202-401-3130

E-mail address: agbts@ed.gov

eatVetter Education Is Everybody's-

U.S. Saus*aiyoa4ucMioa. Raharni \V Fey

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.Maicing school aZltciplined and drug-free

Supporting pure and family involvement

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Get Involved!

PARTNERSHIP

for Familyinvolvementin Education

The Partnership forFamily involvement

in Education"Better Education Is Everybody's Business."

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley

'4114S41,v14;...._;.03,1111trix,.What is the Partnership's mission? To promote children's learning-throUgktiteilegielfamily-school-community partnerships.

Who are the Partners for Learning? More than 700 family, school, community:erngroups comprise the Partnership. They have comft9rth_ eztpaupport student leiirrintoThese Partners represent a growing grassroots tigosti this country. orw, [Tito

supporting homest attiasactiVities includingpiepared and attestor.

ences and asking fordaUengagãi

"Family-School Partners for Learning

- Family partners strengthen schools throumonitoring homework, making sureat-school activities including atten

School partners sur port families' expectations for their chil cation, reach out toas partners, offer parents help, and are ac en parents are avail 57

endly business practices, such as provi ingin school, and providing parent training

"Employers for Learning" adopting family-leave time to attend parent conferences aand child care.

"Community Organizations for Learning" supporting learning communities thbefore- and after-school and summer activities, helping to make streets safesupporting supervised recreational activities.

"Religious Organizations for Learning" providing parent education programs, sponsoring culturalprograms, making their buildings available for organized activities and supporting out-of-schoollearning.

What are the benefits from joining the Partnership? Partners improve their effectivenessby connecting with other groups and drawing on each others' strengths. The benefits of being part of acoordinated effort are key: Partners learn about and share the latest and best practices from other Partnerorganizations. Recognition is earned for organizations' visible commitments at the national, state, and locallevels. Members of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education receive Partnership publications andsupport on an on-going basis.

ganized/hiCiren, and

What are nationwide Partnership Activities? As the Partnership grows, special projects supportfamily involvement and student learning across communities:

READ*WRITE*NOW!, a national initiative with an intensive summer component, to encouragechildren's reading and writing with a reading partner 30 minutes a day.

America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! encourages every American to go back to schooleach fall to share their talents and experiences. Taking the challenge means addressing localeducational concerns on a continuous basis and making a year-long commitment to learning.

Additional activities support the partnership through conferences, publications and on-goingcommunication, including newsletters and the upcoming "Partners for Learning" InternetHome Page.

How can your organization join the Partnership? If your organization wants to become a Partnerfor Learning fill out one of the following sign-on sheets and send it in. You will receive yourPartnership member's kit soon after.

48

Join the Partnership far FamilyInvolvement in Education,a.3

\ 1,t',1111'

I a in i I

I II% tdkn I thi t i 111

Famiir-SchoolPartnership Promise

Families and schools across America are increasingly accepting mutual responsibilityfor children s learning. When families are involved in children's learning, at schooland at home, schools work better and students learn more. Schools and families areworking with employers and community organizations to develop local partnership,that support a safe school environment where students learn to challenging standards.By working together, exchanging information, sharing decision-making, andcollaborating in children's learning, everyone can contribute to the education proce!,s.

Coming togetlwr as families, local school board governance, administration, teachers and school staff,

we form this partnership and affirm the importance of family involvement in children's learning.We pledge to:

Share responsibility at school and at home to give student. a better education anda good start in life.

Our school will be welcoming to families; reach out to families before problems arise:offer challenging courses; create safe and drug-free learning environments: organizetutoring and other opportunities to improve student learning; and support families tobe included in the school decision-making process.

Our families will monitor student attendance, homework completion and televisionwatChing; take the time to talk with and listen to their children; become acquaintedwith teachers. administrators and school staff: read with younger children and sharea book with a teen; volunteer in school when possible: and participate in theScro°o(?decision-making process.

Promote effective two-way communication between families and schools, by schoolsreducing educational jargon and breaking down cultural and language barriers andby families staying in touch with the school.

Provide opportunities for families to learn how to help their children succeed in schooland for school staff to work with families.

Support family-school efforts to improve student learning by reviewing progressregularly and strengthening cooperative actions.

We would like to (worm. a member Of the Partnership for Famihr hwolvement in Education. We commit

to faindu-triendlu practices and will work with others to form partnerships that support c-hildren's learning.

(Please type or print the tollowmg.)

School Name:

Principal: _ Signature:

Parent Organization Representative: Signature:

Teacher:

Representative: Signature:

School Staff Representative: Signature:

Contact Person: Title:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax: E-mail:

'ent.1 to: Partner,hip tor l.armiv Involvement in Education, oOil I ndependent-e A\ elute. SW. Vaslungton,DC 20202-5173 or ta. to 202-40l -303o to receive votir Family-School Partnership Promise Certificate.

49 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

PARTNERSH IP

for Familyinvolvcmentin Education

Join the Pa-2-- hip for FamilyInvolvement in Educations..

Employers forLearning Promise

A strong and vigorous economy, for our employers and our nation, depends upon aneducated, skilled, and competent citizenry. Today's students are tomorrow's citizens,and are our long-term investments for the future.

Employers play an important role in the school-improvement efforts on local, state, and national levels.We can now multiply the effectiveness of such efforts by enlisting our current employees as partners inthe campaign to support and better the American educational system. Any company, regardless of its size,can take steps to support parents in its workforce and to support local education.

Over 30 years of research shows that greater family and adult involvement in children's learning is a criticallink to achieving a high-quality education.

Small investments that enable employee participation in students' academic success, and in our educationsystem, lead to a win/win for everyone:

Employees Win by-heitiing prepare a highly skilled and globally competitive workforce.Employees Win by making positive differences in children's education and intheir local schools.Schools Win from increased parental and community involvement.Students Win from better education.

We recognize there are many ways to get started:Contact a local school to discuss opportunities for cooperation.Explore with employees ways in which they can help children learn.Explore with employees ways in which they can help local schools better educatetheir students.Explore policies and practices to encourage and enable employee invotvement inschools and learning.Contact the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education for information.

We commit to:Identify a contact person, authorized to explore and develop options for companyinvolvement in our fa.mily-school-community initiatives.Take action to implement programs.Share best practices after evaluating programs annually.Form partnerships with other stakeholders to promote, implement, and improve family-friendly policies and practices.

We would like to become a member of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. We commit ourorganization to family-friendly practices and will work with others to form partnerships that support children'slearning. (Please type or print the following information.)

President/CEO: Signature:

Company/Organization: Date:

Contact Person: Title:

Address:

City: State: _ Zip: .

Phone: _ Fax: E-Mail: _ _

Send to: Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,DC 20202-8173 or fax to 202-401-3036 to receive your Employers for Learning Promise Certificate.

Involvement ki Education...

Statement of CommonPurpose Religious

Communitie` sFarnily Involvement h Learning

"Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray"Proverbs 22:6

As members of religious communities from across the land, we join to affirm the vital and enduringrole of families in the education of children. We have always regarded familiesandparents inparticularas the primary teachers of children. Encouraged by Secretary of Education Richard Rilev'sconcern for all children and his commitment to the role of families in educating children, we call'upon all people of good will to stand as one with us in support of families'participation in children'slearning.

Parents and guardians need to immerse themselves in the education of their children as never before.Children need the immediate and constant support of their families. But there are other voices atodds with these goals: the voices of poverty, loneliness, and feat Because of this, there are childrenwho do not attend school regularly, whose test scores and grades falter, who have too much idletime, and whose parents are absent, too overwhelmed or too busy to spend time reading, talking,praying, playing, listening, helping or encouraging them.

Religious communities hear this cryy, It is with this knowledge and in our unique roles that we standunited in our commitment to the involvement of family members in the education of children. Webelieve the participation of family members in the education and spiritual development of youngpeople is fundamental to a child s preparation for adulthood and the responsibilifies of citizenship.Our nation's future depends upon a shared concern for the education of young people.

It is imperative that religious communities join together with gireernments,comMunity organizations,businesses, and public and private schools in stnving to provide families, parents, gran parents,foster parents, guardians, or extended family members with the information, skills, tools, andopportunities that will encourage their parbapation in the total education of their children, includingcharacter education. We are committed to working.together to improve children's learning throughfamily involvement partnerships.

--; .-

We are thankful for the blessings of religious 'liberty, a sac'red trust, stated in the peciaration OfIndependence and guaranteed By the First Amendment of the Constitution, that enables the membersof all faiths to work together freely and openly for the common good. As beneficiaries of this greatlegacy, we pledge our support in encouraging family involvement fin the edlication of children.

f,

We call upon au citizens, religious communities, communitycnpaizations, itia businesses to dotheir share. We urge family members to become actively inVolved in their.c.hildren's educa tion,religious communities to work to better understand and meet edUcatiOnal And family needs,community organizations to sponsor meaningful youth- and family-oriented activities, and businessestd adopt fa y-friendly policies in the workplace. Governmentsmeed to promote public policiesthat encourage greater family involvement in the education of all children. We challenge our societyto value and nurture our children of today so that they can be prodtictive citizens of tomorrow.

We would like to become a member of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. We commit ourreligious organization to family-friendly practices and will work with others to form partnerships that supportchildren's learning. (Please type or print the following information.)

Official:

House of Worship/Religious Organization:

National Affiliation/Denomination:

Contact Person:

Address:

City: _ State:

Signature:

___ Date:

Title:

Zip:

Phone: _ _ _ Fax: . E-Mail:

Send to: Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,DC 20202-8173 or fax to 202-401-3036 to receive your Statement of Religious Communities Certificate.

5 1 isapaT CAW AVAIIABLE

41,

PARTNERSHIPfor FamilyInvolvementin Education

Join the Partnership for flyInvolvement in Education...

The Community Promise

A strong and vi orous communiqr, one that is supportive of all citizens, depends uponan educated, skilled, competent and involved citizenry. Schools, families, and communityorganizations are increasingly accepting mutual responsibility for children's learning.By working together, exchanging information, sharing decision-making, andcollaborating in children's learning, everyone can contribute to the educational process.As a community-based organization, we support family-school compacts and affirmthe importance of family-community involvement in student's learning.

We commit to involve our organization and its community members in a family-school-communitypartnership. By coming together with other organizations, we will:

Make safe schools/safe neighborhoods a priority.Combat alcohol, drugs, and violence in and around schools and neighborhoods.Reinforce parenting skills using community institutions to provide family and literacy trainingand referral services.Provide mentoring and homework help programs so that children may be assured oftutoring and guidance from knowledgeable and responsible adults.Come together to coordinate delivery of services and to eliminate duplication of efforts.Help develop and sponsor affordable and quality after-school, weekend and summerlearning, cultural, and community recreational activities.Support school improvement efforts in the local community.Support and become informed about school governance issues.Encourage schools to be involved in the life of the community, through co-sponsorshipof community outreach activities of partner organizations.

We would like to become a member of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. We commit ourcommunity organization to family-friendly practices and will work with others to form partnerships that supportchildren's learning. (Please type or print the following information.)

Official: Signature:

Community Group: Date:

Contact Person: Title:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax: E-Mall:

Send to: Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,DC 20202-8173 or fax to 202-401-3036 to receive your Community Promise Certificate.

52