ED371909 PS022742

 

Title: Strong Families, Strong Schools: Building Community Partnerships for Learning. A Research Base for Family Involvement in Learning from the U.S. Department of Education.
Author Affiliation: Department of Education, Washington, DC.(EDD00001)
Pages: 110
Publication Date: September 1994
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: Information Analysis (070); Opinion papers (120); Reports--Descriptive (141)
Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia
Journal Announcement: RIENOV1994
Government Level: Federal

This report gives new recognition to the power and potential of the American family to improve education. Following an introduction that looks at the factors inhibiting parental involvement in their children's education, the report reviews 30 years of research indicating that the starting point of American education is parent expectations and parental involvement in their children's education. It then discusses how schools and families can develop partnerships, how the local communities can connect with families and schools, and how businesses can get involved with family support and participation in education. Legislation from different states enacted to help improve family involvement is then discussed, followed by ways that federal policies and programs can be more supportive of families. The concluding section of the report notes the difficulties inherent in such an initiative but observes that the benefits outweigh the difficulties. Over 130 references are included. Also included with the report are: (1) remarks prepared by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, announcing the report and the formation of a broad-based partnership led by the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education to encourage and support American families; (2) descriptions of family involvement partnerships, listed by state; (3) a copy of the press
release from the Department of Education summarizing Secretary Riley's remarks; (4) a list of statistics related to family involvement; and (5) lists of members of the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education and members of the National Family Involvement Partners network. (HTH)

Descriptors: Academic Achievement; *Educational Improvement; Educational Policy; Educational Research; Elementary Secondary Education; Family Environment; Family Programs; Federal Legislation; *Parent Participation; Parent Role; Parent School Relationship; *Parent Student Relationship; *Partnerships in Education; School Business Relationship; School Community Relationship; *State Programs
Identifiers: Family Support; Riley (Richard W)