K-12, Parents & the Public
Andrew L. Yarrow has studied and written about education for The New York Times, the U.S. Department of Education, and Public Agenda and, as a parent, is no stranger to parental involvement in education. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: families & the community.
Education Funding
Ambitious Goals for New Philadelphia School Partnership
The Philadelphia School Partnership was established last week with $16 million in anonymously given seed money, and set a five-year goal to raise $100 million and invest in initiatives to boost student performance.
Families & the Community
Should Ex-Cons Be Allowed to Volunteer in Schools?
Most jurisdictions have laws prohibiting adults with criminal records from volunteering in schools. In fact, a Michigan mother was recently banned from volunteering at her child's school because of a past conviction for writing bad checks.
Families & the Community
Union Opposes Parent Volunteers in Petaluma, Calif.
Unionized school employees in Petaluma, California, some of whom were laid off, don't like the fact that parent volunteers are now doing the work they were once paid to do.
School & District Management
PENCIL Schools Partnership Turns 15 in New York
PENCIL, a New York City business-schools partnership program that includes Macy's, Bloomberg, Cisco, Wachovia, and 500 other businesses, marked its 15th anniversary the other day.
Education
Show Enlists Communities in 'Extreme Makeover' for Schools
A new NBC prime time series, "School Pride," debuts October 15, dramatizing stories of communities working to invigorate public schools.
Equity & Diversity
As Ranks of Homeless Pupils Grow, Communities Provide Aid
They are among approximately 1 million homeless schoolchildren in America, a number that has risen with the economic hard times of the last few years but that is difficult to pinpoint. For these children, school is a lifeline, and that lifeline would not be there without partnerships involving school systems, the federal government, and community charities and volunteers.
Families & the Community
Initiative Enlists Parents to be Data Consumers
Can parents be motivated to use their children's academic performance data to support and ensure timely high school graduation and college readiness?
Classroom Technology
Google and the Line Between Good Marketing and Good Deeds
If there is a line to draw to prevent salesmanship masquerading as corporate engagement, which I believe, and Google's foray into Virginia schools doesn't cross it, where should it be? (Or, does it matter, if everyone truly benefits?)
School & District Management
Foundation Battles Severe Educational Challenges in Detroit
Ms. Goss, who heads Detroit's Skillman Foundation, has taken on the Herculean—if not Sisyphean—task of spearheading a turnaround of one of America's most desperately failing school systems.
Families & the Community
A New Philanthropic Idea: Public School Alumni Associations
Millions of college alumni support their schools. But why isn't there the same alumni tie to high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools? Couldn't public school alumni associations be an enormous source of supplementary funding and form of community involvement in schools?
Education Funding
Finding Superman in Newark
Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old president of social networking behemoth, Facebook--itself the subject of a new movie about to be released, announced Friday on the Oprah Winfrey Show that he was giving $100 million to boost the fortunes of one of the nation's most poorly performing school systems. Newark Mayor Cory Booker has pledged to raise an additional $100 million from foundations.
Professional Development
Does School-Based Mentoring Work?
School-based mentoring programs as currently constituted appear to have significant, but relatively small, effects on several outcomes related to school success.
Budget & Finance
Where is the Line Between Shopping and School Fundraising?
I was recently reminded that Macy's department store plans its fifth annual "Shop for a Cause" on October 16, and began mulling over whether heading to the mall to buy clothes and cosmetics is really the best way for businesses to help schools raise money.
Families & the Community
National PTA Wants More Men Involved in Schools
The National PTA, in conjunction with its Men Organized to Raised Engagement Alliance and the National Fatherhood Leaders Group, has launched a campaign to get men off their duffs and more involved in the education, health, and well-being of children. This newly announced "Million Hours of Power" initiative aims to galvanize 350,000 men to serve in some capacity for at least three hours during this school year.