A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

People across America are taking a long, hard look at our schools and discovering some very positive things. When families, educators, and communities work together, schools get better and children get the quality education they need to lead happy, productive lives. For America to move forward and maintain its place as a world leader, and for all of our communities to become prosperous and strong, more individuals need to become involved in improving learning for all children.

Here in 1995 we are at the beginning of an enormous tidal wave of young people going to school. Experts project that by 1997 more young people--53 million--will be going to school than ever before in the history of the nation, surpassing the baby boom generation's peak set in 1971. We need your help and we need to see the education of this generation of children as America's project.

The Family Involvement Partnership for Learning, sponsor of America Goes Back to School: A Place for Families and the Community, invites you to get involved in your community. The Partnership is a coalition of more than 140 family, school, community, religious, and business organizations dedicated to supporting family involvement in children's learning through family, school, and community partnerships.

And families need our help. Many parents are stretched to the limit trying to make ends meet, some are even working two jobs and coping with the reality that they do not have the time they want to make an extra contribution to their children's schooling.

Many parents are doing all they can to be actively involved in their children's education in the home. But nearly half of all parents with young children do not spend time reading to or with their children every, or almost every, school day and a third do not spend time helping their children with homework every, or almost every, school day.

The parent/school connection also needs to be stronger and this is where we can help. Parents want schools that set high academic standards and they want to be sure that their children are learning basic American values like honesty, self-reliance and respect for others.

When you get involved in America Goes Back to School, you can work on one or more of the key issues that Americans say they want their schools to address. These issues include:

• Helping children to learn the basics and core academic subjects
• Creating safe and drug-free schools that teach basic American values
• Making college more accessible
• Getting technology and computers into classrooms
• Raising standards of achievement and discipline
• Teaching and connecting young people to real life skills that prepare them for work and adulthood

This publication provides information about how you can get involved in these vitally important areas of education. There are plenty of suggested activities--ways you can participate in schools and make a difference in students' learning. By joining the America Goes Back to School team, you can help build a true community partnership for learning and make your community a better place to live, work, and learn all year round.

The Family Involvement Partnership for Learning also encourages you to become a member of the Partnership by signing up your school, community organization/business, or place of worship. A pledge card is found in the back of this book--just fill it out and get involved. If you like, mail a copy to the partnership so we can count your efforts.

For more information about the Family Involvement Partnership for Learning, or print and video materials on family and community involvement, call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

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

[How to Build Your Community Partnership for Learning]