To increase overall interest and active participation in the education of its children, the Bennington, Vermont, school district enlisted the aid of local business, religious, and community organizations. More than willing to offer their support, organizations such as the United Way, the Bennington Rotary Club, the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, Hemmings Motor News, and the Better Bennington Corporation take to heart the idea that "Better Education Is Everybody's Business." Hemmings Motor News encourages its employees to take scheduled time off with pay to volunteer in their children's school or in local academic activities. This organization has received accolades for its commitment to education and to the community.

Mattel instituted a school-related excused absence policy that encourages all employees to get involved in schools by providing 16 hours of paid leave during the year. In addition, the Mattel Foundation has begun the "Hand in Hand" program in eight cities across the country. As a result of financial assistance provided by this program, the Chicago public school system organized a Parent Summit with over 1,000 parents in attendance. In November, "Hand in Hand" organized "Take Our Parents to School Week" to encourage widespread participation in school activities and school reform initiatives.

This year, Pizza Hut has continued its sponsorship of the READ*WRITE*NOW! summer reading and writing challenge by providing the U.S. Department of Education with 1.5 million pizza certificates to reward children who complete the program. Pizza Hut has also continued a long-term commitment to family involvement in children's learning through its BOOK IT! National Reading Incentive Program. The program, which rewards children for meeting their reading goals with praise, recognition, and pizza, encourages parents to become reading partners with their children. Now in its twelfth year, BOOK IT! reaches more than 22 million elementary school children.

ACT and the National Career Development Association (NCDA) developed "Realizing the Dream," a program to involve parents in their teenager's educational and career planning. This program gives parents the knowledge, resources, and motivation to help their children make successful career plans. A workshop introduces "Realizing the Dream" to parents of middle school and high school students, and resource materials are provided to help families progress step-by-step through the career planning process over the following months.

The GTE College Planning Seminar is an all-day Saturday seminar that provides more than 3,000 employee parents and students with information on the college admissions process and how to obtain financial aid. The interactive teleconference originates from GTE's headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, and is broadcast live to 40 business unit and office locations around the country for GTE employees. In some locations, the seminar is open to other community members as well.

Mobil underwrites a train-the-trainer teacher training model that enhances the teaching of family math and science programs in 15 elementary schools in the Dallas Independent School District. Developed and delivered by the National Urban Coalition, the SAY YES curricula upon which teachers are trained is designed to be a fun, inquiry-based, hands-on, cooperative, and self-paced instruction. Over 120 teachers have been trained to instruct parents or responsible adults in family math and family science teaching technology.

Hewlett-Packard has recruited employees in sites across the United States to volunteer as Hewlett-Packard Science Partners in 29 U.S. elementary school districts engaged in a three-year Hands-On-Science curriculum reform effort. In addition, Hewlett-Packard is recruiting 3,500 employees to serve as Hewlett-Packard E-mail Mentors to 5^th- through 12^th-grade students and teachers who are engaged in a variety of math and science activities.

Through "Reinventing Education," an ambitious, $25 million grant program in K-12 education, IBM has formed partnerships with eight school districts and two states interested in using technology to support their school reform efforts. Through their program, IBM will reach well over a million children and their families. IBM also has a number of family-friendly policies and programs, including the Individualized Work Schedule program, which gives employees flexibility with their work day; LifeWorks, IBM's dependent care consultation and referral service, which provides employees with advice on their children's education; and Education Today, a publication, supported by IBM and dedicated to helping parents become actively involved in their children's education.

The CEO of BellSouth announced the company's commitment to provide Internet access and training to 4,000 schools across the Southeast. BellSouth will provide the schools a complete package that addresses every requirement for offering service--from school infrastructure, to technology, to curriculum and teacher training. Available to schools across the company's nine-state operating region, the program will provide inside wiring kits, volunteer support for installation, equipment, staff, Internet accounts, and training videos. BellSouth expects to contribute 5,400 BellSouth employee volunteers to implement the project; $25 million worth of BellSouth services; and $600,000 in school grants from the BellSouth Foundation.

The Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the local schools, supports family involvement and promotion of education in the workplace. Employers host activities at area businesses and publicize them through education bulletin boards. Through the Texas Scholars program, local business leaders visit classrooms to encourage students to take challenging courses. In addition, seventh-grade students had the opportunity to go to work for a week at a local business this past June.