ED.gov

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

Community Update -- Special Edition
for Schools

Special Edition, August 1996 U.S. Department of Education

This issue of Community Update is being mailed to all elementary and secondary school principals in anticipation of the 1996-97 school year. If you would like to receive this monthly newsletter regularly, call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

Secretary Riley and National Leaders Urge All Schools To Join National Back to School Campaign

Editor's note: America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! is a nationwide effort that encourages all Americans to participate actively in improving education in their communities. The effort is endorsed by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Council for American Private Education, the American Association of School Administrators, the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, the National PTA, the National Coalition of Title I/Chapter 1 Parents, the National Education Association, the National School Boards Association, and the American Federation of Teachers. Below is an open letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and the national cochairs of America Goes Back to School: Get Involved: Tipper Gore, wife of the Vice President and a lifelong child advocate; Bo Jackson, actor/businessman and Heisman Trophy winner; Joan Dykstra, National PTA President; and Ted Sanders, President of Southern Illinois University.

Dear Friend of Education:

We are writing to invite you and your organization to play a leading role in the America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! initiative. This is an exciting and important effort to focus attention on improving education across America during the back-to-school time of August through October sponsored by the U. S. Department of Education; the over 700 family, education, employer, religious, and community group members of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education; and the America Goes Back to School Steering Committee.

America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! encourages parents, grandparents, community leaders, employers and employees, members of the arts community, religious leaders, and every caring adult to play a more active role in improving education in their communities.

Specifically, it will focus on the following issues, which the American people have said their schools should address:

Making schools safe, disciplined and drug-free, a precondition for learning
Encouraging parental and family involvement
Helping America become a reading, literate society
Reaching for new levels of excellence with high standards and real accountability
Making technology available so all children will succeed in the 21st century
Preparing young people for careers -- a strong transition from school to work
Making college more accessible, keeping the promise of the American dream

We invite you to choose one or several of these issues to highlight in your community. You can work with your local schools, colleges, and community, religious, and employer groups to plan activities that will focus on one or more of these areas.

We will mail back-to-school materials in August. These materials will contain numerous suggested activities for families, schools, colleges, businesses, religious and community groups, as well as a colorful collage poster.

Last year, thousands of individuals went back to school across the country. This year, we want to encourage even more Americans to join us and Get Involved! in their local schools.

If you already have an America Goes Back to School event planned, contact us so your event can be included in the nationwide effort. Write to: Jennifer Ballen, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave. S.W., Room 2200, Washington, D.C., 20202. The fax number is (202) 401-3130, and the e-mail address is agbts@ed.gov.

Steering Committee Unites Leaders Nationwide

Forty parent, education, business, religious, and community leaders from across the nation have volunteered to serve on the steering committee for the 1996 America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! initiative. Below is a closer look at several members of the steering committee.

David Hottenstein is principal of Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School in Pennsylvania. He was the 1994 Pennsylvania Principal of the Year and was a 1996 Milken Family Foundation National Educators Award winner. He was also one of seven principals nationwide named to the Carnegie Foundation/NASSP National Commission on High School Restructuring that issued the publication, Breaking Ranks.

Anne Jolly was one of the founders of the Alabama State Teacher Forum and now serves as its Executive Director. She teaches middle school science and was the 1994 Alabama Teacher of the Year. She also served on a panel with President Clinton at the Southeastern Regional Conference.

Carole Kennedy is President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and principal of New Haven Accelerated School in Columbia, Missouri. She developed the award-winning program "Parents as Educational Partners" and is consulted by the national media on parent involvement issues.

Frank R. Miracola is a fifth grade teacher at Armada Elementary School in Michigan and a Milken National Educator. He has linked his students to children all over the world through technology. He has been instrumental in setting up the first Michigan Teacher Forum that will be held August 3-4.

September 17 Satellite Town Meeting To Kick Off 1996-97 Season

With a special "Back to School" program, the September Town Meeting will air live on Tuesday, September 17 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. The Town Meeting will focus on how to get the entire community actively involved in improving local schools. Please note that the new broadcast time at 8:00 p.m. will remain throughout the 1996-97 season. Call 1-800-USA-LEARN for information on satellite coordinates.

Leaders Speak Out in Support of America Goes Back to School

Editor's note: America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! unites people from all walks of life in support of improving education in their communities. Below is a sample of recent remarks by supporters of the initiative.

"Children are our future and to assure a solid future for them it is imperative that we, as parents and members of our respective communities, become actively involved in our children's education. By doing this, we will prepare the children of America to be successful and competitive in a growing international marketplace."

Bo Jackson, actor/businessman, 1985 Heisman Trophy Winner

"Parents are partners in their children's success at school and in life. Children with concerned parents learn more quickly, enjoy school more and achieve more than children who lack that support and care."

Joan Dykstra, President, National PTA

"I support the United States Department of Education's efforts, AMERICA GOES BACK TO SCHOOL. I encourage all parents to get involved with their children's education."

Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles shortstop

"As Secretary of the Navy, I have made education--and programs for extended family participation in education--one of my top priorities. One of my favorite programs is 'America Goes Back to School: Get Involved!' The Back to School initiative provides a chance for all of us to give an important contribution to the system that America counts on for our future leaders."

John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy

Schools Welcome Family/Community Involvement

There are many ways that schools can reach out to families and their local communities around the seven action areas found in America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! For a more in- depth look at ways schools can reach out to families, call 1-800- USA-LEARN and ask for Reaching All Families: Creating Family- Friendly Schools.

A More Personalized School Opening.

The first few days of each school year are a special time. These days could be maximized by organizing a schedule before school begins around brief teacher-parent-student meetings so that everyone gets to know each other before the first bell rings. When the teacher and student begin the first day of school, each will be acquainted with one another. The new year also provides an opportunity to start fresh with an agreement or discussion among parents, teachers, and students on learning goals. These discussions give a chance for students to see their parents and teachers working together--on their behalf--from the beginning of the school year.

School-Family Compacts.

Learning and discipline contracts outlining a parent's responsibilities are nothing new. What is new are school-family compacts, a written agreement indicating how all members of the school community will share in responsibilities to improve student achievement. Compacts provide a new opportunity to help bring together parents, teachers, principals, and community leaders to build a local partnership to help children learn.

Every school receiving Title I funds will develop a building level compact. It will be created by individual school communities in response to their own needs. Compacts outline the goals, expectations, and shared responsibilities of schools and parents. They can stimulate discussions between teachers and parents about how to improve student performance. Every school might consider embarking on the good practice of school-family compacts. And, because community members are important partners in student success, compacts can outline the responsibilities of schools, families, students, and community members.

Principal for the Day.

There are many school systems throughout the country that bring community and business leaders into their schools by sponsoring Principal for the Day activities every year. Perhaps the largest such event is held in New York City where close to 1,000 volunteers shadow a principal for a day to experience firsthand the role of a principal managing a public school. In fact, New York City has developed an entire handbook that can walk any school system through planning, implementation, and follow-up to their event.

The benefits of bringing community and business leaders into the school are enormous. Leaders experience firsthand the day- to-day management of the school and the caliber of students in the system, thus fostering support for schools and education. Local leaders are often much more willing to invest additional time, money, or materials in the schools when they began to develop a sense of ownership in a school. Finally, school leaders benefit from the perspective, advice, and guidance of successful business leaders.

Adopt-a-School.

The Adopt-a-School notion is not new. Community groups and businesses have been adopting schools for over a decade. But there has been a recent change in the outlook by schools and the community in understanding that educating our young people is everybody's business. Adopt-a-School functions are moving beyond donating equipment, providing refreshments for school events, or building playgrounds -- although each of these is important in its own way -- to undertaking activities that will help children learn. For a full range of activities for families, community groups, and employers call 1-800-USA-LEARN for the America Goes Back to School Partners' Activity Kit 1996-97.

NetDay96.

Involve your school in NetDay96, a nationwide effort to connect all classrooms to the Internet. Modeled on the successful California NetDay, volunteers in communities around the country will help hard-wire classrooms during every weekend in October. President Clinton described California Net Day as "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," he said.

You can become a part of this effort by contacting the following address: 2601 Mariposa St., San Francisco, Calif., 94110-1400. The E-mail address is netday@kqed.org, and the web site is http://www.netday96.com. The phone number is (415) 553- 2311.

Open House.

Open houses are a traditional way for schools to share information about their programs with all parents, families, and members of the community, especially during the back-to-school months. They also present a great way to welcome families and community members to the school.

Open houses work best if they are scheduled more than once a year and at times when there is low calendar conflict. For example, open houses at an elementary school should not be held on the same night as a middle school or high school in case parents have children in several grade levels. Open houses also need to be scheduled to accommodate teachers who are parents. When districts hold their open houses all on the same evening, parents with more than one child and teachers with children have a difficult time meeting with their children's teacher.

Schools need to attend to the three "P's" to make open houses successful -- publicity, planning, and preparation. A carefully thought out publicity campaign is essential to set an expectation that all families of students will attend. Open houses must also meet the real needs of parents, by providing opportunities such as meeting the principal and sharing one-to- one communication with their child's teachers.

Plans will need to be made to accommodate the transportation, child care, and translation needs of some parents. Finally, consider tailoring your open house around the activities found in America Goes Back to School. Call-1- 800-USA-LEARN to get a Partners' Activity Guide to hand out at your open house and encourage family and community members to GET INVOLVED!

Family Information and Resource Centers.

Family Information and Resource Centers in schools can support parents as both learners and teachers. They often provide educational materials, arrange training and informal meetings, and even refer parents to other community services. These centers provide a place where parents, volunteers, and school staff can come together to share ways to assist children's at-home learning. Some centers actually run "Parent Universities" where family members can attend workshops held by community members on a range of topics.

Centers try to offer a place where parents can share information in a non-threatening environment. Some schools run their volunteer programs out of the center. Others provide office space and supplies for their local PTA.

Voicemail and Interactive Telephone Technologies.

Schools are setting up interactive electronic mailbox service accessed via the telephone that allow teachers to leave daily messages for parents about the school and the night's homework assignment. Parents or students can also leave messages for the teachers about assignments. In addition to teacher mailboxes, voicemail systems allow parents to access messages from the principal, the PTA, the cafeteria, and other school professionals such as counselors and curriculum specialists.

With this system in place, parents can find out about their child's homework, upcoming PTA functions, awards dinners, school dances, lunch menus, testing schedules, or sports events in just one phone call. Messages can also be recorded in several languages so that non-English speaking parents can keep up with their children's coursework and school activities.

School Members of the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education

The Partnership for Family Involvement in Education has more than 700 members committed to helping families fulfill their central role in education. The following list includes all school partners as of July 3, 1996.

ALASKA*Akiachak Elementary School*Avondale Elementary School*Korhanok* ALABAMA*Grove Hill Elementary School*Birmingham Public Schools*Dauphin Island Elementary School*L. J. Morris School*Maryvale Elementary*Oakdale Elementary School*Randolph Elementary School*Swift Elementary School*W.H. Brazier* ARKANSAS*George Elementary School*Huttig Elementary*ARIZONA*Neely Elementary School*CALIFORNIA*Burnt Ranch School*Carver Elementary School*Costa Mesa High School*Costano Elementary*Country Club School*Durfee School*Ellen Feickert*Gerber Union Elementary*Glenshire Elementary School*Glenwood School*Gregory Gardens Elementary*Highlands Elementary School*Hills School*James Leitch School*Linden Elementary*Lindo Park School*Lynwood School*Olive Elementary School*Orange Center Elementary*Ripperdan School*Roosevelt School*Shasta Meadows Elementary School* Thomas Olaeta Elementary School*Tierra Linda*Valerio Street Elementary*Valley View School*W.A. Allison Elementary School*Warner Unified School*Washington Elementary* Wilton Place School*Wood Elementary School*Worthington Elementary School* COLORADO*Bill Metz Elementary School*Explore Elementary School*Ivywild Elementary School*Pioneer Elementary School*CONNECTICUT*Annie Fisher School*Anterbury Elementary*Hinsdale School*Hop Brook Elementary*Norton School*Tashua School*Thomas Hooker*DELAWARE*Emerson-Hubbard Elementary School*FLORIDA*Bronson Elementary School*Chattachoochee Elementary School*Fairway Elementary School*Gregory Drive Elementary #243*Hagen Road Elementary School*Highland Elementary*Jensen Beach Elementary*Lake Myrtle Elementary*Oak Hill Elementary*Ocean City Elementary*Pine Crest Elementary School*Sacrum Elementary*Terwilliger Elementary*Verde Elementary School*Webster School*West Riviera Magnet Elementary School*Woodward Avenue Elementary*Wright Elementary*GEORGIA*Browns Mill School*Dresden Elementary*E.A. White Elementary School*North Columbia Elementary School*Park Street Elementary*T. J. Guice Elementary*Terrace Manor Elementary School*HAWAII*Ali'iolani School*Palolo Elementary School*IOWA*Pleasant Hill School*IDAHO*McMillan Elementary School* Popplewell Elementary*ILLINOIS*Arnold J. Tyler School*Carrollton Grade*Central Park Elementary School*Chicago Public School*Dickman School*Everett School*Field School* Fuller School*Giant City School*John Clark School*Meridan CUSD#15*Monroe Avenue School*Nathan Hale Elementary School*New Holland-Middletown #88*Roosevelt School*INDIANA*Cedar Hall School*F.W. Crichfield Elementary School* Frederick Douglass Elementary School*Grissom Elementary*Sarah Scott Middle School* Tzmanakis Intermediate School*Wilson Elementary*KANSAS*Caldwell Elementary School, USD 360*Jefferson Elementary School*Neosho Heights Elementary School*Sheridan Elementary School*West Solomon Valley Schools*KENTUCKY* Crittenberger Elementary School*Lost Creek Elementary School*Poage Elementary School*LOUISIANA*Carver Elementary School*Cherokee Park Elementary*Holy Family Catholic School* MASSACHUSETTS*Belmont Community School*Douglas Macarthur School*Forestdale School*H. W. Dalrguple*Pierce School*Prescott School* MARYLAND *Paint Branch Elementary*Robert W. Coleman Elementary*Winfield Elementary*Worthington Elementary* MAINE*South Hiram Elementary School* MICHIGAN*Backer School*Blair Elementary* Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools* Clara B. Ford School*Clarence Randall Elementary School*Country Elementary School* Gaylord Intermediate Elementary*Nelson School*Polk Elementary*Port Hope Community Schools*Smith Early Childhood Center*Volney Smith Education Center*MINNESOTA*Lowell Elementary School*OakWood Elementary*MISSOURI*Christian Ott Elementary*Crocker R-II Schools*Duchesne Elementary*Macon Elementary School* Madison Tri -A*Melcher*Pershing Accelerated School*Sherwood Elementary School* Swinney Elementary*Sycamore Hills Elementary*MISSISSIPPI*Hancock North Central Elementary School*Hopewell Elementary School*Lucedale Intermediate School*Webster Elementary School*MONTANA*Monforton School*NORTH CAROLINA*Aversboro Elementary School*Bolton Elementary School*Elkin Elementary*J.S. Waters School* Nathanael Greene Elementary School*Pasquotank Elementary School*Pate Gardner School*Weldon Elementary School*NORTH DAKOTA*Jefferson Elementary* NEBRASKA*Elliott Elementary School*Northfield Elementary School*Saratoga Elementary*Wauneta/Palisade School*NEW HAMPSHIRE*Maple Street School* Westmoreland School*NEW JERSEY*Academy Street School*Alexander Street School* Cornelia F. Bradford*Estell Manor School District*Littlebrock School*Mount Horeb School* Norwood Public School*Quinton Township School*Riverside Elementary School*Robert Fulton School* Washington Elementary*Washington School*NEW MEXICO*Bilingual Early Childhood Center*Bluewater Elementary*La Union Elementary School*Sunshine Elementary School*Tony Serna Elementary School*Union Elementary School*NEVADA* E. W. Fritsch Elementary* NEW YORK*Belmont Elementary School*Community School #53*ECC 17*Ellicott Road Elementary*Jackson Main School*Krieger Elementary School*Ocean Avenue School*P.S. 152*P.S. 203*Public School 13*T.J. Connor Elementary*Tangier Smith Elementary School*The Francisco Oller School C.S. 61*The Kennedy-King Accelerated School*Westmere Elementary School*OHIO*Beechwoods Elementary School*Duxberry Park School*East Elementary*Furry Elementary*Grayhill Elementary School*Harrison Cultural Community Center*Heberle Elementary School*Henry W. Longfellow School*Holly Hill Elementary* Irving Elementary School*Madison Park Elementary*Oakdale Elementary*Pleasant Grove Elementary School*South Elementary School*Washington Elementary*Wilson Elementary School*Winton Woods Middle School*McGuffey Elementary*OKLAHOMA*Allen Elementary*Cimarron Middle School*Jonas Salk Elementary*Washington Irving Elementary School*Watts K-8*OREGON*LaPine Elementary School*PENNSYLVANIA*Charles R. Drew School*Clay Elementary School*Clinton Elementary School*Conemaugh Valley Elementary*D. B. Birney Elementary*Dr. Ethel D. Allen*East Taylor Elementary School*Eshleman Elementary School (Penn Manor)*Foose Elementary School*H. B. Hackett *Herbert Hoover Elementary School*Pitcairn Elementary*Pollock School*Pottstown Middle School*Second District Elementary School*RHODE ISLAND*John F. Kennedy School* M.V. Cunningham Elementary School*William J. Underwood Elementary School*SOUTH CAROLINA*Allendale Elementary School*Blythe Academy*Central Holiness Church Center*Colleton Middle Campus A*Jonesville Elementary School*Mayesville Elementary School*Ravenel Elementary*TENNESSEE*Bordeaux Elementary School*Fairmount* Kenwood Elementary School*Lakewood Elementary School*McKissack Accelerated Middle*Michie Elementary School*Smithville Elementary School*West View School*TEXAS*Anderson Miu Elementary*Bliss Elementary*Calwood Elementary*Cavazos Elementary*Cedar Creek Elementary*Claude Curtsinger Elementary School*E. M. Daggett Elementary*Edward Titche Elementary School*F. O. Roosevelt School*Farragut Intermediate School*Flower Mound Elementary*Foerster Elementary Street*Forest Trail Elementary* Green Valley Elementary School*John G. Tower Elementary*Katy Elementary School*La Union Elementary School*Lamar Elementary School*Landrum Elementary*Liberty Elementary School*MacArthur Elementary School*MacGregor Music & Science Elementary *Madisonville Elementary School*Monahan Elementary School*Muenster Elementary*Omar N. Bradley Elementary*Reagan Elementary School*Rio Vista Elementary*Robert E. Lee Senior High School*Runge Elementary School*Shackleford Elementary*Sleepy Hollow School*South Euless Elementary*South Ward Elementary School*Stephen F. Austin Elementary School*Thomas Elementary*W.H. Burnett Elementary School*Wilmer Elementary School*Wilson Elementary School*UTAH*Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints*Robert Frost Elementary School*VERMONT*Leicester Central School*Summer St School*VIRGINIA*Bonnie Brae Coleman*Falling Spring Elementary School*Legislative Activity*Mount Eagle Elementary School* Westmore Elementary School*Woodville Elementary School* VIRGIN ISLANDS*Edith L. Williams Elementary* WASHINGTON*Canyon Creek Elementary School*Cedarhurst Elementary*John A. Forrest School*Lake Quinault School*Medical Lake Elementary*Mullenix Ridge Elementary School* Shelton View Elementary*South Hiram Elementary School*Southside School* WEST VIRGINIA*Cammack Elementary School*Fairplain Elementary School* Flemington Elementary School*Hamilin Elementary School*Meadows Elementary School* Nutter Fort Intermediate Center*Spanishburg School*Tunnelton-Denver Elementary School* Union Elementary*White Sulphur Elementary School*WISCONSIN* Cashton Public School*Honey Creek Elementary*Twenty-First Street School*Urban Waldorf School*WYOMING*Tongue River Elementary

Join the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education...

Family-School Partnership Promise

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

Coming together 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 students a better education and a 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; organize tutoring and other opportunities to improve student learning; and support families to be included in the school decision-making process.
Our families will monitor student attendance, homework completion and television watching; take the time to talk with and listen to their children; become acquainted with teachers, administrators and school staff; read with younger children and share a good book with a teen; volunteer in school when possible; and participate in the school decision-making process.
Promote effective two-way communication between families and schools, by schools reducing educational jargon and breaking down cultural and language barriers and by families staying in touch with the school.
Provide opportunities for families to learn how to help their children succeed in school and for school staff to work with families.
Support family-school efforts to improve student learning by reviewing progress regularly and strengthening cooperative actions.

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

 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: ____________________

Send to: Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, 600 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC, 20202-8173 or fax to 202-401-3036 to receive your Family-School Partnership Promise Certificate.

Back to School Events Planned Nationwide

The national America Goes Back to School initiative is being replicated on a local level in Chicago. Led by the Chicago Academy of Sciences, a steering committee of businesses and community and school groups will coordinate a year-long series of events to promote family and community involvement in education. Adopting a different theme each month, the committee will host activities such as Parent Science Fair Workshops, College Nights, an Adopt-A-Senior Program, a Take Your Community to Work Day, and a Spring Clean-up effort.
During the month of September, passengers on United Airlines will view a video showing examples of how employers and all caring citizens can support improved learning in their local schools. As a member of both the Employers' Promise for Learning and the America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! steering committees, United volunteered to show the video as a way of encouraging people from all walks of life to make a commitment to support children's learning and increase family involvement in education.
Even before the bell rings for the 1996-97 school year, many Hardee's restaurants in the Southeast are getting involved with their local schools to improve learning for all students. As a new partner in the America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! initiative, Hardee's franchise restaurants, owned and operated by Flagstar Companies, Inc., will host Benefit Nights throughout the school year to support local schools in achieving new levels of excellence and in acquiring new technology for their students. Flagstar Hardee's are concentrated primarily in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Emphasizing the need for religious communities to support children's learning, the United Methodist Church recently released a report, Education: The Gift of Hope. In this report, sent to 40,000 churches across the country, the Methodist leaders challenge local churches to become involved in and support education within their local communities.
The Educational Publishing Group, a Partnership for Family Involvement in Education member, is launching the Family Education Network on September 12th as an America Goes Back to School event. The Family Education Network is the only education-based family online service that combines both online and traditional media to provide a wide range of information and activities for parents and children. The network gives parents the tools needed to become more active in the education of their children. The address is http://www.familyeducation.com/home/.
Committed to encouraging Family/School involvement in the America Goes Back to School: Get Involved! initiative, the National PTA is launching a nationwide campaign. The National PTA will be sending the Family/School Partnership Promise to its 27,000 local units, encouraging its members to have their schools sign on to the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. In addition, the packet will include a copy of the America Goes Back to School Partner's Activity Guide and a bookmark featuring student art from PTA's Reflections Program. The National PTA will also feature the Family-School Partnership Promise and America Goes Back to School information on its World Wide Web site.

-###-

[Table of Contents] [ED HomePage]

Last Updated -- August 5, 1996, (pjk)