Community, School, and Parent Dynamics: A Synthesis of Literature and Activities.

Abstract

The clarion call to improve community, parent, and school interaction is being heard throughout the nation. Federal initiatives such as Strong Families, Strong Schools'. Building Community Partnerships for Learning (1994) and America Goes Back To School: A Place for Families and the Community (1995) are helping to amplify this call. From a demographic perspective the renewed emphasis on family and commu nity involvement is quite timely. School enrollment has been on the rise, and the 1997/1998 school year was projected to set a new enrollment record. The 53 million children passing through the school house gates in the United States will surpass the baby boom generation's peak mark set in 1971 (America Goes Back to School, 1995). Thomas J. Buttery is a For the United States to retain its role as a world professor and Patricia J. leader into the next century, and for communities to Anderson is an associate continue to prosper, or in some areas to regenerate, professor, both in the more individuals and organizations will need to Department of become involved in improving the learning experi Elementary and Middle ence for all children. Our society has simply become Grades Education at too complex for support entities to continue to func East Carolina University, tion independently. Those individuals, groups, and Greenville, North agencies that have traditionally worked in isolation Carolina. must acquire more cooperative behavior.