This publication contains two reports describing the development and beginning evaluations of two separate programs of the Baltimore (Maryland) School and Family Connections Project designed to increase parents' involvement in their children's learning in urban middle grades schools. The first report, "Reactions of Parents, Students, and Teachers to Middle School Orientation Days" (S. C. Herrick and J. L. Epstein), examines the reactions of 101 parents, 321 students, and 20 teachers to the Orientation Days program at Hampstead Hill Middle School (Maryland), which was designed to improve the school's communication with parents of new sixth-graders. The second report, "Reactions of Parents to School Newsletters in the Middle Grades" (J. L. Epstein and S. C. Herrick), examines the reactions of parents (n=70 families) to the Parents and Teachers Newsletter at Booker T. Washington Middle School (Maryland), which was initiated to make parents feel welcome at the school and provide them with information about school programs and workshops held at the school. Both programs were successful as initial efforts in reaching and involving families of middle grades students, but they have considerable room for improvement. The programs are being revised and extended in response to their evaluations. Statistical data are provided in three tables. Three appendices to the first report present results from parents, teachers, and students. Two appendices to the second report contain the survey and parent responses. (Author/SLD)