The present study revisits a subfield of environmental education: significant life experiences, which studies the influences that shape the development of environmental stewardship. In the present study, we examine the effect of various formative experiences on a group of adults and analyze the role of school, as a formative influence on the…

Using a sociopolitical perspective to understand the alignment of community values and school policies, we conducted focus groups in three geographically close but economically varied neighborhood in one Midwest urban area. The article presents findings related to constituent values, social capital, and school policies, including charter school…

Inaction to address housing segregation in metropolitan areas has resulted in persistently high levels of residential segregation. As the Supreme Court has recently limited school districts' voluntary integration efforts, this article considers the role of residential segregation in maintaining racially isolated schools, namely what is known…

This review explores the conceptualization and measurement of neighborhood and institutional relationships related to children's educational outcomes in neighborhood effects research. The review's analysis first summarizes early statements about neighborhood and school relationships within the field. The analysis next situates neighborhood and…

Given the importance of postsecondary institutions partnering with community agencies and groups to meet a variety of essential goals such as access and success of students, this study investigated one such partnership with the aim of attempting to understand the experience of community-led partnerships and the role of culture in partnerships…

Urban life comes with diverse social, environmental, health care, and education problems. However, for many of the people seeking better economic, social, and education opportunities, the big city still holds a special allure. Jazz singer Frank Sinatra sings in "New York, New York" that he wants to "wake up in a city that never sleeps/and find I'm…

A college-based program that combines training, direct support, and technical assistance was found to produce significant gains in bonding and bridging social capital and key political attributes among low-income, minority, and immigrant groups organizing to enhance their power to influence public school politics and policies in New York City.…

Results of the Black Metropolis Model (BMM) of service learning are analyzed and illustrated in this article to explain how to "put the learning in service learning." There are many soup kitchens or nontransforming models of service learning where students are asked to serve needy populations but internalize and learn little about the service in…

Reviews the current theoretical and empirical literature on community involvement in schools, describing different rationales for community involvement. Discusses four major forms of school-community partnerships (business, university, service learning, and school-linked service integration) and factors influencing their implementation and…

Examined school officials' efforts to implement family and community involvement activities to reduce the number of disciplinary actions and ensure school climates focused on learning. Longitudinal data from elementary and secondary schools indicated that regardless of schools' prior discipline rates, the more family and community involvement…

Describes a collaboration between a local youth arts organization, mobile home community residents, 6th grade students and teachers, professional artists, local agencies and businesses, and community members to create a playground and public arts space in a diverse, low-income mobile home community. Overall, students gained awareness of problems,…

Suggests that arts education is crucial for marginalized students, especially those living in rural poverty, and discusses issues facing rural students and their similarities to urban problems. Examines the potential of arts education to address these concerns, especially the power of arts organizations to build community, citizenship, and…

Presents the case study of a collaborative partnership between the Dayton Public Schools (Ohio), the Dayton Education Association (union), and community constituencies in providing elementary education options for students. Outlines lessons learned in the establishment of the World of Wonder Accelerated Primary School. (SLD)

Reviews the historical background of special education as a major factor in the placement of many children with disabilities, and examines data that reveal a disproportionately large number of students in these programs are children of color. Suggestions are offered to help lead to a more equitable placement of all children in appropriate…

Examines the function of public education in contemporary cities and argues that public education needs to be seen and function as a basic industry: an industry that creates forward and backward linkages, multiples investments, and attracts people and capital. It suggests urban schools should be seen as being builders of modern cities, not…