This UNESCO monograph reports a study of the history and current state of parent schools in China, focusing on successes and problems with the parent school system. Section 1 describes China's response to the World Summit for Children, and details the study's aims, which are: (1) to understand family life and its roles; (2) understand the role and position of women in the family; (3) to ascertain the level of family education; (4) to find the best means for combining family, school, and social education; and (5) to promote the development of China's parent schools. Sources of data included government documents, monographs, and investigative studies dealing with family education in China; discussions and interviews with experts in the field; and on-site investigations at a family education school in China. Section 2 describes the social background of family education in China, including China's long tradition of valuing family education. Section 3 details the policy base for the birth of China's parent schools. Section 4 gives major characteristics of parent schools in China, including: (1) purpose; (2) organization and operation; (3) scope and funding; (4) content and courses; and (5) links between parent schools and compulsory education, social groups, and women's education. Section 5 analyzes the level of effectiveness of China's parent schools. Section 6 discusses current problems in China's parent school system, giving suggestions for improvement. Section 7 concludes the study, crediting China's parent school system with significant achievements over the past 10 years while still asserting that existing problems should not be ignored. Contains 26 references. (BC)