Information covering important topics for today's educators and parents. The booklet highlights ideas and programs that encourage businesses and families to work together for strong, safe schools with clear standards of achievement. The booklet points out economic reality - that quality schools are good for businesses, as are communities that support education and students who are successful. Thirty years of research is cited to show the link between education achievement and parental and community involvement, regardless of scio-economic levels. In one of the many examples of corporate support for education highlighted in this booklet, a hosiery manufacturer agreed to permit guidance counselors to visit the work sites twice a month.
Counselors come prepared with students' records, report cards and comments from teachers.
They meet with each parent for fifteen minutes, during which time the employee still receives pay. Spurred by the success of this program, the manufacturer now offers employees, who have been with the company more than five years, extra paid vacation days to be used for such things as going on school trips with their children and participating in other school activities. A matrix correlates a range of employer policies geared toward education, including flexible schedules, support for parenting programs, and school improvement efforts, with fourteen organizations that offer a wide range of practices that encourage family and employee involvement. Contact information is given for all organizations featured in this publication. References are also included.