Recognizing that parents want to be actively involved in areas that most directly affect their children, the president reorganized the PTA, created a new mission statement, established a parent council in each grade, and developed community resource teams to distribute monthly newsletters and to gather support from the entire community. A community parade led to the rally itself, which drew a crowd 10,000 strong. Teachers flip burgers and recruit tutors in Macomb, Michigan. This informal setting helped teachers and parents break the ice, and with community members in attendance, the event set a positive tone for the new school year. Parents and community members used the gathering as an opportunity to volunteer to be learning partners for students who need extra help during the year.
Students help students meet entrance exam in Illinois.
The Chicago Public Schools Bridges Program pairs high school students with eighth-graders who have failed the high school entrance exam required for entry into public high school. For six weeks during the summer of 1996, these eighth-graders received tutoring in math and reading from 25 Lourdes High School students, who drew upon skills learned in workshops as well as their own special gifts and talents. Because of the positive impact of this tutoring, the program continues throughout the school year. Talking it up for literacy in San Diego. At a large community meeting in the fall of 1996, San Diego, California, kicked off a year-long literacy effort.