Changing Educational Practices: An Ethnographic Study of How Schools Have Changed

Federal funding of the National Head Start/Public School Transition Demonstration Project (NTP) is one of the ways in which the federal government has worked to put the National Education Goals into practice. South Dakota is one of the 31 sites that receive comprehensive NTP services. Family service...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Allen, Sharon M
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.04.1996
Subjects
Elementary Secondary Education
Family Programs
Family School Relationship
High Risk Students
Integrated Services
Preschool Education
Project Head Start
Public Schools
School Community Relationship
Social Services
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Summary:Federal funding of the National Head Start/Public School Transition Demonstration Project (NTP) is one of the ways in which the federal government has worked to put the National Education Goals into practice. South Dakota is one of the 31 sites that receive comprehensive NTP services. Family service coordinators (FSCs) provide services at the South Dakota Head Start/Public School Transition Demonstration Project (SDTP). This paper presents findings of an ethnography that identified barriers to and characteristics of successful implementation of NTP services. Data were gathered from observation; analysis of school and community documents; analysis of FSC journals; and a total of 300 interviews conducted with FSCs, principals, teachers, and parents. Barriers to implementation included resistance by some teachers or schools to change, communication problems, transportation, and dissemination of information to families. However, the program improved school-home communication, increased parental involvement in their children's education, and increased the use of developmentally appropriate practices. (Contains 51 references.) (LMI)