A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

In traveling the country over the past two and a half years, I have heard most often from teachers that family participation is the single most crucial factor in whether their students succeed in the classroom. Thirty years of educational research confirms this belief. When family and community members are directly involved in what their children are learning in school, children achieve better grades and higher test scores, have higher graduation rates, and are more likely to enroll in higher education.

To reinforce this vital message, we are kicking off "America Goes Back to School: A Place for Families and the Community." Through this effort we are inviting parents and all caring Americans to go back to school and participate in activities that show how simple yet important it is to be involved in improving our schools.

"America Goes Back to School" is sponsored by the Family Involvement Partnership for Learning, a year-old coalition of more than 140 family, education, community, religious and business organizations. The Family Involvement Partnership for Learning is dedicated to improving children's learning through the development of family-school-community partnerships. "America Goes Back to School" will help to build and sustain those partnerships.

This back-to-school initiative will underscore that Americans share some basic priorities when it comes to educating their children: They want their students to learn the basics-- core academics--and common American values such as honesty and responsibility. They want to know that the schools their children attend are safe and drug-free. They want their children to have access to new technology in the classroom. They want schools to raise standards of achievement and discipline. They want schools to teach young people real life skills that prepare them for work and adulthood. And they want to make college accessible to deserving students.

The problem is that too many adults are unsure of what to do to make access to a quality education a reality for their young people. That's why I'm encouraging all Americans to make a commitment to reach out and get involved in their schools this year. Schools can't do it alone. They need partners.

We have enlisted some prominent partners to take part in "America Goes Back to School." Astronauts Jim Lovell and Charles Bolden, children's television star Shari Lewis, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, football star Joe Montana and tennis great Billie Jean King are just a few of the well-known Americans who will go back to school the week of September 11. They will be joined by members of President Clinton's Cabinet, members of the U.S. Marines and Navy, members of Congress, mayors, judges, business and community leaders, Americorps and returned Peace Corps volunteers, and state legislators nationwide. But the principal focus of "America Goes Back to School" is not just people in the public eye, but all people of public spirit.

What can engineers in Michigan, computer technicians in New York, and nurses in California do for their local schools? A lot! They can read to young children; provide internships for high school and college students; serve as tutors and mentors; assist teachers in the classroom; teach a master class; gather extra resources from the community for computers and other supplies; or organize parent patrols to ensure school safety. The list is endless.

Most important, by being a visible presence in and around the school, parents, grandparents, and community members send a valuable message to our students that their community cares about them and wants them to succeed in school and in life. In my book, that's the most important message we can send to our students.

Contact the school or college in your area and ask how you can help. It's time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and make a positive difference in our young people's lives.