Under the No Child Left Behind act, parents have more power than they ever had. This Parent Leadership Associates toolkit is designed to help them make the most of it -- as teachers, supporters, advocates and decision-makers in their children's schools. Among the recommendations is asking schools important questions, including: how do you know our children are safe? What will the school do to help if your child is falling behind? What does it take to apply for college, and what options are there to help you?

Serious fundraising, long a private school specialty, is increasingly common in public schools as budget cuts threaten valued programs. A tireless fundraiser herself, Beyond the Bake Sale author Jean Joachim says that from auctions to bake sales to comedy shows, sustained fundraising efforts can help build a strong school community.

No one has better insight into the needs of children with developmental disabilities than those children themselves, and their families. Leanna Skarnulis reports on a Texas program that trains family members and individuals with disabilities to be persuasive and persistent advocates.

This Ounce of Prevention Foundation brochure summarizes what we know about the early emotional development of young children, what places them at risk, what signs to look for, and how policymakers can support early childhood mental health strategies that respond to the needs of children under five and their families.

To date, 11 U.S. states have included requirements for parent involvement in their education policies (using National PTA standards): Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon and Rhode Island.

This ACORN report about the No Child Left Behind education bill looks at two of the ways parents can participate-by arranging for supplemental services for their kids in schools that are "in improvement" and knowing more about teacher qualifications.

This booklet has tips for what parents can tell their children and what they can do to protect their children from abduction and exploitation.

As a teacher, a parent, and an expert on how to help children succeed in school and in life, Dorothy Rich has often spoken in praise of practice. But sometimes, Rich suggests in this column, urging a child to practice is not enough.

To ensure a healthy and happy holiday season for children, the American Academy of Pediatrics is offering safety tips to parents. The tips cover topics including toys and trees, as well as food preparation, fire prevention and safe visiting in others' homes.

Parent involvement is a good thing—but is it fair to make it a requirement for participating in enriched classrooms or special activities? The October 2002 Education Week article, "Rules of Engagement" looks at what happened when one child asked this question.