Reading Room Publications

The Community Education Journal, published quarterly, is a forum for the exchange of ideas and practices in community education. Theoretical discussion, research projects, and descriptions of successful programs are provided in this professional journal to give food for thought and examples of model programs for replication. Full members receive the Community Education Journal as a benefit of membership. Annual subscriptions are available for $25; $28.00 for foreign (surface mail); $35.00 for foreign (air mail).

Current issues of The Community Education Journal are always available in bulk at $5.00 each for 10-29 copies; $3.00 ea. for 30 or more. Single issues are available for $7.50. Back issues also are available. Call 703-359-8973 or e-mail the NCEA office at ncea@ncea.com to determine quantities.

Following is a sampling of recent, popular articles for you to download.

Vol. XXVII, Nos. 1 & 2, 1999/Winter 2000, pps. 7-11

21st Century Community Learning Centers: Do They Affect Student Achievement?
by Everette E. Nance, Debra H. Moore, and Cornelius F. Lewis
Because of the high interest in after-school programs and the amount of resources being applied to such efforts nationally evaluation of student outcomes has become a central issue, especially among school officials who view these types of initiatives as supplemental and complimentary to the regular school curriculum. This is one of the first quantitative studies to examine whether 21st Century programs affect student achievement.
Download this article (46KB MS Word Document)

Vol. XXVII, Nos. 1 & 2, 1999/Winter 2000, pps. 21-25

After-School Programs: A Beginning, Not an End!
by Steve R. Parson
We must continually remind local, state, and national leaders that Community Education is not just on of its, but a sum of the whole. However, today, the odds of being able to expand funding under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program to include initiatives other than after-school programs are very slim.
Download this article (60KB MS Word Document)

Vol. XXV, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1997/Winter 1998, pps. 5-9

Across the Country: Community Schools' Involvement with Service Learning
by Kathy Gibson Carter and H. Larry Winecoff
As community education and community schools have evolved in many directions, two core concepts have remained constant: (1) schools should be directly involved in community problem solving and improvement, and (2) students need to be involved in "real life" applications of the content being taught. The difficulty, in many situations, has been developing methodologies and strategies which integrate these basic concepts into the curriculum of the school. Service learning provides such a vehicle.
Download this article. (34.5 KB MS Word Document)

Vol. XXV, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1997/Winter 1998, pps. 19-22

Community Schools and Service-Learning: What Research Tells Us About the Relationship Between the Two
by Robert Shumer
The implications from this research for service-learning and community schools is that they have common agendas and, in fact, can mutually benefit each other. In examples where community education staff worked as service learning coordinators, both programs improved.
Download this article. (38.5K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXV, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1997/Winter 1998, pps. 14-18

Service Learning: A Powerful Strategy for Educational Reform
by William W. Denton
Through service learning , local community school administrators can improve articulation between K-12 and community school programs and help facilitate school reform.
Download this article. (46K, MS Word Document)

Vol. XXV (should have been printed as Vol. XXIV), Nos. 3 & 4, Spring/Summer 1997, pps. 9-11

The Full Service School: A Management and Organizational Structure for 21st Century Schools
by Donald MacKenzie and Vernon Rogers
In addition to providing schooling experiences for children, full service schools also join with community organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide other services to the community on the school site or nearby. Learn about a successful model in Florida.
Download this article. (33K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXV (should have been printed as Vol. XXIV), Nos. 3 & 4, Spring/Summer 1997, pps. 5-8

School Reform, Community Education, and the Problem of Institutional Culture
by Theodore J. Kowalski
The full potential of community education and school reform will not be realized unless the practitioners who lead both efforts understand (a) the nature of school culture, (b) the reasons why culture is a change barrier, and (c) why a new strategy is needed to overcome this obstruction. Download this article. (41K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXIV, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1996/Winter 1997, pps. 12–15

Farrell Schools, Model for the 21st Century
by Bette McDevitt
From one of Pennsylvania's "Stressed Seven School Districts" emerges a model program of education and services for children, their families, and their communities. Download this article. (31K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXIII, No. 3, Spring 1996, pps. 23–26

Citizenship, Community Service, and University-Based Community Schools
by Marie K. Bogle and Ira Harkavy
The West Philadelphia Improvement Corps (WEPIC) is a year-round program involving 4,500 children, their parents, and community members in education and cultural programs, recreation, job training, community improvement, and service activities.
Download this article. (36.5K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXIII, No. 3, Spring 1996, pps.19–22

Community Schools — The Birmingham Alabama Way
by Peggy F. Sparks
Birmingham was the first school system in Alabama to implement a Community Education program, and today it remains the largest in the state because we have learned to "educate the whole community in the community's business."
Download this article. (30.5K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXIII, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1995/Winter 1996, pps. 26–32

 Engaging the Community in Education Reform
by Ernesto Cortes, Jr.
Rather than being included as just one part of a strategy to improve public education, community engagement should be at the center of the effort.
Download this article. (48.5K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXIII, Nos. 1 & 2, Fall 1995/Winter 1996, pps. 6–8

 School and Community
by John W. Gardner
There are four main resources for creating a sense of community; one of them is the schools.
Download this article. (38K MS Word Document)

Vol. XXI, No. 3, Spring 1994, pps. 4–7

 One Stop Family Service Center: The Community School
by George Jeffers and Margaret Olebe
Families and their circumstances must be seen as part of a school's mandate to educate. This can be done by recognizing what families in a particular community need to thrive and by using the school as an umbrella location for the delivery of these services. Download this article. (42K MS Word Document)