'Allies in Education'

By Richard W. Riley

As I visit schools across America, the family-school partnerships I've seen in action have convinced me that there are many ways to engage parents and families as partners in the education of our children.

In Las Vegas, I observed parents running a publishing center where students publish their own writings and illustrations. In Green Bay, Wis., parents and grandparents regularly tutor students who need extra help during the school day and after school.

Recently, in Honolulu, I saw grandparents from many countries sharing their culture, arts, and history with their grandchildren in the classroom. The list could go on and on, and, in all of these cases, one thing is certain: To have effective schools, we need involved families...