This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Program proposal outlines methodology and research directed towards the development of a web-technology structure that will facilitate educational collaboration among teachers, parents, and students in middle schools and high schools. This Parent-Teacher Communications System (PTComS) will consist of a user-friendly web-based database system that will allow middle and high school parents to access information about school curriculum, and statistical information about specific class and student progress. The web-based interface will also support message forums, email notification and list services, and real time private parent-teacher conferencing. Security of information within the proposed system will be handled by assigning users level specific access and by having public and private sections of the database. The scope of this phase I project entails defining, designing, producing, and testing a basic prototype model to show the feasibility of the concept. The proposed product will significantly aid parents in obtaining information and in monitoring the progress of their children's schoolwork. It will also aid the implementing school by reducing and streamlining work required for parent outreach, and will help schools achieve the national education goal of promoting parental involvement in education to improve student achievement and performance.
