This study focused on parent, family, and community involvement in middle-grade education. It addressed three reform themes in the area of middle-grade school/family and community partnerships: (1) What are the larger and local environments within which parent, family, and community involvement operate? How do these contextual factors influence those programs? (2) What are the roles that parents, families, and community and business members assume in the education of their children? How are those roles facilitated? What key elements are specific to these areas? and (3) What are the effects of promising programs on parents, students, schools, and the community? How are these effects assessed or determined? Findings show that challenges can create opportunities for family involvement; strong relationships form the core of family and community involvement; responsibilities and decision making need to be shared among all participants; sustained family and community involvement depends on active advocacy by leaders; and active partnerships require a system of support to sustain them. Implications for policymakers include a focus on success for all students as the core of policy for education reform, whereby school, family, and community partnerships are supported. Appendix A contains references, and Appendix B contains a bibliography of current products. (RT)