Promoting academic success and preventing disruptive behavior disorders through community partnership

Research suggests that children's educational achievement can be improved by addressing issues of aggression and disruptive behavior, because academic difficulties and problem behaviors create a cycle in which each problem exacerbates the other. The relationship between academic development and behavior problems begins early, suggesting that programs to address these issues should start with young children. Furthermore, efforts to improve achievement are most likely to succeed when they focus both on children's academic skills and on their interest in academic activities. As part of the research, programs at home and at school are being coordinated and community partnerships are being developed to test these approaches and facilitate children's healthy development.