This document discusses the importance of school, family, and community partnerships. It provides definitions and theoretical models of effective partnerships. Six types of involvement are outlined, including parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community. Challenges and solutions are presented for each type of involvement. The document also discusses action teams, conducting an inventory of present practices, developing a multi-year plan, and continuing the planning process to strengthen partnerships.

1. Parent Engagement for Successful PartnershipsBy: Serenity KeltonMembership & Programs DirectorTexas Association of Partners in Education

2. Texas Association of Partners in EducationTAPE is a state-wide membership association made up of businesses, institutions of higher education, school districts, volunteers and community organizations.We provide:Best practices for partnership engagementModels of effective programs/partnerships that may be replicatedResourcesProfessional development Networking opportunities

3. How can Educators and Parents STREGTHEN and SUSTAIN HEALTHY SCHOOLS?What do we mean by healthy schools?We mean a safe and nurturing PLACE.A welcoming environment for ALL.A “Partnership School”A “family-like” school and “school-like” familiesAn EXCELLENT school that students, teachers, and parents want to attend and support.A place where students develop to their full potential and produce positive results (Academically, physically, emotionally)Other ideas?

4. What is important to know about school, family and community partnerships?Not only THAT partnerships contribute to good schools and successful studentsBut also WHAT is needed in and excellent partnership program?And HOW to organize and sustain high- quality and effective programs of family and community involvement

5. Theoretical ModelOverlapping Spheres of Influence of Family, School, and Community on Children’s LearningExternal StructureForce BForce CExperience, Experience,Philosophy, Philosophy, Practices of FamilyPractices of School Force DExperience,Philosophy,Practices of CommunityForce ATime/Age/Grade LevelSchoolFamilyCommunityCommunity

6. The Keys To Successful School-Family-Community PartnershipsEpstein’s Six Types of InvolvementType 1,Parenting – Assist families with parenting and child-rearing skills, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support children as students at each age and grade level. Assist schools in understanding families.Type 2,Communicating – Communicate with families about school programs and student progress through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communications. Type 3,Volunteering – Improve recruitment, training, work and schedules to involve families as volunteers and audiences at school or in other locations to support students and school programs.Type 4,Learning at Home – Involve families with their children in learning activities at home, including homework and other curriculum-related activities and decisions.Type 5, Decision Making – Include families as participants in school decisions, governance and advocacy through PTO/PTA, school councils, committees, action teams, and other parent organizationsType 6, Collaborating with Community – Coordinate resources and services for students, families, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups, and provide services to the community.National Network of Partnership Schools Johns Hopkins University

7. Meeting the challengesChallenges – Type 1PARENTINGProvide information to all families who want it or who need it, not just to the few who attend workshops or meetings at the school

8. Enable families to share information with schools about background, culture, children’s talents, goals and needsRedefinitions“Workshop is not only a meeting on a topic at the “school building” at a particular time but also the content of a topic to be viewed, heard or read at convenient times and varied locations”

9. Challenges – Type 2COMMUNICATINGMake all memos, notices and other print and non print communications clear and understandable for all familiesObtain ideas from families to improve the design and content of major communications such as newsletters, report cards, and conference schedulesEstablish easy-to-use two-way channels for communications from school to home and home to schoolRedefinitions“Communications about school programs and student progress” are not only from school-to-home but also home-to-school, with varied two way channels of communication that connect schools, families, students and the community

10. Challenges-Type 3VOLUNTEERINGRecruit widely for volunteers so that all families know that their time and talents are welcome

11. Make flexible schedules for volunteers, assemblies and events to enable working parents to participate

12. Recognize parent and other volunteers for their assistance at school and in other locationsRedefinitions“Volunteer” not only means those who come to school during the day, but also those who support school goals and children’s learning in any way, at any place and at any time.

13. Challenges-Type 4LEARNING AT HOMEDesign and implement interactive homework for which students take responsibility to discuss important class work and ideas with their families

14. Involve families and their children in all curriculum-related decisionsRedefinitions“Homework” not only means work that students do alone, but also, interactive activities that students share with others at home, linking school work to real life“Help” at home means how families encourage, listen, praise, guide and discuss schoolwork with their children, not only how they “teach” children school subjects.

15. Challenges-Type 5DECISION MAKINGInclude parent leaders from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and other groups in the school

16. Offer training to enable parent leaders to develop skills to serve as representatives of other families

17. Include student representatives along with parents on decision-making committeesRedefinitions“Decision making” means a process of partnership – sharing views, solving problems and taking action on shared goals, not an endless power struggle.Parent “leader” means a representative who shares information with and obtains ideas from other families and community members, not just a parent who attends school meetings.