ED467 082 - School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action. Second Edition

Despite strong agreement on the importance of parent involvement, most schools, districts, and states still need help in developing comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships. This revised handbook translates lessons learned over 20 years of research and fieldwork into practical solutions for program development. The book presents a research-based framework and field-tested tools to help leaders understand six types of family and community involvement; create an Action Team for Partnerships; plan and implement family and community involvement activities to reach school goals for student success; mobilize community resources; encourage progress; evaluate resul'ts; and continue to improve plans, practices, and programs over time. Chapter 1 summarizes the theory and research on which the handbook is based. Chapter 2 provides examples illustrating how the approach works in various schools and communities. Chapter 3 provides guidance in organizing an effective Action Team for Partnerships. Chapter 4 supplies materials to help workshop leaders prepare workshops for educators, parents, and community partners. Chapter 5 supplies charts and diagrams that can be used as transparencies and handouts in presentations and workshops. Chapter 6 summarizes research and practical approaches to family and community involvement in secondary schools. Chapter 7 outlines state and district leadership activities to increase expertise on school, family, and community partnerships. Chapter 8 describes two partnership approaches as part of the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) approach. Chapter 9 includes tools for developing long-term goals, writing action plans, conducting evaluations, and assessing partnership progress. Chapter 10 shows how to join other schools, districts, and states in the National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University to.