Overview
This lecture discusses the importance of family and school partnerships in education, focusing on strategies to engage all families and ensure systemic, equitable involvement across school districts.
The Importance of Family and School Partnerships
- Research has shown both families and schools are crucial influences on children's educational success.
- The goal is to help all schools mobilize family involvement, not just engage families who already participate.
- High family involvement correlates with better student outcomes, but the aim is for all children to achieve equally.
Shifting the Research and Practice Question
- The question moved from "Are families important?" to "How can all schools actively involve all families?"
- Implementation involves organizing schools to systematically reach out to every family, not just the most involved.
Parent Leadership and School Readiness
- Training parents as leaders is valuable, but ineffective unless schools are prepared to collaborate and utilize parent input.
- Parent leadership should work alongside teachers, principals, and reach out to less engaged families.
District and State-Level Leadership
- District leaders play a key role in ensuring all schools, not just a few, develop a culture of partnership.
- Consistent leadership and clear guidance are needed for implementation across all grade levels.
Policy vs. Practice
- Connecticut has strong policies for family and community involvement, but there's often a gap between policy and practice.
- Effective partnership requires clear structures, including distinct action teams separate from school governance councils.
Action Teams for Partnerships
- Each school should have an Action Team for Partnerships composed of teachers, parents, administrators, students (in high school), and community partners.
- The team’s task is to actively reach out and engage all families, reporting to school governance councils.
Leadership and Capacity-Building
- Schools need a named leader for partnerships, similar to roles like math or reading coaches.
- Leadership, teamwork, and intentional planning are key to effective partnerships.
Eight Essential Elements for Effective Partnerships
- Elements include strong leadership, teamwork, structured action teams, annual written plans, broad implementation, community involvement, progress evaluation, and adjustments based on results.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Family-School Partnership — collaboration between families and schools to support student success.
- Action Team for Partnerships — a school-based team focused on engaging all families.
- Governance Council — a school committee with advisory and oversight roles, distinct from partnership teams.
- District Leadership — administrators who coordinate and support partnership strategies in multiple schools.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Ensure every school forms an Action Team for Partnerships with diverse membership.
- Develop and implement annual partnership action plans tied to student learning goals.
- Evaluate partnership progress yearly and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Continue leadership and in-service training for teachers, principals, and district staff.