Family-School-Community+Partnership

The importance of Family Involvement The evidence is now beyond dispute. When schools and families work toether to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but also througout life!

Parenting: promote and support effective parenting practices The term "parent involvement" is used to describe participation by a child's primary caretaker(s)- whether that is a single mom, two parents, grandparents, foster parents, or an older sibling. More broadly, many parent involvement programs also address the needs of the family and include younger siblings and others' roles in creating school success.

When families are involved in the student's education students exhibit higher test scores, better grades, positive attitudes and motivation, higher levels of homework completion, better attendance, at-risk behaviors decrease, and when students report feeling support from both home and school, they show increased self-confidence, feel school is more important, and display a desire to do better in class work as a result.

Schools help families build parenting strengths and skills, and teachers work to understand families. Teachers strengthen parent networks and support systems so families can care for and guide their children better.

Teacher develops effective ways to communicate to families and create ways for families to communicate with the schools. Families feel empowered as connected members of the school community when schools create welcoming outreach activities and programs.

Schools must gain participation from all families in children's learning at home and school and from the community at large. Schools provide information for families on how they can help children learn, including skills students need to do well in each class at school, helping with homework and monitoring school progress, and making decisions about courses and curriculum. Teachers also respond to families' ideas and questions for encouraging learning at home, meeting families' needs, and involving families in all aspects of school. Invite families to share power with school staff in making decisions about practices, policies, and programs. Develop parent leaders by empowering them to advocate for children.

Coordinate resources and services for families, students, and the school with businesses, agencies, and other groups, and provide services back to the community. Effective partnerships based on understanding the cultural, socio-economic, health, social, and recreational needs of school families. Schools provides information on community activities to strengthen student skills and talents, including after school and summer programs. As a class or school, have students, families and staff provide services to the comunity. Among the possibilities are recycling, art, and music or drama performances for seniors.

Families Want...

To feel welcome at school. To receive more information on how to help their children succeed.

Positive feedback and personalized contact about their children whenever possible.

To be partners in the process of educating children, with timely notification of problems.