Parent Involvement As a Collaborative Process

1. Parent Involvement As a Collaborative Process

2. Parent Involvement As a Collaborative Process The fourth Webinar in a Parent Involvement Webinar Series Provided by the Illinois State Board of Education in partnership with the Academic Development Institute

3. Collaboration Collaboration: A dynamic process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals. It is more than the intersection of common goals seen in a co-operative venture. It is a deep, collective, determination to reach an identical objective.

4. Our Agenda • Why is Collaboration Important? • Schools Collaborating with Families • Families Collaborating with Schools • Schools Facilitating Collaboration Between Families • Schools Collaborating with Schools • Putting it all Together • Wrap Up

5. Why is Collaboration Important?

6. Why is Collaboration Important? • Provides a joint strategic framework • Provides opportunities to enlist and engage others in a shared goal • Provides opportunities to strategically augment student learning experiences • Moves shared visions into focused actions • Brings continuity to learning processes

7. School-Family Collaboration

8. School-Family Collaboration • To improve parent – child interactions at home • To build family routines that support learning • To elevate family expectations for student success • To help families understand their own significance in their children’s academic success

9. School-Family Collaboration • To stand ready when help is needed • Offering additional assistance • Offering additional resources • To provide opportunities for families to participate at school • To provide an atmosphere where families feel welcome and supported • To support collaboration through policy • Compact • School Parent Involvement Policy

10. Family-School Collaboration

11. Family-School Collaboration • To communicate openly with teachers about concerns and student progress • Volunteer to work at the school or in the classroom • Participate in family activities at the school

12. Family-School Collaboration • To communicate to their children that education is important • In words • In actions • To establish a study place and time for students at home • To be sure children are prepared for the school day every day

13. Schools Facilitating Family-Family Collaboration

14. Schools Facilitating Collaboration of Families with Families • Family Leadership Team • Working to engage families • Working to organize school activities for families • Parent Resource Center • Offer meeting space for parent groups • Provides materials and resources on parenting topics

15. Schools Facilitating Collaboration of Families with Families • Parent Education Opportunities • That support student success • That support student emotional growth and development • Peer Support Groups • Offering a network of support for parental concerns • Offering opportunities to gain parental emotional and social support

16. Schools Collaborating with Schools

17. Schools Collaborating with Schools • To provide continuity of best practices throughout the student’s academic career • Through continuity of School Compact • To provide continuity of parental expectations and opportunities through transitions • Through the District Parent Involvement Policy • Through the District Improvement Plan • To share organizational learning experiences and best practices

18. Putting it All Together

19. Putting it All Together • Four key elements in fostering collaborative relationships Approach Attitude Atmosphere Actions

20. Approach “Building a partnership is a complex process that does not follow a ‘cookbook’ approach…” The process must be approached with care based on a guiding philosophy that supports meaningful long-term relationships In a way that embraces the values of home and school in constructing educational experiences for children And acknowledges families’ value and unique knowledge and skills

21. Attitude “Attitudes are the perceptions that families and schools have of one another…” One that identifies strengths in partners and focuses on these strengths One that assumes a joint responsibility for the students’ development and education

22. Atmosphere “Atmosphere is the overall climate set for families and educators…” One that fosters trust Where families and schools share responsibility for children’s academic success And communicate openly with one another in a continual effort to coordinate collaborative efforts

23. Actions “Actions that are not merely activities that include families in a passive manner…” That move from “event” focused activities which create only family/school intersections That join families and schools on a path to the same destination And are intended to become long-term behaviors that include families in their children’s educational process every day

24. Thank You for Joining Us Today This concludes the 2010-2011 Parent Involvement Series You may view all of the Webinars in this series by visiting the TOOL BOX at www.IllinoisParents.org

25. Coming in May Regional Parent Involvement Summit Series 1 of 2 Title I District Teams and School Teams are encouraged to attend  Oak Lawn - May 5, 2011 Naperville - May 6, 2011 Springfield - May 9, 2011 Mt. Vernon - May 1o, 2011 Watch for coming announcements

26. Today’s Presenters Illinois State Board of Education Joseph Banks, ISBE Chicago Gail Buoy, ISBE Springfield Academic Development Institute Reatha Owen, Director of Families and Schools

27. Cited Works Redding, S. (2002). Parents and Learning. Lincoln, IL: Academic Development Institute. Cowan, R., Swearer, S., & Sheridan, S. (2004).Home-School Collaboration.Lincoln, NE