Developing Effective Partnerships

1. Developing Effective Partnerships Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement

2. Why are partnerships important? • The more families support their children’s learning and educational progress, the more their children tend to do well in school and continue their education. • Programs and interventions that engage families in supporting their children’s learning at home are linked to higher student achievement. (Parents’ level of engagement affects the degree of influence). • Teacher outreach to parents is positively related to parent involvement and student achievement. (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)

3. What are school, family, and community partnerships? School, Family, and Community Partnerships - A philosophy, culture, and process that emphasizes the overlapping influence that stakeholders in each context have on the education and well-being of children and adults.

4. Epstein’s Framework of 6 Types of Involvement Comprehensive partnership programs have activities that support the following types of involvement:

5. Type 1 - Parenting • Activities to assist families in: Providing housing, health, nutrition, clothing and safety Developing parenting skills for all age levels Sharing information and activities to help schools understand children and families

6. Type 2 - Communicating • Information to help families: Understand educational programs and children’s progress Understand student assessments • Opportunities for families to: Express concerns, insights and expectations

7. Type 3 - Volunteering • Involvement at and for the school or organization: To assist administrators, teachers, students, or parents as mentors, monitors, lecturers, chaperones, tutors, or in other ways To attend assemblies, performances, sports events, ceremonies, and other events

8. Type 4 – Learning at Home • Involvement in academic activities at home to: Help with and monitor homework Understand skills required to pass/master each subject Guide curriculum-related decisions Support the development of other skills and talents

9. Type 5 – Decision Making • Family participation in school: Advisory groups Planning committees Program-related decisions

10. Type 6 – Collaborating with the Community • Connections with the community for needed services, resources, and support • Connections that contribute to the community

11. Examples of Partnership Activities The National Network of Partnership Schools www. partnershipschools.org

12. Building Comprehensive Family Engagement Programs at Head Start Centers “In a study of Head Start children, long term effects on cognitive, social, and personal abilities were enhanced when a stronger and longer lasting parental involvement component was included.”(Reynolds & Clements, 2005) • Create a welcoming site environment • Create opportunities for 2-way communication that is regular and focused on students’ learning and school success • Support families’ sense of efficacy for involvement by providing engagement opportunities that span Epstein’s six types • Prepare parents in Head Start to maintain involvement as they transition to public k-12 schools

13. Resources • Epstein et al. (2009). School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Your Handbook for Action, Third Edition. Corwin Press. • Henderson, A. & Mapp, K. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. • National Network of Partnership Schools at: www.partnershipschools.org • Reynolds, A. & Clements, M. (2005). Parental Involvement and Children’s School Success. In E. Patrikakou, R. Weissberg, S. Redding, & H. Walberg (pp. 109-127), School-Family Partnerships for Children’s Success. NY, NY: Teachers College Press.