PARTNERS IN LEARNING:
SUCCESSFUL FAMILY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS:
They don't all look alike, but they do share common learnings
Parents and educators often run into obstacles when
they try to build meaningful partnerships. Common barriers identified by
a variety of school communities include:
~ time and resource constraints
~ a lack of information and training for both parents and school personnel,
~ unwelcoming schools,
~ school-family differences, and
~ communities that aren't involved.
The good news, of course, is that these barriers can be overcome. And
the Indiana Center for Family, School & Community Partnerships will
be working hand-in-hand with local groups to help make that happen.
Effective strategies for partnership-building will differ from community
to community. Even so, they also share some common characteristics. The
following guidelines, compiled from the learnings of several school communities,
are based on information from Family Involvement in Children's Education:
Successful Local Approaches (available free from the U.S. Department
of Education, 1-800-USA-LEARN).
 There's no "one size fits all" approach. Good programs
build on the individual and collective strengths, opportunities, interests
and needs of each school community. That's why what works in one place cannot
always be grafted directly into another. The best family involvement plans
are always shaped by the people they will affect-families, school staff,
students and others.
Training and staff development are essential investments. Parents
and school staff need knowledge and skills to work with one another. Effective
partnership programs offer professional development and training to both
groups.
Communication is the foundation of effective partnerships. Even
the best planned school-family partnerships will fail if the participants
cannot communicate effectively. Successful partnerships use a variety of
methods to share information freely between home and school; they also accommodate
the varied language and cultural needs of school staff and families.
Flexibility and innovation are key. Effective family involvement
can take many forms. The presence of parents at a workshop, meeting or school
really isn't the ultimate goal. Good programs place an emphasis on parents
helping children learn-and this can happen in schools, homes or elsewhere
in the community.
Tap into external supports for partnerships. Schools with strong
parent participation utilize the training, assistance and funding offered
by sources beyond the school walls. These can include businesses, commununity
organizations, public agencies, local colleges and universities, the school
district and others.
Change takes time. Successful school-family partnerships sustain
their efforts over time and recognize that solving one problem often creates
new challenges. Further, successful partnerships take the time to involve
many stakeholders, not just a few.
Regularly evaluate results. Successful projects not only set
goals, but also measure the progress toward reaching those goals. Participation
and satisfaction of family and staff in school-related activities are common
measurements. The quality of school-family interactions and evidence of
student educational progress are important too.
Written by The Family Connection for Partners in Learning,
Vol. 1:1, 1998, a publication of the Indiana Center for Family, School &
Community Partnerships. If your school community would like information
on forming family, school & community partnerships, contact the Center
by phone: 317-205-2595 or email: fscp@indy.net
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