PARTNERS IN LEARNING:
A LOCAL WEB SITE CAN OPEN DOORS
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TO ALL TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT
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One of the keys to successful family-school-community
partnerships is information. That's why the computer--an unlimited information
source--holds so much potential for boosting the involvement of parents
in their children's education.
Joyce Epstein, PhD, Director of the Center of School, Family, and Community
Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University, has developed a framework for
six types of involvement that support strong partnerships: parenting, communicating,
volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with
the community. This framework provides a helpful structure when thinking
about how a classroom, school or district site on the world wide web can
be used to support family involvement in your community.
 PARENTING
Information that supports parents in creating healthy and safe home environments
where learning can take place permeates the Internet.
~ Links to helpful sites provide access to information on topics such
as child development, parenting, child health and safety issues, choosing
quality child care, etc.
~ "Ask-a-Parent" might be a locally-run interactive site for
peer learning and sharing.
~ A library connection can highlight good parenting books that are available
in the community.
COMMUNICATING
Families need information about their children's schools and their children's
progress. Schools need information from parents to increase their understanding
of the students and families they serve.
~ Online school handbooks can give basic information on attendance,
discipline and other policies; students' and parents' rights; problem-solving
steps; daily schedules and more.
~ E-mail links to teachers and administrators provide a vehicle for
families to reach educators with questions, concerns and comments.
~ Classroom web sites featuring student writing and art, class projects,
course overviews and expectations, or videos of field trips give parents
a fuller picture of their children's life at school.
VOLUNTEERING
Often, parents and other community members want to help with school or
classroom-related projects, but they don't have an easy way to find out
what is needed.
~ A district database of educational volunteer opportunities-searchable
by school, location, grade level, type of volunteer activity, and/or time
commitment-could be developed to link schools, families and other community
members.
~ Web "internships" could offer parents or other family members
training in website development in exchange for their help with a school
or classroom web site.
LEARNING AT HOME
Many parents want information and ideas about how to help their children
with homework and how to supplement the curriculum at home.
~ Simple learning activities that reinforce classroom material can be
posted weekly, or in combination with new teaching units.
~ A site listing essential skills keeps parents aware of what students
need to know in each subject at each grade level.
~ "Parent refresher pages" remind parents how to divide fractions,
use punctuation or study for a test.
DECISION-MAKING
Parents need information if they are to participate in school or district-level
decision-making. They also need access to the decision-making process.
~ Online agendas and minutes of school board meetings, parent-teacher
organizations, and other councils or committees keep parents informed about
issues and decisions that impact their children and families.
~ Online opportunities to sign-up for school or district level committees
and/or to communicate with school board members, committee chairs or parent
representatives encourage parent participation.
~ Online community discussions or list-serv groups provide avenues for
parent and community input on issues ranging from closed lunches to class
size, from redistricting to test scores.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATING
Identifying resources and services from the community can strengthen
family practices and student learning.
~ Links to local resources offer families access to information about
services or programs that are available in their own communities.
~ Information about community activities and summer programs can keep
parents posted about opportunities for their children during out-of-school
hours.
~ School alumni web pages provide a chance for graduates to tie back
into their old elementary, middle or high schools as resources, role models
and/or volunteers.
Written by The Family Connection of St. Joseph County,
Inc. for Partners in Learning [Vol 2:1, 1998] a newsletter of the
Indiana Center for Family, School & Community Partnerships. If you would
like more information about using technology to involve families, contact
the Center at 317-205-2595 or email: fscp@indy.net (9/98)
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