PARTNERS IN LEARNING:ASSESSING FOR FAMILY INVOLVEMENT: Are we there yet?The familiar question from the youngest travelers is heard moments after the car pulls out of the driveway: "Are we there yet?" Lacking the ability to read a map or understand highway signs, children cannot estimate distance or measure progress toward journey's end. When schools set out to strengthen family/school partnerships, they embark on a challenging journey that requires thorough planning, ample information and the proper tools. The compass that points the way--and helps schools stay on track--is the assessment. Without this navigational aide, we limit our capacity to direct the journey almost to that of a child on a family vacation. As an integral part of program planning and implementation, assessments help you to:
What's going well?
Schools that conduct assessments send the message that they are seriously committed to improvement. Including family perspectives shows the recognition that an accurate picture requires many viewpoints. And above all, carefully examining where you are in relationship to where you could be places you on the best route towards stronger family-school partnerships.
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 Back to Partners in
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Know where you stand. It's important to have a clear picture
of what you are doing now, because this information is the key to effective
planning. Marking your starting point also allows you to determine if you've
moved-and in what direction. In addition, accurate evaluations depend upon
factual information about where things are at the outset.
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Article: Getting the Most Out of Your Assessment