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Parent and Educator Partnership25 S. Washington, Suite 106

Naperville, IL 60540www.pepartnership.org

630 428 3979877 317 2733

School-Based Action Teams for Partnership

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Get-to-Know-Your ColleaguesGet-to-Know Your Neighbors

Quickly introduce yourself:

1. Name.

2. Your role here today.

3. Something about yourself that we cannot tell by looking at you.

INTRODUCTIONS

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By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Explain the Six Types of Family Involvement

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of the Action Team for Partnerships

• Write an effective One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships

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Research shows that:

• Students with involved parents – no matter what their income or background – are more likely to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.

• Partnership programs can increase student achievements, improve attendance and behavior, and promote positive social skills.

• When partnership practices are tightly linked to school goals, families become involved in ways that directly assist students’ learning and success.

Why is it important to involve families and the community in children’s education?

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Nothing Motivates a Child More…

“The research is abundantly clear: nothing motivates a child more than when learning is valued by schools and families/community working together in partnership…These forms of [parent] involvement do not happen by accident or even by invitation. They happen by explicit strategic intervention.”

--Michael Fullan (1997a, pp.34-48). Broadening the concept of teacher leadership. In S.Caldwell (Ed.), Professional development in learning-centered schools. Oxford, OH: National Staff Development Council.

Home Factors… Account for 49% of the Influence on Student Performance…

In October 2001, Stephanie Hirsh, in the National Staff Development Council publication, Results writes, “According to research by Ron Ferguson, home and family factors…account for 49% of the influence on student performance…”

Hirsh continues, “This important position of influence is why family involvement is addressed in the NSCD Standards for Staff Development…educators will benefit from staff development that helps them gain the knowledge and skills aligned with the specific outcomes they want for parents and their children.”

Research shows that:

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Understanding theFramework of

Six Types of Involvement

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Keys to School, Family, and Community Partnerships FRAMEWORK OF SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT

PARENTING

COMMUNICATING

VOLUNTEERING

LEARNING AT HOME

DECISION MAKING

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY

Type 1

Type 2

Type 6

Type 5

Type 4

Type 3

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Housing, health, nutrition, clothing, safety

Parenting skills for all age levels

Home conditions that support children as students at all grade levelsInformation and activities from families to help schools understand children and families

Type 1

PARENTING

Basic Responsibilities of Families

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Memos, notices, report cards, conferences, newsletters, phone calls, computerized messages, e-mail, websites

Two-way channels of communication for questions and interactions

SCHOOL-TO-HOME

HOME-TO-SCHOOL

Type 2

COMMUNICATINGBasic Responsibilities of Schools

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In School or Classroom

Attend assemblies, performances, sports events, recognition, and award ceremonies, celebrations, and other events

VOLUNTEERS

AUDIENCES

Type 3

VOLUNTEERINGInvolvement At and For the School

For School or Classroom

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Keys to School, Family, and Community PartnershipsFRAMEWORK OF SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT

PARENTING

COMMUNICATING

VOLUNTEERING

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Share ONE successful example of these 3 types of involvement that YOU have seen in schools.

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How to help at home with homework

Required skills to pass each subject

Curriculum-related decisions

Other skills and talents

Type 4LEARNING AT HOME

Involvement in Academic Activities

Activities for parent and child on . . .

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Other school or district committees

Type 5

DECISION MAKINGParticipation and Leadership

District Improvement Teams

Partnerships Teams (PTA, ATP)

School Improvement Team

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Community contributes to schools, students, and families

Type 6COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY

• Business partners • Cultural and recreational groups• Health services• Service and volunteer groups• Senior citizen organizations• Faith-based organizations• Government and military agencies• Other groups and programs

Schools, students, and families contribute to the community

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Keys to School, Family, and Community PartnershipsNNPS FRAMEWORK OF SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT

LEARNING AT HOME

DECISION MAKING

COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Type 6

Type 5

Type 4

Share ONE successful example of these 3 types of involvement that YOU have seen in schools.

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An Inventory of Present Practices of School, Family, and Community Partnerships

With you ATP, review the results of your starting points document

1. Which type are you doing well?

2. Do you agree with the results?

3. What comes to mind as you think about the activities conducted for that TYPE of involvement?

4. Which type would you like to improve?

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What does the data tell you:

Outcome Data

Perspective Data

Process Data

Demographic Data

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Challenge-Go-Round

1. Identify a challenge that your school must solve to involve hard to reach families.

2. At the signal, go ’round the room and write a solution to the challenges.

3. Select one solution that may work in your schools.

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Meet the Challengesto Reach All Families

and Learn “Re-definitions” for

Good Partnerships

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Challenge

Provide information to all families who want or need it, not just to the few who attend workshops or meetings at the program site.

Redefinition

“Workshop” is not only a meeting on

a topic held at the school building at a particular time, but also the content of a topic to be viewed, heard, or read at convenient times and varied locations.

Type 1 - Parenting

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Challenge

Make all communications clear for all families in languages and formats that they can understand.

Redefinition

“Communications about school programs and student progress” are not only from school to home but also include two-way channels of communication that connect schools, families, students, and the community.

Type 2 - Communicating

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Challenge

Recruit widely for volunteers so that all families know that their time and talents are welcome.

Redefinition

“Volunteer” not only means someone who comes to school during the day, but also anyone who supports program goals and children’s learning in any way, at any place, and at any time.

Type 3 - Volunteering

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Challenge

Develop homework procedures that encourage students to share something with a parent that they are learning in class or in an after-school program.

Redefinition

“Homework” not only means work that students do alone, but also interactive activities that students share with others at home or in the community, linking schoolwork to real life.

Type 4 - Learning at Home

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Challenge

Include parent leaders from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and other groups in the school.

Redefinition

“Decision making” is a process of partnership – sharing views, solving problems, and taking action toward shared goals, not just a power struggle between conflicting ideas.

Type 5 - Decision Making

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Challenge

Inform all families and students

about community programs and

services.

Redefinition

“Community” includes not only families with children in the schools, but also all who are interested in and affected by the quality of education.

Type 6 -Collaborating with the Community

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Reaching Resultsand Goals for Student Success

1. Each type of involvement has been linked to specific results for students.

2. All six types of involvement can be designed and implemented to contribute to specific school improvement goals.

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Reaching Behavior Results for Students

Type 1 – Parenting Attendance Summit

Type 2 – Communicating Recognition Postcards

Type 3 – Volunteering Volunteers to assist with planning

Type 4 – Learning At Home Discussion guide for families and students

Type 5 – Decision Making PTA/PTO communication to all families regards attendance policy and recognition

Type 6 – Collaborating with Businesses award attendance levels the Community

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Members of an ATP work together to:

• Review school improvement goals

• Select, plan, implement, and evaluate family

and community involvement activities linked to

school goals

• Continually improve partnership practices

Action Team for Partnerships

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Membership on the ATP are:

• 2-3 teachers or more

• 2-3 parents/family members or more

• Principal (or assistant principal)

• Other members (nurse, counselor,

community partners)

• 1-2 students on high school

Action Team for Partnerships

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School Improvement Team

• Oversees the entire school

improvement plan

• Meets monthly to discuss all

programs, assess progress, and

plan for all goals in the SIP

• Hears committee reports and

assists committees to reach

goals

Action Team for Partnership

• Oversees the goals in the SIP for

family and community

involvement

• Meets monthly to discuss the

schedule of family and

community involvement activities

in the One-Year Action Plan,

assess progress, and improve

plans

• Provides committee reports to

the SIT

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Action Team for Partnerships

Behavior

Linked to School Improvement

ClimateAcademicAcademic

Practices fromTYPES 1-6

To meet your goal plans

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HOW WILL YOUR SCHOOL ORGANIZE ANACTION TEAM FOR PARTNERSHIPS

(ATP)?

Discuss and decide: 1. WHAT members should we still recruit?2. WHO will be your ATP Co-Chairs? 3. WHEN will the whole Action Team for Partnerships

(ATP) meet?4. WHICH GROUPS at your school should hear from

the ATP about its plans and progress on family and community involvement?

5. BE REALISTIC about how frequently reports should be made.

What questions do you have about the ATP?

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Lunch

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Creating Goal Plans

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Improve STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT in reading – PAGE 1 Review your Promising Practices book to find

activities

Improve STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT in math – PAGE 2 Review your Promising Practices book to find

activities

Improve STUDENT BEHAVIOR – PAGE 3 Review your Promising Practices book to find

activities

Strengthen the CLIMATE of partnerships – PAGE 4 Review your Promising Practices book to find

activities

School Improvement Goals Lead to a 4-Page

One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships

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Let the Data do the talking…

• Starting Points• Perception Data• Demographic Data

Who didn’t get it?

• Student Outcome Data What didn’t they get?

• Process Data What have you done? Did work have the desired outcomes?

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One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

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One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships

Writing the Plan• Goals

– 2 academic goals, 1 behavioral goal– 1 welcoming climate for partnerships

• Desired results – measurable• Assessments / Specific measures• Partnership activities• Types of involvement• Dates of activities (not ongoing)• Grade levels involved• Preliminary actions that must be taken• Resources or funds needed• Persons in charge and helping

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National Network of Partnership Schools, Johns Hopkins University

USE THE SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT TO REACH A GOAL FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Choose one major GOAL for STUDENT LEARNING or BEHAVIOR that is important in your school or a school you know. Identify specific family and community involvement activities to support that goal.

GOAL TYPE 6:

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY

TYPE 1: PARENTING

TYPE 5: DECISION MAKING

TYPE 4: LEARNING AT HOME

TYPE 3: VOLUNTEERING

TYPE 2: COMMUNICATING

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Use the Six Types to Reach Results

• Place a goal for student success in the middle of your Goal Map.

• Focus on one goal at a time.

• Select one activity for each type of involvement to involve families and the community in productive ways to help students reach that goal.

ACTIVITY: GOALS MAP

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ACTIVITY: GOALS PLAN

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Sample PAGE 1 ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN SCHEDULE OF SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO REACH SCHOOL GOALS

School: Eney Elementary School School Year: 200X-200Y

GOAL 1—ACADEMIC OBJECTIVE 1 – Specific academic subject: (Select ONE curricular goal for students, such as improving reading, math, writing,

science, or other skills that the school will address in the next school year.) To increase students’ reading abilities as measured on the Michigan State Assessment.

Desired result(s) for THIS goal: Students will increase their scores from 84% proficiency or better to 92% proficiency or better on the Michigan State Assessment in reading.

How will you measure the results)? Review the state standardized test scores. Plus, review report card grades and participation records as formative measures.

Organize and schedule the family and community involvement activities to support THIS goal.

ACTIVITIES (2 or more, continuing or new)

TYPES (1-6)

DATES

OF ACTIVITIES

GRADES

LEVEL(S)

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR

EACH ACTIVITY & WHEN?

PERSONS IN CHARGE

AND HELPING

Family and community volunteers will be reading partners for students during the after-school program (continuing).

3,6

All year

On a weekly

schedule created by

teachers and parents

Grade 2-5

Inform parents about the program (early Sept.) Recruit & train reading partners (early Sept.) Match volunteers with students (late Sept.) Implement and monitor (Fall thru Spring) Have volunteers complete exit surveys (Spring)

Mrs. Smith & Mr. Lyons

Curbside library in front of the school for family members to check out reading strategies books, games, and activity bags. They will return them inside the school at the Parent Center. (adapted)

ADD MORE ACTIVITIES…

1,4

All year

First Thursday of each week

All

Connect with the media center for a kick-off event (Sept.). Send announcement flyers home (Sept.). Implement and monitor (Sept thru June) Evaluate participation records (Jan. & June)

Mr. Blackfoot & Miss

Garcia

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Let’s Do It! Let’s Write a School’s One-Year Action Plan for Partnerships!

Begin with the data: Who is your target? What will you target?

Work through each of your school improvement goals. Goals Web Select 2 – 3 activities to put on your goal sheet

Write a workable plan: Distribute responsibility Are they S.M.A.R.T. Goals?

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Moving Forward

• Celebrate your accomplishments• Request the support you need• Determine your next steps

We will:1. Review your action plans and provide feedback2. Meet monthly with your Co-Chairs3. Provide quarterly meetings for networking4. Assist with measuring progress5. Communicate importance and success of partnerships

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Thank you for taking the time and making the commitment.