Chapter 7School-Based Programs

Perry C. Hanavan, Au.D.

It Takes an Entire Village to Educate a Child

Schoolswant to provide an environment that

facilitates and teaches children to become fully functioning

young adults

Parentswant their children to

develop into productive intelligent,

mentally healthy young adults

Societyrequires an educated

citizenry

Schools must do more than encourage parents:

Recognize the strengths of familiesRecognize the stresses affecting many familiesRecognize other community agencies that offer

resources for studentsExplore different models that reach out to families Inclusion of parent-school support in pre-service

classes, knowledge of resources and parent programs by teachers and administrators

Seven Levels of Parent Involvement

1. Active partner and educational leader at home and at school

2. Decision maker

3. Advocate for the school

4. Actively involved as volunteer or paid employee

5. Liaison between school and home to support homework

6. Supporter of the educational goals of the school

7. Recipient of education and support

Issues and Concerns

Parent-school cooperation in the education of the classroom

Power and decision makingAdvocacyParent education and strengthening familiesFamily literacyComprehensive programs to meet the needs of all

family membersEmpowerment of families

Six Types of Involvement1. Parenting – help parents with skills and

understanding of child development2. Communicating – about children’s progress3. Volunteering – flexible schedules, options4. Learning at home – provide information to help

parents provide learning environments5. Decision making – include parents in process6. Collaborating with community – integrate services

and resources of the community with school to strengthen families, school programs, student’s development

Research on Involvement

Students – even in middle school and high school – want their parents to be more involved to be available for guidance and knowledge about the schools

If schools invest in practices that involve families, then parents respond, many parents who might not have otherwise become involved

Teachers who involve parents tend not to stereotype families

Comer Three Principles

ConsensusCollaborationNo-blame

provides a climate in which parents, children, and schools can thrive

Relationships

Child and Adolescent Growth Along the Six Developmental Pathways

Consensus Collaboration No-blame

Parent Team

Involves parents at every level of school activity

School Planning and

Management TeamPlans and coordinates

School activities

Student and StaffSupport Team

Addresses schoolwide prevention issues;

Manages individual student cases

Comprehensive School Plan•Curriculum, instruction, and assessment

•Sharing of information betweenschool and community

Assessment andModification

Periodic assessment createsnew information and identifies

new opportunities; permitsorderly change or adjustment

Staff DevelopmentCreated by need identified

in goals of the Comprehensiveschool plan

Middle & Secondary Schools

Parents seem to reduce involvement after elementary

Communication needs to be:– Immediate,– Frequent– Meaningful– Positive

Davies 5 for Collaborating

Early Childhood Programs

Head Start

Minnesota Early Childhood Family Education Program

Child Health Services & Schools

Brookline Early Education Project (BEEP)

School-Based Parent Involvement

League of SchoolsParents in Touch

– Dial-a-Teacher– Homework Hotline– Parent Line/Communicator– TIPS teacher involve parents– The Parent Focus Series– Work-site Seminars– Parent Advisory Council

Nooners

U.S. Department of Education

Family and School collaborative efforts– families

Helping Parents Work with ChildrenArts and craftsRead togetherPublishingGamesBackyard scienceFront yard businessListening centerMusic centerCommunicateHomemaking activities

Helping Parents Work with Children

Take a walkVisit the libraryVisit a storeExplore museumsVisit historical buildingsVisit the airport, bus stations, subways, etc.Virtual tours on the Web

Reaching Reticent Parents

Immigrant and refugee familiesSingle parents workingTwo parents working

Reaching Reticent Parents

Families are stressedFeel out of their element at schoolMay not realize importance of involvement

in their child’s educationFeel there are ulterior motivesTeachers do not know parent’s interests,

abilities and strengths

Parent Education for Teens

About 1 million teenagers become pregnant yearly– 1 in 3 have abortions

– One in seven miscarry

– More than half give birth

– ¼ are married

– 1/3 have a stable relationship

Factors– Poverty, low performance, grew up in single parent

home, more apt to drop out of school

Family Resource Centers

Families have primary responsibility for children’s development and well-being

Healthy families are the foundation of a healthy society

Families operate as part of a total systemThe systems and institutions upon which

families rely for support must assist families’ efforts to effectively raise their children

Family Literacy

More than 23 million men and women in the U.S. are illiterate

Another 45 million have skills at or below the ninth grade level

Also hinders their children’s ability

National Center for Family Literacy

Teachers

Are you aware of all the resources in your school and community to help families?– List five resources available in your community

Do you focus on the child or the family?– How will you do this?– What are your family goals?