5. Collaborating with Community

Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

Partnerships that connect a school with businesses, hospitals, colleges, service clubs, social service agencies, youth organizations, labor unions, churches, and other community groups can turn a neighborhood into a thriving place to live, work, and raise a family. Many school districts are creating full-service community schools that offer one-stop resource centers for families and residents. Schools are opening their doors and allowing their communities to use facilities and meeting rooms as a way of applying school resources to solve problems.

National Parent Involvement Standard 6 GOALS

1. Linking to community resources: School staff and the PTA/parent group create a comfortable, inviting family resource center. Staff and parent volunteers inform families about services, make referrals to programs, and plan activities.
2. Organizing support from community partners: Community and business representatives work with school and parent leaders to assess needs and develop programs to support student success and find creative ways to provide funding and staff.
3. Turning the school into a hub of community life: School facilities such as the computer lab, library/media center, classrooms,and gym are open year round for broad community use.
4. Partnering with community groups to strengthen families and support student success: Teachers and families work with grassroots groups to develop solutions to local problems.

Activity Focus

Student- Centered

Student awards, student incentives, scholarships, student trips, tutors, mentors, job shadowing, and other services and products for students.

Family- Centered

Parent workshops, family fun-nights, GED and other adult education classes, parent incentives and rewards, counseling and other forms of assistance.

School- Centered

Equipment and materials, beautification and repair, teacher incentives and awards, funds for school events and programs, office and classroom assistance.

Community- Centered

Community beautification, student exhibit and performances, charity and other outreach.

Resources

Six Types of Parental Involvement -Dr. Wayne G. Sanstead, State Superintendent, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction


ASD Business Partnerships -Anchorage School District

Practice Matters -Elizabeth Mastro and Mary Grenz Jalloh (Cornell University, University of Rochester, & the New York State Center for School Safety)

Articles

The Importance of School and Community Collaboration -Leaders for Tomorrow's Schools

School and Community Collaboration to Promote a Safe Learning Environment -Howard S. Adelman and Linda Taylor, The State Education Standard, July 2006 (The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education)

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Family/School Partnership Checklist -United for Students, Families, Schools, and Communities